Article 387 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 387 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article sets a general penalty of a fine of SAR 2,000 to 50,000 for any violation of the Law or its regulations for which no penalty is provided in the penalties chapter.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تقل عن ألفي ريال, ولا تزيد على خمسين ألف ريال, كل من ارتكب أي مخالفة لأحكام النظام أو لوائحه لم ينص على عقوبة لها في هذا الباب.
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 387 explained in plain English
This article sets the general fallback penalty in the Commercial Maritime Law:
- The person addressed: anyone who commits a violation.
- The scope of the violation: any violation of the provisions of the Law or its regulations.
- The condition: that the violation be one for which no penalty is provided in this chapter.
- The penalty: a fine of not less than SAR 2,000 and not more than SAR 50,000.
The purpose of this article is to fill the gap: if a person violates a provision of the Law or its implementing regulations and the articles of the penalties chapter have not assigned a specific penalty to it, this general fine applies. If a special penalty for the violation exists in the chapter, that penalty applies, not this one.
According to Article 1, the regulations are the implementing regulations of the Law, so violating them falls within the scope of this article just as violating the Law itself does.
Article 386 punishes carrying passengers above the numbers shown in the ship's certificates with a fine equal to twice the price of their tickets, while Article 388 provides that the penalties of this chapter do not prevent applying a more severe penalty in another law, and do not prevent claiming compensation. Anyone facing a violation should consult a lawyer who specializes in maritime cases.
Practical example
A ship operator violated a provision in the implementing regulations of the Commercial Maritime Law for which the penalties chapter has assigned no specific penalty. He is punished with a fine of not less than SAR 2,000 and not more than SAR 50,000.
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 387 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
What is the penalty for violating the Maritime Law if no specific penalty exists for it?
A fine of not less than two thousand riyals and not more than fifty thousand riyals.
Does this penalty cover violating the implementing regulations?
Yes. The article covers any violation of the provisions of the Law or its regulations for which no penalty is provided in the penalties chapter.
More articles on Penalties Under the Commercial Maritime Law
- Article 373
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 1,000,000 anyone who flies the Kingdom's flag on an unregistered ship, with possible confiscation, or hides or defaces the ship's particulars, except to avoid capture.
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
- Article 374
The article punishes the operator of a marine platform with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 500,000 if he operates it without the safety requirements needed to protect persons and the environment.
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
- Article 375
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 100,000 to 500,000 moving stranded ships or wreckage into territorial waters to evade the Law, preventing or obstructing the rescue of stranded ships, and hiding wreckage or its markers.
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
- Article 376
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 a master who does not respond to a distress call without an acceptable justification, and the operator if the violation is on his express instructions.
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
- Article 377
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 the master or operator of a Saudi ship who sails it without a valid certificate, or sails a ship that has been ordered suspended or barred from sailing.
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
- Article 378
The article punishes with a fine of SAR 10,000 to 100,000 anyone who disrupts or obstructs maritime inspection delegates or experts of classification societies authorized by the Authority from carrying out their task.
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.