The general directorate of ports is located in Latakia city.

It supervises the management of the main following ports: Latakia, Tartous, Banias, Jableh and Arwad along with the fishing and cruise ports in Latakia and Banias, where it applies the marine legislations inside these ports. It also secures maritime facilities necessary to maintain safe sailings of vessels. It also carries out investigations regarding collision accidents, vessels' fires and riots on board ships along with marine pollution whether of land or sea reasons. It also arrests boats and commercial vessels of all kinds, it is also responsible for closing and opening ports in case of any discrepancy that might happen and might affect the entry and exit of vessels in and out of the ports.

The directorate also controls the maritime movement inside the ports through supervising the entry and exit of these vessels into the ports. It also carries out hydrographic works on the territorial Syrian waters and producing charts, operating light houses that are extended along the Syrian coast,and arranging their ever readiness. All works mentioned hereinabove are executed by the general directorate of ports.

The directorate of ports also issue a group of marine licences and certificates as follows:

• Certificate of competency (COC), certificate of proficiency (COP) and endorsement .
• Licences for marine professions of all kinds, it also issues seaman books, coastal licenses and licenses for building boats.
• Special regulations for registering and issuance of Syrian vessels and other works. All these works are done by the general directorate of ports.
• The directorate also controls public marine properties and preventing illegal acts againstthem. Guarding all buildings and establishments owned by the General Directorate of ports, arrested and confiscated vessels and boats through coast guards.
  Approving on certificates issued by a General Establishment for Maritime Training and Qualifying .
• The Directorate also deals with all matters relating to all kinds of fishing through its different means, preparing all reports against those who violate the rules andregulations. We also issue licenses for amateur fishermen at fishing and marine ownerships' department.
• The directorate of ports also studies all international marine conventions, preparing drafts of joining these conventions and deciding if they are suitable to be agreed upon. Following up the execution of the international marine conventions made between Syria and other Arab states and foreign countries.