UK Act of Parliament
1964
United Kingdom
Harbours Act 1964
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
12 compliance obligations · 4 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
2 of 12 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 2 carry different penalties and 8 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 8
- Director or Officer 1
- Statutory Undertaker 1
Plus 2 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Statutory Undertakers also bound by 169 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Cory Decarbonisation Project Order 2025 2025 116 duties
- The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 2022 112 duties
- Water Industry Act 1991 1991 52 duties
- Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2006 44 duties
- The A47 North Tuddenham to Easton Development Consent Order 2022 2022 28 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 87 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
PROCEDURE FOR MAKING HARBOUR REVISION AND EMPOWERMENT ORDERS
Procedure for Confirming and Making Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
Reconstituting the harbour authority by whom the harbour is being...
Empowering the authority to borrow money, with or without limitation...
Empowering the authority to levy at the harbour charges other...
Securing the efficient collection of charges levied by the authority...
Regulating the application of moneys in the nature of revenue...
Varying or extinguishing any exemption from charges levied by the...
Securing the welfare of the authority’s officers and servants and...
Extending the time within which anything is required or authorised...
Imposing or conferring on the authority duties or powers (including...
Any object which, though not falling within any of the...
Regulating (in whole or to a less extent) the procedure...
Varying or abolishing duties or powers imposed or conferred on...
Imposing or conferring on the authority, for the purpose aforesaid,...
Transferring from the authority to another or to the authority...
Settling (either for all purposes or for limited purposes) the...
Conferring on the authority power to acquire (whether by agreement...
Extinguishing or diverting public rights of way over footpaths ,...
Extinguishing public rights of navigation for the purposes of works...
Authorising justices of the peace to appoint, on the nomination...
Enabling the authority to close part of the harbour or...
Empowering the authority to dispose of property vested in them...
Empowering the authority (alone or with others) to develop land...
Empowering the authority to delegate the performance of any of...
In this Part of this Schedule— . . . ....
(1) An applicant shall arrange for a notice to be...
(1) Where further information is made available on an official...
(1) If the Secretary of State receives a copy of...
(1) This paragraph applies if an applicant makes an EIA...
If the order will authorise the compulsory acquisition of land...
(1) If the order will result in the extinguishment or...
(1) If the applicant is not the harbour authority, the...
The Secretary of State may require the applicant to serve...
(1) The Secretary of State, before determining an application, must—...
(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) an application for a...
The following paragraphs in this Part have effect where—
(1) This paragraph applies if an objection to the application...
(1) This paragraph applies where an EIA application is made....
(1) The Secretary of State must— (a) in the case...
(1) The Secretary of State must make a decision under...
The Secretary of State must make the decision required by...
In this Part of this Schedule, references to provisions of...
A project shall be treated for the purposes of this...
(1) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State makes...
(1) The Secretary of State may direct that an environmental...
The Secretary of State may direct that an environmental impact...
(1) The Secretary of State may direct that an environmental...
(1) The Secretary of State may give a deferral direction...
(1) If a deferral direction is given in respect of...
(1) The Secretary of State may make an order authorising...
The Secretary of State must make the decision required by...
(1) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make the...
(1) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State makes...
(1) As soon as possible after a harbour revision order...
(1) This paragraph applies where application is made to the...
(1) Where the Secretary of State proposes to make a...
(1) The following paragraphs in this Part have effect where—...
(1) This paragraph applies if an objection to the proposal...
(1) The Secretary of State shall consider—
(1) For purposes of this Part, the effects of a...
(1) A person may not make an application for a...
Where the Secretary of State proposes to make the order...
(1) As soon as possible after a harbour revision order...
(1) The modifications subject to which Part I of this...
(1) Where the Secretary of State is notified of a...
(1) The Secretary of State may direct a person to...
(1) The Secretary of State must make a screening decision...
(1) The Secretary of State, if satisfied that it is...
(1) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State decides...
(1) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State decides...
(1) An application for a harbour revision order must be...
(1) If an applicant makes an EIA application, the applicant...
(1) The Secretary of State must, where necessary, direct an...
If in respect of a project there is—
The Secretary of State must not consider an application for...
(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, provide for...
The submission to the Minister of a harbour reorganisation scheme...
Where a harbour reorganisation scheme is submitted to the Minister...
(1) Where effect has been given to paragraph 2 above...
So soon as may be after a harbour reorganisation scheme...
References to confirming a scheme shall be construed as references...
