Laws and Regulations

The Ports and Maritime Authority is responsible for overseeing all of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s laws, regulations and procedures with regards to the maritime industry.

Laws
Regulations

Laws	Description
Bahrain Maritime Code	The PMA is currently finalising a new Maritime Code which covers issues related to international maritime conventions and protocols and the operation of port facilities as well as defining the responsibilities and functions of PMA. It will also establish jurisdiction with respect to international conventions to which Bahrain is presently, or will in the future be, signatory. The new Code will supersede an earlier law promulgated in 1982 and bring Bahrain up to date with developments in international maritime law.
Ship Registration Law	The legislative decree with regard to the promulgation of registration of ships and determination of safety conditions.
Ministerial Resolution No. 6 for 2001	The Ministerial Resolution pertaining for the promulgation of the regulations on merchant shipping (manning, training, certification, and related seafarers’ matters).
GCC Safety Regulations for Non-conventional ships	Outlines GCC safety regulations for cargo ships not covered by the provisions of IMO Conventions and for small passenger ships carrying less than 200 passengers
Ministerial Resolution No. 14 for 2016	Ministerial Resolution No. 14 for 2016 with regards to approved classification societies
Ministerial Resolution No. 20 for 2016	Implementation of Conventions related to marine navigation

Regulations	Description
Private Jetty Regulations	Information on the regulations pertaining to operating a port, jetty or similar facility in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Marine Notices	Marine notice to all ship owners, operators, masters and officers of merchant ships, authorized classification societies and surveyors.
Marine Notice 01-2008	LRIT
Marine Notice 03-2009	AIS - Bahraini Flag
Marine Notice 04-2009	Foregin Flag
Marine Notice 01-2014	Coming into force Safety Regulations for Non-conventional Ships
Marine Notice 02-2017	Implementation of Ports and Maritime Affairs Directives and Regulations
Directive No. STCW/01	Safe Manning Document (SMD)
Directive No. STCW/02	Watchkeeping Arrangements & Principles /sites/default/files/directive_no._stcw-05.pdf
Directive No. STCW/04	Issue of Bahraini Flag State Endorsement
Directive No. STCW/05	Issue of Bahraini National Certificates and Endorsements for Master and Officer Under STCW Chapter II and III
Directive No. STCW/06	Issue Of Bahraini National Certificates For GMDSS Radio Operator, Rating or Able Seafarer
Directive No. STCW/07	Tanker Training, Certification and Endorsement
Directive No. STCW/08	Standards of Medical Fitness for Seafarer’s
Directive No. STCW/09	Certification for Ship Security Officer (SSO)
Directive No. STCW/10	Issue of Ships’ Cook Certificate
Directive No. STCW/11	Cadet Training Programme
Directive No. STCW/12	Issue of Bahrain Seaman’s Record Book
Directive No. STCW/13	Alternative Certificates Under STCW Chapter VII
Directive No. STCW/14	Issue of Non-STCW Certificates for Operation in Domestic Waters and for Operating Vessels With Propelling Power of Less Than 750 Kw
Directive No. STCW/15	Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) Training
Directive No. STCW/16	Fitness for Duty and Minimum Period of Rest
Directive No. STCW/17	Issue of Manning Dispensation
Directive No. STCW/18	Issue and Registration of Certificates
Directive No. STCW/19	Port State Control Under SCTW Convention
Directive No. STCW/20	Conduct of Trails
Directive No. ISM/01	Implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM Code)
Resolution 6/2016	Resolution 6/2016 with regard to the implementation of the International Tonnage Convention 1969
Resolution 7/2016	Resolution 7/2016 with regard to the implementation of MARPOL Convention 1973 and its Protocol and annexes 1, 2 and 5
Resolution 8/2016	Resolution 8/2016 with regard to the implementation of the SOLAS Convention 1974
Resolution 9/2016	Resolution 9/2016 with regard to the implementation of Load Line Convention 1966 and Protocol 1988
Resolution 14/2016	Resolution 14/2016 with regards to approved classification societies
Directive CIC-01	Investigation of Marine Casualties and incidents
Directive MARPOL-01	Directive MARPOL-01 Implementation of MARPOL Annex V
Directive No. MARPOL/02	Oil Record Books
Directive No. MARPOL/03	Control of Discharges of Residues of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk From Ships
Directive SOLAS-2	Type Approval Certificate for Bahraini Ships
Directive SOLAS-01	Survey and Certification under SOLAS Chap 1
Directive SOLAS-3	Means of Embarkation on and Disembarkation from Bahraini Ships
Directive SOLAS-4	Pilot Transfer Arrangements
Directive SOLAS-05	Display of Maneuvering Information on board ships
Directive SOLAS-06	In water Survey in lieu of Dry Docking
Directive SOLAS-07	Certificates and Documents required by SOLAS
Directive SOLAS-08	Carriage of Publications on Board Ships
Directive SOLAS-09	Oxygen Analysis & Gas Detection Equipment
Directive SOLAS-10	Life Saving Appliances and Equipment
Directive SOLAS-11	Goal Based Ship Construction Standards
Directive SOLAS-12	Maintenance and Inspection of Fire Protection Systems and Appliances
Directive No. SOLAS/13	Directive No. SOLAS/13 Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDS)
Directive No. SOLAS/14	Intact and Damage Stability and Strength of Vessel
Directive No. SOLAS/15	GMDS Requirements for Radio Installations and Operations
Directive No. SOLAS/16	Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) Reequirements and Backup Arrangements
Directive 1/2017	Implementation of COLREG Convention
Directive No. PSC/01	Bahrain Port State Control
Directive No. Genreal/01	To the satisfaction of the administration criteria
Directive No. 10/2016	Minimum safe manning requirements
Directive FSI/01 – Flag State Inspection	Flag State Inspection issued under the enabling power of the Ministerial Resolution 20/2016
Directive No. General/02	Transmitting Maritime Safety Information