Executive Summary

Egypt has introduced significant legislative amendments to the legal framework governing maritime trade, ship safety, and the registration of commercial ships through Laws Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of 2025.

The amendments update the regulatory framework governing the safety of ships, the conditions for raising the Egyptian flag, the acquisition of Egyptian nationality by ships, transactions affecting ownership and other real rights, and the registration and transfer of ownership of commercial ships. They also introduce additional regulatory requirements and penalties intended to strengthen compliance within Egypt’s maritime sector.

Key Highlights

• Ship Safety and Egyptian Flag Requirements : Law No. 2 of 2025 introduces amendments concerning ship safety and establishes updated conditions for raising the Egyptian flag on newly built ships and ships previously registered abroad. These include approval and supervision of ship designs and specifications and age limits of 25 years for ships generally and 20 years for passenger ships, subject to the exemptions provided by law. 
• Egyptian Nationality of Ships: Law No. 3 of 2025 expands the circumstances in which a ship may acquire Egyptian nationality, including ownership by Egyptian nationals and certain leasing and financing arrangements. Where ownership or leasing is held in common, the amendment requires the majority of the relevant shares to be held by Egyptians. 
• Ownership and Real Rights : Transactions intended to create, transfer, or terminate ownership or other real rights over a ship are rendered invalid unless carried out by an official document. The amendment also establishes specific notarization fees based on the ship’s gross registered tonnage. 
• Commercial Ship Registration: Law No. 4 of 2025 updates the institutional references governing commercial ship registration, including replacing references to the Ports and Lighthouses Authority with the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety and updating the relevant ministerial and administrative designations. 
• Loss or Transfer of Ownership: The amendments impose immediate notification obligations in cases including the sinking, burning, breaking, or transfer of a ship’s ownership to a foreigner, with cancellation of the ship’s registration in the specified circumstances.
• New Penalties : The amended framework introduces criminal and financial penalties for violations relating to ship registration, certificates, and statutory ship data, including imprisonment and fines that may reach EGP 1 million for certain offences. 
• Additional Registration Procedures : New Articles 6 bis and 6 bis 1 introduce procedures for certain leased foreign and Egyptian ships concerning the raising or suspension of the Egyptian flag and the submission of specified information and documents to the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety. 

Areas / Sectors Affected

• Shipowners
• Ship operators
• Shipbuilders and maritime businesses
• Charterers and lessees
• Commercial ship registration stakeholders
• Maritime trade and transportation businesses
• Entities involved in the ownership, registration, leasing, or operation of commercial ships.