An examination of the European Union’s regulatory framework on ship and port facility security

Abstract

The vitality of the global economy is largely dependent on the movement of ships for the transport of goods and persons by sea. At a European Union level, the single market is heavily dependent on efficient and secure maritime transport. This dissertation examines the effectiveness of the European Union regulatory framework on ship and port facility security. The work addresses why ship and port facility security are crucial for the effective operation of maritime trade within the European Union. The study identifies and examines the main European Union instruments regulating ship and port facility security, in particular, how Regulation 725/2004 and Directive 2005/65/EC has been transposed in EU legal framework. The dissertation also assesses the implementation of said instruments regulating ship and port security by selected Member States of the European Union, namely Spain and Malta. The findings of this research suggest that apart from imposing harsher punitive measures and criminalising the intent to commit a crime against a ship or a port facility, the Member States should continue working together in order to enhance ship and port facility security framework.