As the world today moves toward smart ports and digital supply chains, and as the speed of global navigation intensifies based on a time logic that has become the sole non-refundable currency in maritime transport, Jordan's maritime trade law No. 12 of 1972 still stands frozen in time, conceived in a context completely different from what we witness today.
2006 witnessed the formation of committees and specialized studies to review maritime law; drafts and amendments were accomplished, and the project moved between the Legislation Diwan and the Prime Minister's office, yet it remains under study to this day. The irony is that any law enacted in its traditional form now will be outdated by the pace of development, as the movement of maritime transport changes faster than traditional legislative cycles.
Therefore, the update should not be a partial amendment, but a comprehensive reformulation based on digital foundations (Digital-Based Legislation), recognizing electronic contracts, digital bills of lading, and regulating multi-modal transport, keeping pace with technological advancements in ship contracting and immediate data exchange between ports.
Given the strategic importance of Aqaba's location, modernizing maritime legislation has become a national priority, matching the port's status and competing with major ports in the region. Modern legislation does not just achieve procedural comfort; it reduces time, cuts costs, and provides Jordanian exporters and importers with a competitive edge that ultimately reflects on the consumer.
Moreover, aligning national legislation with modern international agreements, such as the Rotterdam and *Hamburg Convention*, has become essential to balance the protection of Jordanian traders and international carriers, and to enhance legal certainty in maritime transactions.
At the dispute resolution level, the presence of specialized maritime arbitration centers in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt has enhanced their status as regional centers for maritime disputes.
From here arises the urgent need to establish a maritime arbitration center or a specialized arbitration office in Aqaba, which would alleviate the burden on regular courts, spare parties the need to resort to geographically distant courts, and achieve the speed of settlement required by the nature of this sector.
The presence of a maritime arbitration center in Aqaba has become a practical necessity that matches the port's uniqueness as Jordan's sole maritime gateway. Instead of handling some disputes in courts outside the natural jurisdiction of maritime activity, it becomes logical to establish a specialized judicial and arbitration branch within Aqaba itself, reflecting accumulated technical expertise and enhancing investment confidence.
Today, updating the maritime trade law must be an urgent legislative priority, not a project postponed in drawers. Because marine law is a mirror of the state's ability to keep up with the global economy.
And the sea waits for no one… and neither does trade.
