Article 389 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 389 من النظام البحري التجاري · الباب العاشر: العقوبات
The article provides that applying the Law does not prejudice the Kingdom's obligations under the international conventions and codes it has ratified, or the GCC Common Customs Law and its implementing regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يخل تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام بالتزامات المملكة في الاتفاقيات والمدونات الدولية ذات الصلة التي صدقت عليها، كما لا يخل بأحكام نظام (قانون) الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية ولائحته التنفيذية.
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 389 explained in plain English
This article defines the relationship of the Commercial Maritime Law with other rules, providing that applying it does not prejudice two things:
- International obligations: the Kingdom's obligations under the relevant international conventions and codes that it has ratified.
- Customs: the provisions of the Common Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States and its implementing regulations.
The meaning of does not prejudice is that the Law's provisions are not applied in a way that conflicts with or detracts from these obligations or provisions. If the Kingdom is bound under a ratified international convention, or the Common Customs Law regulates a matter, then applying the Maritime Law does not touch that.
Note that the provision is limited to the conventions and codes that the Kingdom has ratified and that are relevant. The article does not name these conventions.
Article 388 provides that the Law's penalties do not prevent applying a more severe penalty in another law and do not prevent claiming compensation, while Article 390 provides for issuing the necessary regulations for the Law within one hundred and eighty days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. To determine the effect of a particular convention on a maritime dispute, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in maritime and international cases.
Practical example
A ship arrived at the port of Dammam carrying goods subject to customs procedures. The provisions of the Commercial Maritime Law apply to the ship and the contract of carriage, without prejudice to the provisions of the GCC Common Customs Law and its implementing regulations as regards customs procedures.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 389 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Does the Maritime Law conflict with international conventions?
Applying the Law's provisions does not prejudice the Kingdom's obligations under the relevant international conventions and codes that it has ratified.
What is the relationship between the Maritime Law and the GCC customs law?
Applying the Law does not prejudice the provisions of the Common Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States and its implementing regulations.
More articles on Scope of the Maritime Law and Ship Nationality
- Article 1
Article 1 defines 39 terms on which the Commercial Maritime Law is built, such as the ship, operator, carrier, shipper, bill of lading, master, seaman, marine insurance, wreck and unit of account.
لأغراض هذا النظام, يقصد بالمصطلحات الآتية المعنى المبين أمام كل منها, ما لم يقتضِ السياق خلاف ذلك: 1- النظام: النظام البحري التجاري. 2- الوزير: وزير النقل، رئيس
- Article 2
Article 2 sets the scope of the Commercial Maritime Law: Saudi ships and foreign ships anchored in the Kingdom's ports or maritime zones, excluding warships and public service ships except for collision, salvage and general average.
تطبق أحكام هذا النظام على السفن السعودية, والسفن الأجنبية التي ترسو في موانئ المملكة أو مناطقها البحرية, وتستثنى من ذلك السفن الحربية, وسفن الخدمة العامة المخصص
- Article 3
Article 3 applies the rules on movable property to ships, subject to the provisions of the law, except the rule on acquiring movables by possession and anything covered by a special provision.
مع مراعاة الأحكام المنصوص عليها في النظام, تسري على السفينة أحكام المال المنقول عدا حكم تملكه بالحيازة, وما ورد في شأنه نص خاص.
- Article 4
Article 4 requires, for a ship to acquire Saudi nationality, registration in a Kingdom port and full ownership by a Saudi, or a Saudi majority of shares in co-ownership, and allows the Chairman to adjust the ownership percentage.
تكتسب السفينة الجنسية السعودية إذا كانت مسجلة في أحد موانئ المملكة، وكانت مملوكة بكاملها لشخص يتمتع بهذه الجنسية. وإذا كانت السفينة مملوكة على الشيوع اشترط أن ت
- Article 5
Article 5 requires every Saudi ship to fly the Kingdom's flag and permits flying another flag only where maritime custom allows, or to avoid certain danger or capture.
على كل سفينة سعودية أن ترفع علم المملكة, ولا يجوز لها أن ترفع علماً غيره إلاَّ في الحالات التي يجري فيها العرف البحري، أو إذا كان الغرض هو تجنب الوقوع في خطر مح
- Article 6
Article 6 limits towing, pilotage, supply services in the Kingdom's maritime zones and coastal transport between its ports to Saudi ships, and lets the Chairman exempt other ships by a license for a set period.
لا يجوز لغير السفن السعودية ممارسة نشاط القَطْر أو الإرشاد أو القيام بخدمات التموين في مناطق المملكة البحرية، ولا يجوز لها مزاولة أعمال النقل الساحلي بين موانئ
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.