海事主任的主要職責是 (a)監控和規管港口、船舶事務、本地船隻、公眾貨物裝卸區和客運碼頭，並協調區內搜救行動； (b)主持本地船長合格證書考試； (c)管理政府船隊運作和海事分處； (d)進行港口策劃及發展工作； (e)培訓海事處人員和其他人員； (f)對付海上污染；以及 (g)提供海港繫泊服務和海圖製作服務等。 (註：或須(i)輪班當值、上班候命工作及執行緊急現場職務；以及(ii)在本港或海外受訓。）

A Marine Officer is mainly deployed on (a) controlling and regulating ports, shipping and local craft, public cargo working areas and ferry terminals, co-ordinating search and rescue operations in the region; (b) examining candidates for local certificates of competency as masters; (c) managing Government fleet operations and district marine offices; (d) planning the development of the port; (e) training Marine Department officers and others; (f) combating marine pollution and (g) providing harbour mooring services and hydrographic charting services. (Remarks: May be required to (i) work shifts, or undertake stand-by duties and to attend emergency on-scene duties; and (ii) attend training courses either locally or overseas.)