Saudi Arabia

A license to practice maritime transport must first be issued to the owner by the Ministry of Communication Transportation Affairs Department according to the nature of the work of the vessel. (If it is confirmed that joint companies which have been licensed to practice maritime transportation according to the Foreign Capital Investment Regulation are not practicing their activities in the field of the licensed work to develop the abilities of the Saudi commercial maritime fleet, the Ministry of Communications shall cancel and withdraw the licenses granted to them.) Upon obtaining the license, original registration documentation should be submitted at the Ministry of Communications and Transport or to the registration office at the Islamic Sea Port at Jeddah or the King Abdul Aziz Sea Port in Dammam.

The application form includes:

• The present name of the vessel and previous names confirmed by certificate endorsed by the classification body under which the vessel is registered
• Date of construction and name of builder
• Type of vessel
• Major and subsidiary machine and motor specifications
• Vessel dimensions, length, width, depth, draught, decks, etc.
• Capacities of vessel - gross lead capacity, net and tonnage capacity, etc.
• Name of owner or owners in joint tenancy
• Statement of each owner of shares
• Name of operator or manager, if owner is not the operator
• Name and nationality of the captain
• Debts, mortgages or seizure details of the vessel
• Present port where vessel is registered or for newbuildings, a Registration Certificate from the country of manufacture, together with any Certificate of Cancellation from the registry of that country

The following documents should be submitted together with the application form:
• Vessel Ownership Deed
• Certificate of the Builder, endorsed by the country where the factory is located indicating vessel specifications and date
• Certificate of Classification from a society recognized by Saudi Arabia that the vessel has never been the property of any citizen of Israel or South Africa and has never been registered under the flag of either of them
• Certificate from the Regional Office of Israel Boycott that the vessel requesting registration is not entered on the boycott list
• Photocopy of the documents indicating cost of the vessel and the means of transmission of those amounts
• Photocopy of third party compensation insurance policy covering risks that may result from operating the vessel
• Photocopy of license to practice maritime transport works issued to the company by the Ministry of Communication Transportation Affairs Department
• Photocopy of commercial registration of the company with the Ministry of Commerce
• Photocopy of the permission issued by the Foreign Capital Investment Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Electricity and the decision of the Minister
• Official Certificate of Cancellation of the vessel from its former registry
• Declaration of the owner regarding the correctness and validity of all documents presented by him, and that no illegal agreement or dealing is in existence in regard to the documents provided

The registrant is required to publish particulars of the vessel in two local newspapers, and these details will also be posted at the registration office during which time a temporary registration, if granted, will be valid for one or more voyages as specified, or for a six-month period. Any interested party may object to the registration within three months of the publication of the above details by submitting reasons for the objection to the Ministry of Communications. Within two months of that objection, the objector shall also raise the case with the Disputes Settlement Committee, which will inform the Registry and Ministry of Communications of its decision. If the vessel is abroad, it may be granted provisional registration by an Embassy or Consulate. A certificate will be granted for one voyage to enable the vessel to reach a Saudi port with a registration office, and be valid for ten additional days after such arrival.

A Permanent Registration Certificate shall be issued upon expiration of a three month period after publication of the registration details, if there has been no objection, or if any objections have been refused. The registration of a vessel may be transferred from one registry office to the other within the kingdom upon application. Amendments to the certificate must be made with the registry within thirty days of a change in the status of any particulars.

The registration will be canceled if a vessel is damaged or captured by an enemy of the kingdom, if the owner loses nationality, or if other conditions for registration are reversed. An application for cancellation should be submitted by an owner within thirty days of the reason for a cancellation or the optional sale of the vessel.

Details of new ownership, change in vessel name, etc. must be submitted to the registry and changes must be in conformity with the original provisions for Saudi registration.

Penalties, confiscation and imprisonment may be imposed on any owner, rigger or captain who raises the Saudi flag while not entitled, who forges a Registration Certificate, or who alters its particulars. These range from three months to one year and/or one to fifty thousand Saudi riyals, depending on the violation. If the violation involved changing the distinguishing marks of the hull, i.e. draught marks or name, there is an exception if the action was taken to prevent the vessel from being captured by an enemy.

Vessels sailing under Saudi flags are not allowed to sail in waters declared to be in a state of war.