Swiss Maritime Shipping: New Rules to Strengthen the Sector and Align with International Practices
At its meeting of May 27, 2026, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a package of measures aimed at strengthening Switzerland’s maritime shipping sector, with the objective of enhancing the attractiveness of the Swiss flag and aligning the regulatory framework with developments in the industry.
The measures form part of the broader revision of Swiss maritime legislation and of the federal government’s wider package aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the Swiss economy.
For Switzerland — an important international hub for commodity trading and shipping-related services — the quality of the maritime regulatory framework plays a significant role in maintaining the competitiveness of the country’s business environment.
Legislative Revision: Reducing Administrative Burdens Following the Phase-Out of Federal Guarantees
A central component of the reform concerns amendments to the Federal Act on Maritime Navigation under the Swiss Flag, with the aim of removing provisions that have become obsolete.
In particular, the Federal Council proposes repealing the legal provisions linked to federal guarantees for ocean-going vessels, which have no longer been granted since the end of 2016 and are now considered unjustified in light of their limited contribution to the country’s supply security.
In this context, the revision provides for the removal of minimum capital requirements, a reduction of audit-related obligations, and the easing of certain administrative constraints associated with relinquishing the Swiss flag.
The regulatory streamlining is intended to reduce administrative burdens for companies and to make the legal framework more consistent with current operational practices in the international maritime sector.
Ordinance Amendments: Greater Operational Flexibility for Market Participants
Alongside the legislative revision, the Federal Council is introducing amendments at ordinance level that are expected to enter into force in the short term.
One significant change concerns the eligibility criteria for flying the Swiss flag. Until now, registration was limited to vessels owned by Swiss companies and operated by Swiss shipowners. Going forward, a shipowner based in Switzerland will also be able to register a vessel under the Swiss flag even if the owning company is domiciled abroad.
This development reflects current industry dynamics and is intended to facilitate leasing structures and international bank financing arrangements.
For shipping operators, the measure introduces greater flexibility in structuring international leasing and financing transactions, while also helping strengthen the competitiveness of Switzerland’s maritime trade and trade finance ecosystem.
Recognition of the Electronic Bill of Lading
The ordinance amendments also address the digitalization of maritime trade.
The Federal Council clarified that the bill of lading — a key document in the maritime transport of goods — may also be issued and managed in electronic form (electronic bill of lading).
For the commodity trading and trade finance sectors, this development is particularly significant, as it directly affects transaction documentation management and the broader digitalization of processes throughout the supply chain.
Entry into Force and Future Developments
The measures introduced are structured across two separate timelines.
The ordinance-level provisions — in particular those relating to Swiss flag eligibility requirements and the electronic handling of trade documents — are expected to enter into force on July 1, 2026.
The revision of the Federal Act on Maritime Navigation, including the repeal of provisions linked to federal guarantees and the simplification of the regulatory framework, will instead need to follow the ordinary parliamentary process before entering into force.
Taken together, the measures form part of a broader process to modernize Swiss maritime legislation, with the long-term objective of strengthening the reliability and attractiveness of the Swiss flag in the international environment.
Source:
Federal Council, Press Release dd. May 27, 2026 | Federal Council aims to strengthen Swiss maritime shipping
