Article 5 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 5 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثاني: جنسية السفينة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 محقق أو الأسر.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article sets the rule on the flag of a Saudi ship:
The rule: every Saudi ship must fly the Kingdom's flag.
The prohibition: it may not fly any other flag.
The exceptions: another flag may be flown in three cases only:
- Cases where maritime custom provides for it.
- To avoid falling into certain danger.
- To avoid capture.
The practical meaning is that the flag is tied to the ship's nationality: a ship that has acquired Saudi nationality under Article 4 must fly the Kingdom's flag. The exceptions are limited to what maritime custom provides, avoiding certain danger, or avoiding capture.
A Saudi ship here means a ship that holds Saudi nationality. The article does not state the consequence of violating this provision, nor does it specify the content of the maritime custom it refers to. Anyone operating a Saudi ship who has a question about a particular situation can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
A Saudi ship is crossing an area where piracy is active. Flying another flag is permitted here if the aim is to avoid certain danger or capture; in ordinary circumstances it must fly the Kingdom's flag.
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 5 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
Must a Saudi ship fly the Kingdom's flag?
Yes. Every Saudi ship must fly the Kingdom's flag.
When may a Saudi ship fly another flag?
In cases where maritime custom provides for it, or to avoid falling into certain danger or capture.
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 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
- Article 93
The liability of the ship's owner is limited in accordance with the international conventions on limitation of liability for maritime claims to which the Kingdom has acceded.
تحدد مسؤولية مالك السفينة طبقاً للاتفاقيات الدولية المتعلقة بتحديد المسؤولية عن المطالبات البحرية التي انضمت إليها المملكة.
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.