Port Authority Conducts Pier and Marina Assessments in San Pedro

The Belize Port Authority (BPA) is conducting pier and marina assessments in San Pedro Town from Monday, November 9th, through Wednesday, November 18th, 2026, including weekends. The inspections cover piers, docks, marinas and related over-water structures and are being conducted under the Harbors and Merchant Shipping (Marina) Regulations, 2024 (S.I. No. 114 of 2024).
BPA officers are inspecting the condition and maintenance of structures, identifying hazards to navigation, safety and the marine environment, and assisting owners with permit and registration requirements. All owners, lessees and operators of piers, docks and marinas in San Pedro are being asked to participate in the process.
The assessments form part of a broader national effort by the BPA to document and regulate over-water structures. The exercise began in Caye Caulker before moving to San Pedro, with BPA personnel working alongside other relevant government departments. Officers use a comprehensive inspection form to examine structural integrity, environmental compliance, navigational safety, and the overall condition of each facility.
Under the 2024 regulations, owners must maintain marinas according to standards set by the Authority. If a structure poses a risk to maritime safety, security, or the marine environment, the BPA Commissioner may order its owner to repair the structure or remove the hazard.
The San Pedro assessments are also connected to a broader plan to develop and launch a San Pedro Marine Highway in 2027. The initiative would include clearly demarcated boating lanes marked with buoys, following surveys conducted after recent boating accidents and casualties at sea.
The BPA says piers and marinas must be registered with the Authority. Owners must complete an application, submit the relevant documents, pay fees based on the facility’s size, and undergo an assessment. According to the BPA, unregistered structures are not considered legal. Under the regulations, no person may construct, operate, install, modify, alter, or replace a marina without a valid Marina Permit.
A BPA officer conducting assessments on November 11th explained that the exercise involves more than paperwork. “Everyone whose pier and marina is assessed must sign that the assessment was done,” the officer said. “The BPA has the mandate to manage over-water structures, working with other agencies, and this is part of ensuring navigational aid and safety at sea is done as much as possible. The piers and marinas are assessed to assist with the planned Marine Highway.”
The officer continued, “We are looking at structural integrity and environmental compliance, while working with other relevant departments during the assessments.” Once the assessments are complete, owners may be required to address safety or environmental concerns identified during inspections.
The BPA stated that the regulations are intended to improve maritime safety, protect the marine environment, and support sustainable growth in the sector. Property owners who have not yet registered their facilities are encouraged to complete the process and work with the Authority before further enforcement or development requirements take effect.