European maritime transport ministers have agreed new ways of making ports more secure.
The new measures, agreed at a meeting of the ministers in Luxembourg today, were deemed necessary because of the threat posed by international terrorism.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, said the security measures would come into effect at the end of the year.
He said: "There are increasing requirements on ports which enjoy international passenger and trade links to have security plans and measures in place."