Paragraph 1 shall be ommitted.
In paragraph 2— (a) for the opening words down to...
In paragraph 3— (a) in sub-paragraph (1) for the words...
In paragraph 4 for the words “submitted to” there shall...
Ministers’ powers, on application of intending undertakers, or others, to make orders conferring powers for improvement, construction, &c., of harbours.
- Apply for a harbour empowerment order when you need extra powers Any Person
Procedure for making harbour revision and empowerment orders, and substitution thereof, in general, for provisional orders.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure compensation and access rights in Harbour Orders Crown / Minister / Government department
Certain charges of certain harbour authorities to be reasonable.
- Ensure harbour charges are reasonable Any Person
Right of objection to ship, passenger and goods dues.
Fine up to £2,500- Fail to comply with a direction on harbour dues Any Person
Procedure
- Follow statutory procedures when giving harbour directions Any Person
Enforcement
Fine up to £2,500- Fail to comply with harbour directions Any Person
Power of Council to obtain information and forecasts.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to provide required harbour information or forecasts Any Person
Accounts and reports relating to harbour activities and associated activities.
- Prepare and submit annual harbour accounts and reports Statutory Undertaker
Directions as to performance of delegated functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Relevant authorities must publish directions given to delegated persons Crown / Minister / Government department
Environmental duties of harbour authorities.
- Consider environmental and heritage impacts of harbour proposals Any Person
Provisions as to ecclesiastical property.
- Serve documents and pay compensation for Church of England land Any Person
Offences by corporations.
Unlimited fine- Director and officer liability for corporate offences Director or Officer
Browse 55 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
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Loans for execution of harbour works, &c.
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Maximum amount of loans and grants under sections 11 and 12, and cesser of certain other powers to give financial assistance.
Ministers’ powers, on application of harbour authorities, or others, to make orders for securing harbour efficiency, &c.
Ministers’ powers to make, of their own motion, orders for limited purposes for securing harbour efficiency, &c.
Ministers’ powers to make orders about port appointments.
Power to make closure order
Content of closure order
Harbour closure orders: property etc
Harbour closure orders: procedure
Harbour closure orders: devolution
Supplemental
Harbour reorganisation schemes.
Compensation for loss of office, &c., in consequence of orders and schemes under foregoing provisions.
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Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of certain harbour authorities as to ship, passenger and goods dues charged by them.
Combined charges.
Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of nationalised transport bodies as to ship, passenger and merchandise dues chargeable at certain harbours owned or managed by them.
Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of local lighthouse authorities as to local light dues.
Duty of harbour and local lighthouse authorities to make available for inspection, and to keep for sale, copies of lists of certain charges.
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Sections 31 . . . of this Act shall not...
Special provisions with respect to certain aviation charges.
Repeal of certain enactments relating to harbour charges.
Amendments of Acts consequential on sections 26 to 37.
Conditions as to use of harbour services and facilities provided by certain harbour authorities.
Directions
Supplemental
Power to make orders delegating functions
Consent of Welsh Ministers required for certain orders and schemes
Consent of Secretary of State required for certain orders and schemes
Provisions with respect to loans made under this Act by the Minister or the Welsh Ministers.
Limitation of right to challenge harbour revision orders, etc., in legal proceedings.
Penalisation of furnishing false information.
Restriction of disclosure of information.
Provisions as to inquiries and hearings.
Service of documents.
Reckoning of periods.
Modification of Harbours, Piers and Ferries (Scotland) Act 1937.
Application of Act to Crown.
Saving for telegraphic lines.
Orders and regulations.
“Developments of national significance” etc. : special procedure
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Interpretation.
Drainage and river authorities not to be harbour authorities for purposes of this Act if not possessing exceptional powers.
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Power to amend Acts of local application.
Expenses.
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†Short title, extent, repeal and commencement.
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Natural Resources Wales / Activities that may be exempt from requiring a marine licence (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Advice on Ports Development | Historic England (opens in a new tab) from Historic England Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Marine Management Organisation
Licenses marine activities in English waters, including construction, dredging, and deposits at sea. Issues marine licences for offshore renewable energy projects below …
Connected legislation
4 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (4)
- The Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Various Harbours) Harbour Revision (Amendment) Order 2018 2018
- The Folkestone Harbour Revision Order (Amendment) Order 2025 2025
- The Harbour Directions (Designation of Harbour Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2016 2016
- The River Humber (Upper Burcom Cooling Works) Order 1994 1994
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.