1. This Regulation applies to ships and marine units that are not subject to international treaties.

2. In applying the requirements and provisions of this Regulation, the size of the ship or marine unit, its cargo, and the nature of the activity it engages in shall be taken into account.

3. The Regulation for small ships, as well as the guidelines issued by the competent authority, are complementary and supplementary to the provisions of this Regulation.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the current regulations do not apply to the following:

• 1. Government vessels (non-commercial or designated for public purposes), warships, and troop carriers.

• 2. Cargo ships with a gross tonnage exceeding 500 tons.

• 3. Passenger ships with a capacity exceeding two hundred passengers.

1. When safety regulations require specific types of installations, materials, tools, devices, or specific models thereof, or the implementation of special procedures on certain types of vessels or marine units, the competent authority has the right to permit the installation or transfer of other types of installations, materials, tools, or any models thereof, or to take other measures, if it is proven through experimentation or otherwise that they possess effectiveness that is at least equivalent to what is required by the applicable safety regulations, and in accordance with the nature of the vessel or marine unit or the voyages it undertakes.

2. The competent authority that allows such alternatives should notify the relevant departments on a regional basis, whether within the Kingdom or within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, of the details related to that and the reasons for it.

1. Construction Standards:

•  A- The construction, design, structural integrity, equipment, materials, and special devices must comply with accepted standards and international criteria, except as explicitly described or referenced in the Small Vessel Safety Regulations or related rules, guided by the rules contained in international agreements when required.

• B- The passenger vessel must meet the structural design requirements according to the standards of one of the recognized organizations for materials and ship construction.

2. Major Repairs, Changes, and Modifications:

•  A- Major repairs, changes, and modifications, as well as the installation of any associated equipment on an existing vessel, must meet the requirements applicable to new vessels, as deemed reasonable and feasible by the competent authority, and the owner of the vessel or marine unit is obligated to notify the competent authority of the required changes or modifications before implementing them.

• B- For the purposes of this article, major repairs, changes, or modifications are considered:

3. When changes fundamentally alter the dimensions of the vessel or unit or its cargo.

4. When changes are significant enough to extend the lifespan of the vessel or unit.

5. When changes alter the function of the vessel or unit.

1. Issuance of certificates by the competent authority:

•  A- A certificate called the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate is granted after an initial or renewal inspection of a passenger ship that meets the relevant requirements and any other related requirements stated in the Small Ships Safety Regulation.

• B- A certificate called the Cargo Ship Construction Safety Certificate is granted after an initial or renewal inspection of a cargo ship that meets the relevant requirements and any other related requirements stated in the Small Ships Safety Regulation.

• C- A certificate called the Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships is granted after an initial or renewal inspection of a cargo ship that meets the relevant requirements and any other related requirements included in the Small Ships Safety Regulation.

• D- A certificate called the Radio Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships is granted after an initial and renewal inspection of a cargo ship that meets the relevant requirements and any other related requirements stated in this regulation.

• E- A certificate called the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate may be granted instead of the certificates referred to in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) after an initial or renewal inspection of a cargo ship that meets the relevant requirements and any other related requirements stated in these regulations. Whenever there is a reference to the Cargo Ship Construction Safety Certificate or the Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships or the Radio Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships, it applies to the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate if it is used as a substitute for these certificates.

• F- The Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, the Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships, the Radio Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships, and the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate are completed.

• G- When a ship is granted an exemption under the provisions of the current regulations and in accordance with them, it is given a certificate called the Exemption Certificate in addition to the certificates specified in this paragraph.

• H- The certificates referred to in this regulation are issued or certified by the administration or by those authorized by it from individuals, institutions, or companies, and in all cases, the competent authority bears full responsibility for the certificates.

2. Issuance of certificates or certification by another government.

Another government may, at the request of the competent authority, subject a ship to inspection and grant certificates to it if it is convinced that it meets the requirements of these regulations. Any certificate issued in this manner must include a statement indicating that it is issued at the request of the Government of the Kingdom, and these certificates have the same validity as those issued by the competent authority in the Kingdom and enjoy the same level of recognition.

