MPs voted through nearly 100 articles of a mammoth draft law governing maritime operations in Bahrain’s territorial waters which was postponed from last week’s session.
The new 392-article Maritime Law imposes tough jail sentences and hefty fines for violations involving illegal activities at sea, causing pollution and transporting unlicensed cargo, among others.
Following a lengthy debate that lasted more than two hours, legislators passed more than 100 articles during yesterday’s session, following their vote through 150 articles last week.
However, with around 150 articles left to the government-drafted bill, described as the second-largest law in Bahrain’s legislative history second only to the 418-article 1976 Penal Code, Public Utilities and Environment Affairs committee chairman Hamad Al Kooheji proposed postponing further discussion to the next session.
The GDN previously reported that the law stipulates 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.
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
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 presenting false data will be punished with fines between BD300 and BD1,000.
Meanwhile, an urgent proposal to identify the progress of the laying of the foundation stone for Demistan Coast was also voted by MPs to be referred to the committee for further review instead of being referred to the government.
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