The International Conventions on Maritime Safety and Marine Pollution Prevention establish that inspections and surveys of ships, so far as regards the enforcement of the provisions of the Conventions and the granting of exemptions therefrom, shall be carried out by officers of the Administration. The Administration may, however, authorise a Recognised Organisation to conduct the inspections and surveys on behalf of the Administration.

Directive 2009/15/EC on Common Rules and Standards for Ship Inspection and Survey Organisations and for the Relevant Activities of Maritime Administrations, establishes measures to be followed by a Member State in its relationship with Recognised Organisations. This includes the development and implementation of safety requirements for hull, machinery and control installations of ships falling under the scope of international conventions as well as for monitoring the activities undertaken by a Recognised Organisation on behalf of the Member State.

The Commission requested in 2009 that EMSA commence inspection visits to Member States with regard to the requirement in Directive 2009/15/EC on the monitoring of a Recognised Organisation by an authorising Member State. The scope of the inspection visit is to establish the system of controls and verifications that a Member State applies when monitoring the work of a Recognised Organisation. The inspection visit includes interviews with the National Competent Authority and other relevant authorities as appropriate, in order for EMSA to be able to provide to the Commission the requested information on the level of implementation of the Directive.