OpenLegislation

Harbours Act 1964

1964 c. 40 · Enacted 10 June 1964 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 24 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 52(2A)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 53
Sch. 3 para. 7(1)word insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 s. 48(2)(a)
Sch. 3 para. 7(1)(c) and wordomittedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 s. 48(2)(b)
Sch. 3 para. 9(a)omittedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 s. 48(3)
s. 31applied (with modifications)The Port of Tyne Harbour Revision Order 2026 art. 19(5)
s. 30excludedThe Port of Tyne Harbour Revision Order 2026 art. 22(2)
An Act to establish a National Ports Council; to provide for the control of harbour development and for giving financial assistance for the improvement of harbours; to make other provision respecting the construction, improvement, maintenance and management of harbours; to make provision with respect to charges of certain harbour authorities and lighthouse authorities; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.[10th June 1964]C1C2C3C4I1C5C6

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act extended by Docks and Harbours Act 1966 (c. 28), s. 50(1)

C2

So far as may be necessary for the purposes of any amendment by Transport Act 1981 (c. 56, SIF 58) references in this Act to the Minister shall be construed as references to the Secretary of State: Transport Act 1981 (c. 56, SIF 58), ss. 15–17, 18(4), Sch. 5 para. 4(1)(b).

C3

Act amended (E.W.) by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 31(1), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58

Act amended (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/593, reg. 2, Sch. 1

C4

Act amended (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 60, SIF 130), ss. 2(1), 4(2), Sch. 1 para. 13(1)

Certain functions of the Act transferred (8.2.1993) by S.I. 1993/321, arts. 1(2). 3(1).

Act: functions transferred (3.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3503, arts. 2(1)(b), 3

C5

Act: transfer of functions (2.7.2012) by The British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1659), art. 2, Sch. 1 (with arts. 4-6)

C6

Act modified (23.3.2023 for specified purposes; 1.12.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Seafarers Wages Act 2023 (c. 8), ss. 9(7), 20(3) (with s. 1(2)); S.I. 2024/1008, reg. 2

Commencement

I1

Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 63(4); Act wholly in force at 1.10.1964

