Ship-Shape in Bahrain

Analysis

Following recent amendments to Bahrain's Maritime Law, Saad Al Doseri, Associate at the Bahrain office of Al Tamimi & Company examines the changes and their potential impact.

What's happened?

“HM King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa has recently passed Bahrain Law No. 35/2014 (the “New Law”) amending certain provisions of Bahrain Legislative Decree No. 23/1982. The New Law amends Articles 2, 8, 44, 117, 187 and 296,” Saad Al Doseri explains.

What are the changes?

Article 2: Under the New Law, the Minister of Transport may now grant Bahraini nationality to vessels owned by non-Bahrainis subject to the approval of the Council of Ministers, even if the vessel is not registered in one of the Bahraini ports. The old Article (2) only granted Bahraini nationality to vessels owned by non-Bahrainis and only if the vessel was registered in one of Bahrain's ports.