Maritime law: Comprehensive modernisation planned

Over the decades, maritime law has become more and more extensive and therefore more complex and difficult to apply. The reorganisation is now intended to ensure greater legal certainty and reduce bureaucracy. National regulations, international ordinances and EU law are to be better integrated. To ensure that this happens as closely as possible to practical needs, the ministry is relying on constructive cooperation from the field: the project was presented at an information exchange involving representatives from commercial and leisure shipping, shipping companies and other interest groups.

A first step towards modernisation involves merging the Maritime Duties Act and the Maritime Safety Act into a uniform Maritime Navigation Act. Further steps include the revision of flag law, the simplification of the Ship Equipment Ordinance and the Marine Environmental Behaviour Ordinance.

The proposals and requests for changes from the interest groups are to be submitted by the beginning of September before further voting takes place.

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