The Maritime Institute has four objectives: 

1. The Maritime Institute organizes the Inter-university Master in Maritime Sciences. For students following this mastercourse and for law students taking courses in maritime law, transport law and law of the sea, the Maritime Institute organizes study visits to port-related companies, Belgian ports and London-based international maritime organizations;
2. The Maritime Institute organizes conferences, colloquia and workshops either on its own or in collaboration with other institutions, organizations and universities;
3. The Maritime Institute is an independent research unit advising and carrying out studies for governmental administrations, non-governmental organizations and private companies. The staff of the institute is specialized in topics concerning international maritime law, law of the sea, national and international environmental law, transport law, national and international environmental conservation law and related policy studies;
4. The Maritime Institute is involved in various training projects in co-operation with other organizations or universities. With UNCTAD, the Institute was a partner in TRAINMAR. Within the framework of the EC-ERASMUS/SOCRATES programme on students mobility, the Institute co-ordinates its own ICP-project and is member of other ICP-projects. Furthermore there is a close collaboration in the field of port marketing aimed at representatives of ports in developing countries.