A mammoth draft law governing maritime operations in Bahrain’s territorial waters, featuring fines of up to BD150,000, will be debated by legislators this week.
The new Maritime Law imposes tough jail sentences and hefty fines for violations involving illegal activities at sea, causing pollution and transporting unlicensed cargo among others.
HISTORY
Parliament has cleared its schedule for Tuesday’s weekly session to debate the bill, which has been described as the second-largest law in Bahrain’s legislative history with 392 articles.
Parliament has been given three months to debate and vote on the government-drafted law, which is second to only the 1976 Penal Code that consists of 418 articles.
A copy of the bill was released to the Press yesterday (Jan 31) and states fines between BD1,000 and BD10,000 or jail sentences up to six months for violations related to unlicensed operations, unauthorised cargo and lack of safety requirements.
It also has jail sentences of up to six months for ship owners, managers, captains or agents who evade fees or taxes or cheat officials, along with a fine of up to BD10,000, or both.
PENALTY
Those who sneak on board a vessel to hide and those who help them will be jailed for up to three months or fined up to BD2,000, or both.
Vessel owners or operators causing pollution will be fined between BD5,000 and BD50,000 and the ship will be temporarily seized, with the fine doubled if the offence is repeated.
Dumping oil and chemicals at sea leads to up to five years in jail and fines between BD15,000 and BD150,000, with the penalty doubling if the offence is repeated.
Carrying harmful materials without licensing is punishable with up to three years in jail, fines between BD15,000 and BD150,000, or both, which will be doubled if repeated.
Dumping garbage or sewage water, along with failed checks on emissions, is punishable with up to three years in jail, fines between BD10,000 and BD100,000, or both.
The fine will be doubled if the offence reoccurs, while the captain will be jailed for up to two years and fined up to BD20,000.
Captains who fail to report pollution caused by their ships will also be fined between BD1,000 and BD3,000, and captains whose ships carry unauthorised nuclear waste will be fined between BD50,000 and BD100,000.
Unlicensed port entry or departure by vessels also carries between BD10,000 and BD100,000 fines, while failure to provide information or present false data will be punished with fines between BD300 and BD1,000.
The same fine will be applied on captains who refuse authorised personnel from boarding the ship and those who refuse inspection.
Among the hundreds of penalties regulating the sector is also a fine of up to BD1,000 for transporting unlicensed containers.
The law covers ships weighing 150 tonnes or above, with those over 20 years old not given permission to operate unless an exception is made by the authorised minister. The same applies for vessels aged up to 30 before being banned from operation.
The draft bill was first referred to Parliament in May 2018, but was shelved because the lower chamber’s four-year legislative tenure was due to end.
It has been taken up by Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee, which has recommended MPs to approve the law.
The new comprehensive law, which was drafted by an expert from the International Maritime Organisation, is expected to attract more direct local and international investment within all sectors, with more shipments and passengers expected via maritime transport.
Written statements in support of the draft law have been presented to Parliament by the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry, Health Ministry, Interior Ministry, Supreme Council for Environment, Survey and Land Registration Bureau, Economic Development Board, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain Insurance Association, and Association of Bahrain Travel and Tour Agents.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
© Copyright 2019 www.gdnonline.com
Copyright 2020 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
