For the purposes of this Regulation, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth therein unless the context requires otherwise:

1. Law: Commercial Maritime Law issued pursuant to Royal Decree no. M/33 dated on 5/4/ 1440 AH

2. Kingdom:Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

3. Authority: Transport General Authority.

4. Kingdom Flag:A rectangular flag , its width is equal to two-thirds of its length, green in color extending from the mast to the end of the flag, in the middle there is the Shahada (There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God) and a sword drawn under it and parallel to it, its fist is directed to the lower part of the flag, and the Shahada and the sword are painted clearly white From both sides according to the flag law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 3) dated 10/2 / 1392AH.

5. Maritime Authority: The Authority is represented in the maritime transport sector or one of its branches or representatives, or whoever authorized to do any work on its behalf.

6. Organization:International Maritime Organization.

7. Registration Office:The ship registration office approved by the Authority

8. General Registry:The maritime authority registry of ships, whether in paper or electronic, all ships data sent to it from the special registry of the registry office is included in it.

9. Special Registry: The ship registry at the registry office, in paper or electronic form, and in it all the data of the ships registered in the office.

10. Gross tonnage:the measure of the overall size of a ship determined in accordance with International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, (1969) and its amendments and the regulations in force in the Kingdom.

11. Kingdom Marine Areas:The internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), defined by law in accordance with the maritime zones system issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 6) dated 18/1/1433AH.

12. Ship:Any floating craft normally designed to operate in maritime navigation, even if it is not for profit, including ship appurtenances which are necessary for its operation.

13. Marine platform:Marine facility used to extract oil, gas or other resources, and shall be considered as a ship.

14. Marine unit:Vessels under 24 meters in length and Fishing vessels which do not exceed 30 gross tonnage and 20 meters in length; Recreational and diving vessels which do not exceed 10 gross tonnage and 11 meters in length; and are not allowed to sail outside the Kingdom's territorial seas , ships of primitive construction, sailing ships and non- self -propelled marine units, lighters, barges and other floating structures that normally operate within a port.

15. Person: Natural or legal person.

16. Ship owner: The person whose name is written in the ship registry of the Maritime Authority in his capacity as the owner of the ship.

17. The operator:The person who operates the ship for his own account as an owner, charterer, or manager of the company, and the owner is deemed equipped unless proven otherwise.

18. Bareboat charter party contract: A contract whereby a lessor undertakes to place a vessel at the disposal of the charterer for a specified period without equipping it with supplies, crew members, or fuel.

19. Master: The person qualified to command a vessel and assume responsibility for its management.

20. Length: Means the approved length in accordance with the requirements of the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966 AD and its Protocol of 1988 as may amended.

21. Supply Vessel: A vessel used to transport supplies and equipment to offshore platforms or ships at sea or to assist in drilling and exploration work

22. Tugboat: A vessel used to tow or push another vessel from one place to another or for the purpose of assisting in the maneuvers of the ship anchoring inside or outside of the port.

23. pilot boat: A vessel that’s specifically used to transport a maritime pilot from and to ships that need piloting for the purpose of entering or leaving the port.

24. Jet Ski:A small, fast floating unit used for leisure or marine sports that carries one or two persons.

25. Fishing unit: A floating facility used for the purpose of catching fish or marine life that is permitted to be fished, and its total gross tonnage does not exceed thirty (30) tons and its length does not exceed twenty (20) meters.

26. Fishing vessel: A floating facility used for the purpose of catching fish or marine life that is permitted to be caught, and its total gross tonnage exceeds thirty (30) tons and its length exceeds twenty (20) meters.

27. Recreational and diving vessels: A floating craft used for the purpose of recreation and diving with a total gross tonnage of more than ten (10) tons and a length of more than eleven (11) meters.

28. Ship registration certificate: It is a document issued by the maritime authority proving the completion of the ship’s registration and acquisition of the Saudi nationality after fulfilling the terms and conditions as well as the procedures for registration.

29. Marine unit record: It is a document issued by the maritime authority confirming the completion of the marine unit registration after fulfilling the registration terms and conditions as well as the procedures for registration.

This regulation aims at specifying the terms, conditions and procedures for registering ships and marine platforms, recordingmarine units, and issuing the registration certificate and the recording document.

Without prejudice to the laws in force in the Kingdom, the provisions of this regulation shall be applied to Saudi ships and marine units. The law does not apply to warships and public service ships which have been assigned to non-commercial purposes or those for which a special provision is provided.

1- A ship shall not be considered Saudi and shall not fly the flag of the Kingdom unless it is registered in accordance with this regulation.

2- Every Saudi ship is obligated to fly the flag of the Kingdom, and it is not permitted to fly another flag except in cases where the maritime custom is applied, or if the purpose is to avoid imminent danger or capture.

For a ship to be registered in the ship registry in the Kingdom, one of the following conditions is required:

• 1- It must be wholly owned by a Saudi national

• 2- If the vessel has multiple owners (Saudi / non-Saudi), the company shall be:

  • a) registered in accordance with the relevant laws of the Kingdom

  • b) The Saudi capital shall not be less than (51%) fifty-one percent of the capital

  • c) The headquarters of the company shall be in the Kingdom.

1. The ship is registered upon a request submitted by its owner or whomever he delegates to the maritime authority according to the approved form and the following shall be attached to it:

• a) A copy of the valid commercial registration in case the owner is a company or establishment, or a copy of the national identity if the owner is an individual.

• b) A copy of the valid license issued by the competent authority of the foreign company.

• c) A copy of the ship title deed, and the final court ruling on the compulsory sale is an alternative to the title deed.

• d) A copy of the insurance policy for compensation for damages in favor of third parties to cover the risks that may arise from the operation of the ship.

• e) Classification certificate and safety certificates issued by an accredited classification authority in the Kingdom in which the vessel is classified.

• f) A ship deletion certificate from the country where the ship is registered.

• g) In the event that the ship is new, the ship's builder’s certificate shall be attached which includes the specifications of the ship and its gross, net, displacement tonnage and date of construction, provided that the certificate is certified by the country in which the shipyard is located.

• h) A Declaration of the rights in rem against the vessel, such as liens or mortgages - if any -, and evidence that holders of rights in rem agree to register the ship and change its name.

• i) A document indicating the payment of the price of the vessel, if purchased

• j) A declaration from the owner that all documents and data submitted by him are correct and that there is no illegal dealings.

2. It is not permissible to use one name for more than one ship in all registration offices in the Kingdom.

3.The maritime authority keeps all submitted documents.

After receiving the registration application, the maritime authority or whoever it delegates from the classification societies shall survey and inspect the ship and verify the correctness of the data provided and the validity of its statutory certificates - if any - and the ship’s compliance with the safety requirements and protection of the marine environment imposed by the relevant laws, agreements and regulations, and a report is prepared showing the technical condition of the ship.