S.L. 499.35 Art. 10Composition and procedure of the Maritime Security Committee.

(1) The following members of the Committee shall, on an basis, be appointed by the Minister and shall be -ex officio

(a) the Permanent Secretary responsible for ports;

(b) three (3) senior officials of the Authority for Transport in

Malta, being the Director for Port Security, the Chief Officer Ports & Yachting and the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen;

(c) the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta;

(d) the Commissioner of Police;

(e) the Comptroller of Customs; and

(f) the Director General of Civil Protection:

Provided that the Minister may appoint other persons as members of the Committee who appear to him to have the experience and to have shown the capacity in matters relating to maritime security.

(2) The Minister shall be the Chairman of the Committee.

(3) The Permanent Secretary responsible for ports shall be the Deputy Chairman of the Committee who shall act instead of the Chairman whenever the Chairman is absent from a meeting of the Committee or is unable for any reason to act as Chairman.

(4) Except for the members, the appointed members ex officio shall hold office for such term, not being more than three years, as may be specified in their letter of appointment.

(5) If any vacancy in the Committee occurs during the period of appointment, on account of death, resignation or for any other cause, the Minister shall, as soon as practicable, appoint another person to fill the vacancy: Provided that the Committee and the members thereof may act notwithstanding any such vacancy.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this regulation, the Minister may at any time terminate the appointment of an appointed member, if, in his opinion, such appointed member is unfit to continue in office or has become incapable of properly performing his functions.

(7) The Minister shall, from time to time, appoint a secretary to the Committee.

(8) The Committee shall meet as often as necessary, but in no case less frequently than once in every three calendar months.

(9) The Committee shall decide on the composition and terms of reference of sub-committees or expert groups to which it can give special and specific tasks.

(10) All the decisions of such Committee must be taken by at least five of all the members forming such Committee.

(11) The Committee shall regulate its own procedures.

(12) At the end of each calendar year, the Committee shall prepare an annual report, to be submitted to the Minister and copied to all the members of the Committee within the first quarter of the following year.