Article 388 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 388 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article provides that the Law's penalties do not prevent a more severe penalty under another law or claims for compensation against the violator, and that each competent body applies them within its legal jurisdiction.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يحول تطبيق العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب دون تطبيق أي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر.
2- لا يمنع توقيع العقوبات الواردة في هذا الباب من الرجوع على المخالف بالتعويضات عن الأضرار التي لحقت بالأشخاص أو الممتلكات, وفقاً للأنظمة المعمول بها.
3- تتولى كل جهة مختصة تطبيق العقوبات الواردة في هذا الباب وفقاً للاختصاصات النظامية الممنوحة لها.
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 388 explained in plain English
This article sets three rules governing the application of the penalties of the Commercial Maritime Law:
1. The more severe penalty (paragraph 1): applying the penalties provided for in this chapter does not prevent applying any more severe penalty provided for in another law. If the same act is punishable by a more severe penalty in another law, that does not prevent applying it.
2. Compensation (paragraph 2): imposing the penalties does not prevent claiming compensation from the violator for damage to persons or property, in accordance with the laws in force. The penalty does not extinguish the injured party's right to claim compensation.
3. The applying body (paragraph 3): each competent body applies the penalties in this chapter in accordance with the legal jurisdictions granted to it. The article does not name these bodies.
The practical benefit for someone harmed by a maritime violation is that punishing the violator does not extinguish his right to compensation, and he may claim it under the laws in force.
Article 387 sets the general penalty for any violation for which no penalty is provided, while Article 389 provides that applying the Law does not prejudice the Kingdom's obligations under international conventions or the GCC Common Customs Law. To assess the right to compensation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in maritime cases and compensation.
Practical example
A master was punished with a fine for violating the Commercial Maritime Law, and the violation had damaged a fisherman's boat in the port of Yanbu. The fine does not prevent the fisherman from claiming compensation from the violator for the damage to his boat in accordance with the laws in force.
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 388 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does a fine under the Maritime Law prevent claiming compensation?
No. Imposing the penalties does not prevent claiming compensation from the violator for damage to persons or property in accordance with the laws in force.
What if another law provides a more severe penalty?
Applying this chapter's penalties does not prevent applying any more severe penalty provided for in another law.
Who applies the Maritime Law's penalties?
Each competent body, in accordance with the legal jurisdictions granted to it.
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.