On March 15, news sites reported that a letter had been sent to the Egyptian Ministry of Transport by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), informing the ministry that in 2016, there will be an inspection of the ships, ports, maritime routes and works, as well as the government agencies overseeing shipping in Egypt. According to reports, the purpose is to gauge compliance with shipping safety standards set by international agreements, which the IMO is charged with enforcing.

It should be noted that the IMO provided an opportunity for all countries to undergo a voluntary inspection prior to the mandatory inspections set to begin in 2016. The voluntary inspections offer a chance for states to identify any existing issues and hear IMO recommendations before the mandatory inspection.

The opportunity for voluntary inspections for all countries first began in 2007. Egypt planned to participate, and set four dates to do so. However, the Egyptian Maritime Safety Authority excused itself from the inspections and requested postponement each time, most recently on Sept. 23, 2014. Egyptian newspapers reported that the most recent postponement was the reason the IMO sent a letter to the Ministry of Transport, informing it that the mandatory inspection would come in 2016 without Egypt having the opportunity to benefit from the voluntary inspection.

The Maritime Safety Authority is a government body under the Ministry of Transport that oversees safety concerns for shipping routes and ports.