Article 9 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
المادة 9 من النظام البحري التجاري · الفصل الثالث: تسجيل السفينة
Article 9 bars a ship from sailing under the flag of more than one state, registering a ship already registered in another state before its deletion, and changing flag while sailing or stopped except for a transfer of ownership or registration change.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يجوز للسفينة أن تبحر، وهي رافعة علم أكثر من دولة.
2- لا يجوز أن تسجل سفينة في سجل السفن إذا كانت مسجلة في سجل سفن دولة أخرى، ما لم تكن قد شطبت من ذلك السجل.
3- لا يجوز للسفينة أن تغير عَلَمها أثناء إبحارها أو أثناء وجودها في ميناء توقف، إلا في حالة نقل للملكية أو تغيير في التسجيل.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article sets three rules that prevent dual flags and registration:
- One flag: a ship may not sail under the flag of more than one state.
- One registration: a ship may not be registered in the ship register if it is registered in another state's ship register, unless it has been deleted from that register.
- Fixed flag during the voyage: a ship may not change its flag while sailing or while in a port of call, except in two cases:
- A transfer of ownership.
- A change in registration.
The practical meaning for someone who buys a ship registered abroad and wants to register it in the Kingdom is that they must first have it deleted from the foreign register, then submit the registration application. The article does not specify the document that proves the deletion. Also, changing the flag is not a decision the master or operator may take whenever they wish during the voyage, but is tied to a transfer of ownership or a change in registration.
These rules are connected to Article 1, which defines the flag state as the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, and the registry state as the state in whose ship register the ship has been registered. Anyone handling the transfer of a ship from a foreign register can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or international cases.
Practical example
A Saudi company bought a ship registered in a European country and wants to register it in the Kingdom. It may not be registered in the Saudi ship register unless it is first deleted from the European register.
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 9 of the Saudi Commercial Maritime Law
May a ship be registered in the Kingdom while registered in another state?
No, unless it has been deleted from the other state's register.
When may a ship change its flag during a voyage?
It may not change it while sailing or in a port of call, except in the case of a transfer of ownership or a change in registration.
More articles on Registration of Ships and Maritime Units
- Article 7
Article 7 bars a self-propelled ship from sailing under the Kingdom's flag without registration, refers the procedures to the regulations, and exempts specific vessels by length, tonnage and type.
1- لا يجوز لأي سفينة ذاتية الدفع أن تبحر رافعة علم المملكة إلاَّ إذا كانت مسجلة وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام, وتحدد اللوائح إجراءات التسجيل وشروطه, وإصدار الشهادة. 2
- Article 8
Article 8 regulates ship registration offices approved by the Chairman, the ship register and its entries, the registration record and its publication and announcement at the owner's expense, and registration fees.
1- تسجل السفن في مكاتب التسجيل المعتمدة بقرار من الرئيس في أيٍّ من موانئ المملكة. 2- ينشأ في كل مكتب من مكاتب التسجيل سجل خاص يسمى (سجل السفن)، ترقم صفحاته، وتخ
- Article 10
Article 10 requires, for a ship to be registered, that the Authority or a delegated approved classification society inspect, survey and measure it and assess its tonnage, after the ownership document is submitted.
يشترط لتسجيل السفينة فحصها ومعاينتها وقياسها وتقدير حمولتها من قبل الهيئة أو من تفوضه من إحدى هيئات التصنيف المحلية أو الدولية المعتمدة بعد تقديم وثيقة ملكيتها.
- Article 11
Article 11 requires every Saudi ship to have a name, written at its bow and stern in clear Arabic and Latin letters with its port of registration, and bars the same name for more than one ship in the Kingdom.
أ- يجب على كل سفينة سعودية أن تتخذ لها اسماً، ويجب أن يكتب اسمها على مقدمتها من الجانبين وعلى مؤخرتها بحروف عربية ولاتينية ظاهرة وبلون مختلف عن لونها، ويجب كذلك
- Article 12
Article 12 empowers the registration office to issue a temporary registration certificate valid for one or more voyages, or for six months renewable for up to two years.
يصدر مكتب التسجيل شهادة تسجيل مؤقتة للسفينة، تكون صالحة لرحلة واحدة أو أكثر، أو لمدة ستة أشهر قابلة للتجديد لمدة أقصاها سنتان.
- Article 13
Article 13 allows a Saudi to whom ownership of a ship has passed outside the Kingdom to obtain a temporary registration certificate from a registration office or a Kingdom representative office, valid for six months at most.
إذا انتقلت ملكية السفينة لسعودي خارج المملكة، وانطبقت عليها شروط التسجيل، كان لمالكها الحصول على شهادة تسجيل مؤقتة من أحد مكاتب التسجيل في المملكة أو من ممثلية
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.