The Technical Department besides providing technical advice to the Registrar-General is responsible for maritime safety, including the technical aspects of local and international legislation and also for Port State Control in Maltese Ports. The Shipping Policy Department is responsible for policy matters relating to merchant shipping including the development of the Malta flag and of merchant shipping in general.

The Technical Department also oversees the running of the Malta Flag State Inspectorate which is charged with the task of carrying out inspections of Maltese registered ships in ports around the world. On the specific instructions of the Directorate, and in addition to the statutory surveys carried out by classification societies, a worldwide network of inspectors randomly inspect Malta ships in order to ensure that they remain in compliance with the relative international safety and social standards.