Article 385 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 385 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article allows a licensee who breaches his license obligations or conditions or his obligations to those he deals with to be punished with a warning, suspension of up to a year, permanent withdrawal, or a fine of up to SAR 100,000.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب المرخص له في حالة إخلاله بأي من الالتزامات المفروضة عليه بمقتضى الترخيص الصادر له، أو مخالفته شرطاً أو أكثر من شروطه، أو إخلاله بالتزاماته قِبَل المتعاملين معه؛ بعقوبة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية:
1- الإنذار بسحب الترخيص أو إلغائه.
2- إيقاف الترخيص مدة لا تزيد على سنة.
3- سحب الترخيص أو إلغاؤه نهائيًّا.
4- غرامة لا تقل عن خمسة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 385 explained in plain English
This article sets penalties specific to licensees in the activities that the Law requires to be licensed.
When do they apply? If the licensee commits any of the following:
- Breaching any of the obligations imposed on him under the license issued to him.
- Violating one or more conditions of the license.
- Breaching his obligations toward those he deals with.
The penalties: he is punished with one or more of the following:
- A warning of withdrawal or cancellation of the license.
- Suspension of the license for a period not exceeding one year.
- Permanent withdrawal or cancellation of the license.
- A fine of not less than SAR 5,000 and not more than SAR 100,000.
Note that the penalties are graduated, and more than one penalty may be combined, such as a fine together with suspension. Breaching obligations toward those dealt with also falls within the article's scope, so it protects not only the public order but also those who deal with the licensee.
The article does not specify the licensed activities. Article 384 punishes a master for not keeping an oil record book, and Article 386 punishes carrying passengers in excess of the numbers shown in the ship's certificates. Anyone facing action against his license should consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative and maritime cases.
Practical example
A company obtained a license to carry out a maritime activity, then breached its obligations to its customers and violated one of the license conditions. It may be punished with one or more penalties, such as suspension of the license for a period not exceeding one year together with a fine of not less than SAR 5,000 and not more than SAR 100,000.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 385 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What are the penalties for violating maritime license conditions?
A warning of withdrawal or cancellation of the license, suspension for a period not exceeding one year, permanent withdrawal or cancellation, or a fine of not less than five thousand riyals and not more than one hundred thousand riyals, and more than one penalty may be combined.
Is a licensee punished for breaching his customers' rights?
Yes. Breaching his obligations toward those he deals with is one of the cases to which these penalties apply.
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يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على مليون ريال: 1- كل مالك أو مجهز أو ربان يرفع علم المملكة على سفينة غير مسجلة فيها، مع جواز الحكم بمصادرة السفي
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يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال, مجهز المنصة البحرية في حالة تشغيلها دون توافر متطلبات السلامة اللازمة لحماية الأشخاص والبيئ
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يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن مائة ألف ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال: 1- كل من نقل إلى المياه الإقليمية للمملكة أي سفينة جانحة أو متروكة أو جزء من شحنتها أو ملحق
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1- يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال، ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل ربان لم يستجب لطلب الاستغاثة لإنقاذ سفينة تشرف على الغرق أو لإنقاذ شخص يعثر عليه في الب
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يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل ربان أو مجهز لسفينة ترفع علم المملكة يسيِّرها دون أن تحمل شهادة سارية من الشهادات المشار إ
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يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن عشرة آلاف ريال, ولا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال, كل من يعطل أو يعوق عمل مندوبي التفتيش البحري أو خبراء هيئات التصنيف المفوضة من الهيئة عن أداء
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.