Verification of the implementation of the EU maritime safety and security legislation remains an essential task and the Agency will continue this process in 2010. There are several reasons for verifying how this legislation is implemented in practice, including: detecting gaps in the overall safety system; promoting a harmonised approach across the European Union; and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures in place.

The visit and inspection task contains three different elements, representing a consolidated field of activity:

• The Commission has been entrusted with an assessment task by EU legislation and has delegated the inspection work to the Agency: this is for example the case for the inspection of the work of Classification Societies and for the inspection of the educational and training systems for seafarers in third countries (STCW).
• The Commission has requested the Agency to verify the effective implementation by Member States of EU maritime legislative acts. Thus visits to Member States are carried out in accordance with Article 3 of its Founding Regulation and the visits policy that has been established by its Administrative Board.
• In the field of maritime security the Agency has been given the task of assisting the Commission with its inspection of Member States under Regulation 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security. The Agency supports the Commission with the inspection of national administrations responsible for ship security, ships, shipping companies and Recognised Security Organisations.