1. A passenger ship safety certificate shall be issued for a period not exceeding twelve months, and a construction safety certificate for a cargo ship, a safety equipment certificate for a cargo ship, and a radio safety equipment certificate for a cargo ship shall be issued for a period determined by the competent authority not exceeding five years. The exemption certificate shall not be valid for a period longer than that of the related certificate.

2. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (1), in the case of conducting a renewal inspection within three months prior to the expiration date of the existing certificate, the validity of the new certificate shall commence from the date of completion of that inspection until:

•  A- A date not exceeding twelve months from the expiration date of the existing certificate for a passenger ship.

• B- A date not exceeding five years from the expiration date of the existing certificate for a cargo ship.

3. In the event that the renewal inspection is completed after the expiration date of the existing certificate, the validity of the new certificate shall commence from the date of completion of that inspection until:

•  A- A date not exceeding twelve months from the expiration date of the existing certificate for a passenger ship.

• B- A date not exceeding five years from the expiration date of the existing certificate for a cargo ship.

4. If the renewal inspection is completed more than three months before the expiration date of the existing certificate, the validity of the renewal certificate shall commence from the date of completion of that inspection until:

•  A- A date not exceeding twelve months from the date of completion of the renewal inspection for a passenger ship.

• B- A date not exceeding five years from the date of completion of the renewal inspection for a cargo ship.

5. If a certificate other than a passenger ship safety certificate is granted for a period of less than five years, the competent authority may extend the validity of that certificate after its expiration date to the maximum date specified in paragraph (1), provided that the inspections referred to above, which are required when granting a five-year certificate, are conducted appropriately.

6. In the event that a renewal inspection is completed and it is not possible to issue or receive a new certificate for the ship before the expiration date of the existing certificate, the authorized person or the institution or company authorized by the competent authority may attest to the existing certificate, and that certificate shall be accepted as valid for an additional period not exceeding five months from the expiration date.

7. If the ship is not in the port where the inspection will take place at the time of expiration of a certificate, the competent authority may extend the validity period of the certificate solely to allow the ship to continue its journey to that port, provided that this is limited to cases where it appears appropriate and reasonable. The validity of any certificate shall not be extended for more than one month, and a ship granted an extension shall not leave that port based on that extension without obtaining a new certificate. Upon completion of the renewal inspection, the new certificate shall remain valid until:

•  A- A date not exceeding twelve months from the expiration date of the existing certificate before granting the extension for a passenger ship.

• B- A date not exceeding five years from the expiration date of the existing certificate before granting the extension for a cargo ship.

8. In special cases determined by the competent authority, there is no need for the date of the new certificate to commence from the expiration date of the existing certificate as required by paragraphs (2), (6), or (7). In those cases, the new certificate shall remain valid until:

•  A- A date not exceeding twelve months from the date of completion of the renewal inspection for a passenger ship.

• B- A date not exceeding five years from the date of completion of the renewal inspection for a cargo ship.

9. If the annual, intermediate, or periodic inspection is completed before the period specified in the relevant regulations, then:

•  A- The anniversary date indicated on the relevant certificate must be amended by attesting to it and recording a date not exceeding a period of three months from the date of completion of the inspection.

• B- The subsequent annual, intermediate, or periodic inspection required by the relevant regulations must be completed according to the time intervals specified in those regulations based on the new anniversary date.

• C- The expiration date may remain unchanged, provided that one or more of the annual, intermediate, or periodic inspections are conducted as necessary in a manner that ensures that the maximum time intervals between the inspections stipulated in the relevant regulations are not exceeded.

10. The certificate issued under this article shall lose its validity in any of the following cases:

•  A- If the periodic inspection, intermediate inspection, or annual inspection is not conducted as required, or if the external hull inspection of the ship is not conducted within the periods specified in the regulation or the relevant article, the validity of the certificate shall be restored by conducting the appropriate inspection, which should include these circumstances and the inspection requirements that were not executed, with the accuracy and rigor commensurate with the length of time elapsed since the date the inspection was supposed to have been conducted. The relevant competent authority must investigate the reasons for the delay and consider what other measures should be taken.

• B- If the certificate is not attested according to the mentioned rules.

• C- When the ship is transferred to the flag of another state.