The importance of maritime transport cannot be overstated. Nine out of ten goods imported or exported to and from Sweden at some point in the transport chain go via maritime transport. In logistical contexts, Sweden is to be regarded as an island. We are dependent on maritime transport to function, making it a national interest. This is a reality we largely share with Norway and Finland, forming a basis for our planning for heightened readiness.
Maritime transport in the Baltic Sea supports more than 100 million people. Several countries in the area rely on uninterrupted trade across the seas, where the need for functioning sea transport also has its place in the planning that follows from NATO membership. Swedish supply security is highly dependent on the functioning of import and export flows. The current security situation is not expected to change for a long time and will continue to affect society at large, maritime transport, and the Swedish Maritime Administration.
The framework for the Swedish Maritime Administration's preparedness work is continuity work and the guidelines applicable to preparedness planning and capability development. As a preparedness agency, we participate in the preparedness sectors of Transport and Rescue Services and Civil Protection. Regarding international work related to civil defence, the Swedish Maritime Administration is tasked with participating in NATO's civil preparedness work and, together with the Swedish Transport Administration, we are part of the NATO Transport Group - Ocean Shipping.
Total defence requirements are determining, and we must consider them in our operations. The Swedish Maritime Administration is responsible for several socially critical operations, and it is the systematic continuity work that should ensure we can maintain operations at an acceptable level as far as possible. The main focus is to ensure the availability of maritime transport and to ensure state sea and air rescue, where we should maintain operations as far as possible considering the availability of personnel and other conditions during war.
In addition to the natural collaboration that follows from the organisation of sector-responsible and preparedness agencies, the Swedish Maritime Administration has an excellent cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces. Based on the extent we now see, in the form of calls for national and operational joint planning between military and civil defence, we conclude that we are on the right path and that our planning for heightened readiness can take further steps forward.
Today, in many departments within the Swedish Maritime Administration, there are specially appointed preparedness coordinators who contribute to our development in the preparedness area. The agency has received resource reinforcements for civil defence, which have been crucial for development and build-up. The work will continue over time, and examples include the procurement of backup power and spare parts, work with command sites, and planning for the need for goods and services. The Swedish Maritime Administration has also had reasons to make investments to support a more robust IT infrastructure and ultimately to strengthen information and IT security. Like many other organisations, we have a significant IT dependency, and we know that our investments need to account for qualified attacks.
Our employees are the primary resource contributing to good preparedness and a strong safety culture. The willingness to solve our socially critical tasks is in our DNA. We see it most clearly when our employees operationally handle or provide support during various incidents or accidents. Here lies a soft and crucial asset, the willingness to act and solve their task, which will also be decisive in heightened readiness.
Cay PetterssonHead of Security and Preparedness Staff, Swedish Maritime Administration