History

Maritime's heritage can be traced back to 1811 when the first harbour master was appointed to control the port of Sydney.

It was another 90 years before the Sydney Harbour Trust was formed in 1901 to take over privately owned wharfage for the special purpose of controlling, administering and developing the port of Sydney. The state's other ports were supervised by the Department of Navigation, which was also responsible for navigation laws and pilotage services at all NSW ports.

These arrangements continued until 1936, when there was a centralisation of functions through the establishment of the Maritime Services Board. With the exception of Port Kembla, the MSB had responsibility for all ports and the general powers of a navigation and pilotage agency with jurisdiction over all navigable waters in the state.

The administration of Port Kembla was transferred to the MSB in 1948 from the Public Works Department. The MSB established a Waterways Management Division in 1984.

The MSB was dissolved in 1995 under the Port Corporatisation and Waterways Management Act 1995, and three independent port corporations for Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney were established. The Waterways Management Division became the Waterways Authority, and port land and other property assets were administered by the Marine Ministerial Holding Corporation (MMHC).

In 2004 the Waterways Authority and the MMHC were merged into the NSW Maritime Authority. On 1 November 2011, the Maritime Authority of NSW was abolished and a new agency, Roads and Maritime Services was created. The functions of boating safety compliance, property administration and infrastructure management are the responsibility of Maritime Services, a Division of Roads and Maritime Services.