New Qatari Law on Small Vessels Registration

Analysis

His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, issued on 23 August 2016 Law regarding Small Vessels Registration (Law No. 8 of 2016). The new law was issued after 36 years of operation of the old law (No. 19 of 1980) and it introduced new conditions and penalties that small vessel owners will have to comply with. The law is not yet into force. It is expected to be published in the Official Gazette in the next couple of months and will come into force one month after being published in the Official Gazette.

This article highlights some key points introduced by the new law and signposts the new and impending regulations that companies and individuals need to be aware of when registering or operating small vessels.

Vessels subject to the new law

The new law defines a ‘Vessel' as ‘every floating vehicle operating in maritime navigation or sports or prepared for the same, of which the cargo is less than (200) two hundred tons, even if it does not aim to achieve profit'.

New conditions