PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) has been delegated the responsibilities and powers under the Harbours Act (Chapter 240) to manage and regulate all declared ports and non-declared ports in the country by the Government through the Secretary for the Department of  Transport.

In order to distinguish and separate its commerical business of providing essential ports services from its delegated regulatory function, PNGPCL created a Division within its organisational structure called the Maritime Compliance Department and vested with the Department the responsibility of performing the regulatory function. The Maritime Compliance Department operates under the business name of PNG Harbours Management Services (PNGHMS) and is headed by the Chief Maritime Compliance Officer who is also the Port Manager for all the declare ports in the country.

The Port Manager through PNGHMS performs the port management and regulatory function as provided under the Harbour Act (Chapter 240) and the Ports (Management and Safety) Regulations 2010.

PNGHMS as the regulatory division is responsible for regulating and managing all activities within declared and non-declared ports.