The status of Executive Agency "Maritime administration" is regulated by the Merchant Shipping Code - article 360, (1). The activity, structure, work organization and staff is specified in an Ordinance adopted by the Council of Ministers.

The Agency shall execute the following functions:

• perform functions related to the safety of shipping in the sea spaces and inland waterways of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• ensure the actual liaison between the government and ships flying the Bulgarian flag;
• exercise control on the observation of shipping safety requirements by Bulgarian and foreign ships;
• prepare and issue certificates of competency to seafarers;
• perform functions related to the living and working conditions onboard ships;
• exercise control on traffic in canals, ports of the Republic of Bulgaria and other duly defined regions;
• perform search and rescue of people, vessels and aircraft in distress;
• exercise control on protection of the marine environment and the Danube river from pollution from ships;
• regulate the movement and maneuvering of vessels in harbors;
• control and supervise the navigational conditions ensuring shipping safety;
• coordinate the activity of the agency, on realization of control for execution of the measures of regulation the fleet capacity;
• ensure the function of intermediate unit for Sectoral operative program "Transport-2007-20013, and realize the functions, determined from the governing authority on the program;
• execute and coordinate the functions of the agency, related to the organizational and technical assistance of the activity of fund "Inland Waterways" ( in force from the date of joining of Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union)