Duties and Responsibilities of the Authority
- to operate the port to best serve the public interest;
- to regulate and control navigation within the limits of national waterways, harbours, ports and their approaches;
- to maintain, improve, and regulate the use of port facilities and services as necessary;
- to provide for ports and their approaches, pilotage services, beacons, buoys and other navigational services and aids as required;
- to exercise the duties and functions relating to shipping and navigation exercisable under the provisions of any other law;
- to perform monitoring functions, particularly in relation to dredging and the removal of wrecks and other obstructions to navigation, to maintain safe navigation channels;
- to enforce safety standards and safety of navigation rules, registration, inspection, and issuing of sea-worthiness certificates for domestic vessels and issuing of certificates of competence to Boat Masters;
- to conduct maritime casualty inquiries;
- to implement, enforce and monitor all the international instruments relating to port State control;
- to enforce the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code at port facilities;
- to regulate port activities and clearance;
- coordinate the implementation of policies relating to maritime affairs and promote the integration of such policies into national development projects;
- to advise the Government on legislative and other measures necessary for the implementation of relevant international conventions, treaties, agreements to which Belize is a party;
- to ensure in collaboration with such other public agencies and institutions, the prevention of marine pollution, and protection of the marine environment.