Today, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a package of reforms with the aim of making maritime shipping under Swiss flag and to simplify the registration of vessels. The new package follows the abolition of end of 2025 of several restrictive requirements for registration of ships under the Swiss flag with the aim of increase their quality, attractiveness and competitiveness that are adopted as part of a package broader measures to increase competitiveness of the national economy. In particular, last November the The Federal Council had proposed to parliament that it should no longer support with federal guarantees the financing of sea-going vessels flying the Swiss flag due to insufficient value added for national supply, new guarantees which, moreover, they were no longer granted from the end of 2016.

The Council has therefore today proposed to Parliament the repeal of the provisions of the Federal Act on maritime navigation under the Swiss flag now considered measures to protect the financial interests of the Confederation, including, in particular, capital requirements extent, the extent of audit requirements and barriers related to the renunciation of the Swiss flag. Second Federal Council, these regulations are no longer justified in the absence of federal sureties and with their repeal, the regulatory burden on companies will be reduced interested.

The Council highlighted that the main novelty amendments to the Federal Act on Maritime Navigation, which will come into force on July 1st, however, concerns The requirements for flying the Swiss flag. Until now, they could be registered under the Swiss flag only those ships which were both of owned by Swiss companies or managed by shipowners Swiss. In the future, a Swiss shipowner will be able to beat Swiss flag even if the owner company is based abroad. The aim is to facilitate models of financing, in particular leasing and financing banking by foreign partners.