The international measures taken by the IMO to improve security standards in shipping (SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code) have been transposed into Community law under Regulation (EC) No. 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security. At the same time, Regulation (EC) No. 1406/2002 was amended by Regulation (EC) No. 724/2004 to task the Agency to provide the Commission with technical assistance in the performance of its inspections under Regulation (EC) No. 725/2004. These inspections consist of verifying the implementation by Member States of the security requirements mandated by the Regulation, for which the Agency provides expertise in relation to ships, relevant companies and Recognised Security Organisations. In 2010, re-inspections of Member States’ maritime security administrations are expected to continue, accompanied primarily, as far as the Agency’s participation is concerned, by further inspections of ships in port.

Member States have obligations to monitor the Recognised Security Organisations they have authorised to carry certain security-related tasks on their behalf under Regulation (EC) No.725/2004 and inspections of maritime administrations in respect of this task are expected to start. However, decisions by the Commission to conduct inspections of Recognised Security Organisations and shipping companies with the assistance from the Agency’s experts will, among other factors, be based on the outcome of the ship security inspections.

An inspection programme for 2010 is expected to be adopted by the Commission before the end of 2009. However, for the time being it is anticipated that around thirty inspections  will be required, consistent with the programme of inspections carried out in the past two years.

In addition, the Agency will continue to provide assistance to the EFTA Surveillance Authority when requested for carrying out maritime security inspections in Norway and Iceland based on a standard methodology prepared by the Agency.

Technical support to the Commission in respect of the planned recast of Regulation (EC) No.725/2004 will be provided.