Author(s): AL HAJJAJI, Shams Al Din
Date: 2026
Origin: Revista Jurídica Portucalense / Portucalense Law Journal
Subject(s): SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Author(s): AL HAJJAJI, Shams Al Din
Date: 2026
Origin: Revista Jurídica Portucalense / Portucalense Law Journal
Subject(s): SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Abstract: This article argues that the governance of the Suez Canal is undergoing a structural transformation from classical navigational neutrality toward a model of “sustainable neutrality,” in which open maritime transit is preserved while environmental compliance becomes an integral condition of canal access. This evolution reflects broader changes in global maritime law driven by climate regulation, decarbonization policies, and emerging carbon-market pressures affecting international shipping. The topic is significant because strategic maritime chokepoints increasingly function not only as commercial corridors but also as regulatory nodes capable of shaping global sustainability practices. The study examines how the Suez Canal Authority operationalizes this transition through administrative regulation, statutory incentives, and infrastructure investments aligned with international environmental commitments, including the IMO greenhouse-gas reduction strategy and regional carbon-pricing regimes. Using a comparative doctrinal, empiriical and institutional legal analysis supported by recent operational and policy data (2024–2026), the paper evaluates how canal governance interacts with international maritime law, administrative law mechanisms, and evolving economic pressures within global shipping.