Suez Canal Adds Inspections for Ships 25 Years and Older

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Ships aged 25 years or more must now pass a full inspection and sea trials before they can use the Suez Canal. Owners must pay the required fees in advance. The new rules aim to improve safety, but they may also raise costs and cause delays for shipping companies, Splash 247 reports.

There is one exception. Ships that return to the canal within six months of their last check do not need another inspection. This applies only if no technical problems or defects were reported during that time.

The rules come as the global fleet gets older. According to Clarksons Research, ships aged 25 or more now make up over 150 million gross tons. That is a 75% increase in five years. Another 68 million gross tons belongs to vessels over 30 years old.

The Suez Canal Authority has not yet announced the inspection fees or how long the process will take. Shipowners and agents should factor these extra checks into their voyage plans, especially for older ships with irregular schedules.

Global News

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