Additional Inspections for Vessels Aged 25 and Over Transiting the Suez Canal

In Circular No. 804 dated 20 October 2026 of the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping and the attached Announcement No. CAN(26)10 of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), it is reported that the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has increased the inspections to which vessels aged 25 and over are subjected prior to canal transits.

According to information conveyed by the ICS, under the regulation stated to have entered into force on 6 October 2026, vessels aged 25 and over are required to undergo a comprehensive inspection and sea trial to obtain transit clearance, with the relevant fees to be paid in advance.

It is stated that vessels transiting the canal again within 6 months from the date of the last inspection will be exempt from repeating the said inspection and sea trial, provided that no breakdown or technical deficiency has been recorded during this period.

Nevertheless, in its announcement dated 20 October 2026 the ICS states that this information is based on press reports, that no official English notification has been published on the SCA website and that official confirmation and clarification regarding the scope and justification of the practice have been requested. The ICS has also conveyed industry concerns to the SCA regarding potential additional costs and delays that the practice may entail. The shared documents do not specify inspection fees, processing times or detailed implementation procedures.

Within this framework, we recommend that the following matters be taken into consideration for vessels aged 25 and over scheduled to transit the Suez Canal:

• taking into account potential additional inspections and waiting times in voyage schedules and cost calculations
• confirming in writing, via the local agent prior to transit, the inspection conditions, fees, payment procedure and expected processing time applicable to the vessel
• assessing the allocation of additional costs and delays between the parties within the framework of relevant charterparty provisions and the specific circumstances of the concrete case
• preparing previous inspection records and documentation concerning the vessel’s technical condition if planning to benefit from the 6-month exemption, and confirming that the exemption is valid for the relevant transit.

As the details of the practice still require official confirmation, it is of vital importance that transit preparations be conducted in line with up-to-date information obtained on a vessel-specific basis.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.

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