Contents

  1. The National Ports Council
  2. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  3. Control of harbour Development
  4. 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  5. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  6. Exchequer Assistance for Execution of harbour Works, &c.
  7. 11Loans for execution of harbour works, &c.
  8. 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  9. 13Maximum amount of loans and grants under sections 11 and 12, and cesser of certain other powers to give financial assistance.
  10. Harbour Revision and Empowerment Orders
  11. 14Ministers’ powers, on application of harbour authorities, or others, to make orders for securing harbour efficiency, &c.
  12. 15Ministers’ powers to make, of their own motion, orders for limited purposes for securing harbour efficiency, &c.
  13. 15AMinisters’ powers to make orders about port appointments.
  14. 16Ministers’ powers, on application of intending undertakers, or others, to make orders conferring powers for improvement, construction, &c., of harbours.
  15. 17Procedure for making harbour revision and empowerment orders, and substitution thereof, in general, for provisional orders.
  16. Harbour closure orders
  17. 17APower to make closure order
  18. 17BContent of closure order
  19. 17CHarbour closure orders: property etc
  20. 17DHarbour closure orders: procedure
  21. 17EHarbour closure orders: devolution
  22. 17FSupplemental
  23. Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
  24. 18Harbour reorganisation schemes.
  25. Compensation for Loss of Office, &c.
  26. 19Compensation for loss of office, &c., in consequence of orders and schemes under foregoing provisions.
  27. Control of Movement of Ships in Harbours
  28. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. Harbour Charges
  30. 26Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of certain harbour authorities as to ship, passenger and goods dues charged by them.
  31. 27Certain charges of certain harbour authorities to be reasonable.
  32. 27ACombined charges.
  33. 28Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of nationalised transport bodies as to ship, passenger and merchandise dues chargeable at certain harbours owned or managed by them.
  34. 29Repeal of provisions limiting discretion of local lighthouse authorities as to local light dues.
  35. 30Duty of harbour and local lighthouse authorities to make available for inspection, and to keep for sale, copies of lists of certain charges.
  36. 31Right of objection to ship, passenger and goods dues.
  37. 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  38. 35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  39. 36Section 36
  40. 37Special provisions with respect to certain aviation charges.
  41. 38Repeal of certain enactments relating to harbour charges.
  42. 39Amendments of Acts consequential on sections 26 to 37.
  43. Conditions as to Use of harbour Services and Facilities provided by certain harbour Authorities
  44. 40Conditions as to use of harbour services and facilities provided by certain harbour authorities.
  45. Harbour directions
  46. 40ADirections
  47. 40BProcedure
  48. 40CEnforcement
  49. 40DSupplemental
  50. Furnishing of Information
  51. 41Power of Council to obtain information and forecasts.
  52. 42Accounts and reports relating to harbour activities and associated activities.
  53. Delegation of certain functions
  54. 42APower to make orders delegating functions
  55. 42BDirections as to performance of delegated functions
  56. 42CConsent of Welsh Ministers required for certain orders and schemes
  57. 42DConsent of Secretary of State required for certain orders and schemes
  58. Miscellaneous and General
  59. 43Provisions with respect to loans made under this Act by the Minister or the Welsh Ministers .
  60. 44Limitation of right to challenge harbour revision orders, etc., in legal proceedings.
  61. 45Penalisation of furnishing false information.
  62. 46Restriction of disclosure of information.
  63. 47Provisions as to inquiries and hearings.
  64. 48Service of documents.
  65. 48AEnvironmental duties of harbour authorities.
  66. 49Provisions as to ecclesiastical property.
  67. 50Reckoning of periods.
  68. 51Modification of Harbours, Piers and Ferries (Scotland) Act 1937.
  69. 52Application of Act to Crown.
  70. 53Saving for telegraphic lines.
  71. 54Orders and regulations.
  72. 54A“Developments of national significance” etc.: special procedure
  73. 55Offences by corporations.
  74. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  75. 57Interpretation.
  76. 58Drainage and river authorities not to be harbour authorities for purposes of this Act if not possessing exceptional powers.
  77. 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  78. 60Power to amend Acts of local application.
  79. 61Expenses.
  80. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. 63†Short title, extent, repeal and commencement.
  82. Schedule 1
  83. Schedule 2: Objects for whose Achievement Harbour Revision Orders may be made
  84. 1Paragraph 1
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. 3Paragraph 3
  87. 4Paragraph 4
  88. 5Paragraph 5
  89. 6Paragraph 6
  90. 7Paragraph 7
  91. 7AParagraph 7A
  92. 7BParagraph 7B
  93. 8Paragraph 8
  94. 8AParagraph 8A
  95. 9Paragraph 9
  96. 9AParagraph 9A
  97. 9BParagraph 9B
  98. 10Paragraph 10
  99. 11Paragraph 11
  100. 12Paragraph 12
  101. 13Paragraph 13
  102. 14Paragraph 14
  103. 15Paragraph 15
  104. 16Paragraph 16
  105. 16AParagraph 16A
  106. 17Paragraph 17
  107. Schedule 3: PROCEDURE FOR MAKING HARBOUR REVISION AND EMPOWERMENT ORDERS
  108. Part I: ORDERS MADE ON APPLICATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
  109. Introductory
  110. 1Paragraph 1
  111. 1AParagraph 1A
  112. 2Paragraph 2
  113. 2AParagraph 2A
  114. Pre-application procedure
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. 4AParagraph 4A
  118. 4BParagraph 4B
  119. 4CParagraph 4C
  120. 5Paragraph 5
  121. 6Paragraph 6
  122. The application
  123. 7Paragraph 7
  124. 8Paragraph 8
  125. 8AParagraph 8A
  126. Co-ordination of environmental impact assessment and other assessments
  127. 8BParagraph 8B
  128. 9Paragraph 9
  129. Fees
  130. 9AParagraph 9A
  131. Notices
  132. 10Paragraph 10
  133. 10ZAParagraph 10ZA
  134. 10ZBParagraph 10ZB
  135. 10AParagraph 10A
  136. 11Paragraph 11
  137. 12Paragraph 12
  138. 13Paragraph 13
  139. 14Paragraph 14
  140. Consultation
  141. 15Paragraph 15
  142. 16Paragraph 16
  143. Objections
  144. 17Paragraph 17
  145. 18Paragraph 18
  146. Reasoned conclusion about environmental impact
  147. 18AParagraph 18A
  148. The decision
  149. 19Paragraph 19
  150. 19AParagraph 19A
  151. 19BParagraph 19B
  152. 20Paragraph 20
  153. Defence projects: exemption from environmental impact assessment
  154. 20AParagraph 20A
  155. Civil emergencies: exemption from environmental impact assessment
  156. 20BParagraph 20B
  157. Exemption from environmental impact assessment in exceptional circumstances
  158. 20CParagraph 20C
  159. Deferral of environmental impact assessment: direction and effect of direction
  160. 20DParagraph 20D
  161. 20EParagraph 20E
  162. 20FParagraph 20F
  163. 20GParagraph 20G
  164. The order
  165. 21Paragraph 21
  166. 22Paragraph 22
  167. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  168. 24Paragraph 24
  169. Statutory undertakers’ land
  170. 25Paragraph 25
  171. Part II: ORDERS MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS OWN MOTION
  172. Notices
  173. 26Paragraph 26
  174. Objections
  175. 27Paragraph 27
  176. 28Paragraph 28
  177. The decision
  178. 29Paragraph 29
  179. The order
  180. 30Paragraph 30
  181. 31Paragraph 31
  182. Part III: HARBOUR EMPOWERMENT ORDERS: MODIFICATIONS OF PART I
  183. 32Paragraph 32
  184. Schedule 4: Procedure for Confirming and Making Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
  185. Part I: Procedure for Submission and Confirmation of Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
  186. 1Paragraph 1
  187. 2Paragraph 2
  188. 3Paragraph 3
  189. 4Paragraph 4
  190. Part II: Modifications subject to which Part I has effect with Respect to Procedure for Making of Harbour Reorganisation Schemes by the Secretary of State of His Own Motion.
  191. 5Paragraph 5
  192. 6Paragraph 6
  193. 7Paragraph 7
  194. 8Paragraph 8
  195. 9Paragraph 9
  196. Schedule 5
  197. Schedule 6