Mission
To offer professional, courteous and effective services to the maritime community in Belize, with the main focus on safety and security of shipping operations and the protection of the marine environment; and to engage our stakeholders in the development of Belize’s maritime industry.
Vision
To develop a cadre of competent officers to carry out the legal mandate of the organisation.To be proactive in identifying and incorporating appropriate technology. To respond in a timely and appropriate fashion to changes in the national, regional and international maritime industry to aid economic development and enforcement.
The Authority's Overview
The Belize Port Authority (BPA) is a statutory body established in 1980 and currently falls under the portfolio of the Ministry Public Utilities, Energy & Logistics. The Authority is administered by a Board of Directors.
The Ports Commissioner oversees the daily operations of the Belize Port Authority (BPA), which employs 66 staff members. This dedicated team focuses on building capacity in key areas to better serve the maritime community.
The BPA’s headquarters is located in Belize City, with additional marine offices in San Pedro, Big Creek, Punta Gorda, and Placencia. All offering 24-hour services.
As the principal maritime agency, the BPA regulates and develops Belize’s ports, harbors, and shipping. The Authority also ensures the safety of all vessels navigating Belize’s waters. To enforce safety and compliance with laws and regulations, the BPA conducts regular patrols in inland waterways, coastal, and offshore areas. Additionally, the BPA handles the clearance of foreign vessels and performs inspections to ensure adherence to both domestic and international laws.
Quarterly inspections are conducted at the various port facilities to ensure that the ports are safe, operational and are in compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of the International Maritime Organization.
Mariners are urged to practice safe boating and familiarize themselves with all relevant laws and regulations!
Help us serve you better by reporting incidents such as:
-
🚤 Speeding in no-wake zones
-
💡 Sabotage of navigational lights in the harbor
-
🚫 Non-functional navigational lights
-
⚠️ Boating violations
-
⚖️ Overloaded vessels
Please report accidents/incidents by emailing 📧 vto@portauthority.bz or by calling our emergency hotline 📞 (number listed below).
-
National Maritime Communication Center:
Toll Free Emergency Number: 966
Duties and Responsibilities of the Authority
-
Operate the port in a way that best serves the public interest.
-
Regulate and control navigation within national waterways, harbors, ports, and their approaches.
-
Maintain, improve, and regulate port facilities and services as needed.
-
Provide pilotage services, beacons, buoys, and other navigational aids for ports and their approaches, as required.
-
Exercise duties and functions related to shipping and navigation as outlined in other laws.