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Harbours Act 1964 in England

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

Not fully up to date. 7 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
s. 30restrictedArgyll and Bute Council (Oban) Harbour Revision 2026 art. 31(2)
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)
Sch. 3 para. 7(1)word insertedPlanning and Infrastructure Act 2025 s. 48(2)(a)
s. 30excludedPort of Tyne Harbour Revision 2026 art. 22(2)
s. 31applied (with modifications)Port of Tyne Harbour Revision 2026 art. 19(5)

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—8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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—25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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—34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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. 55Offences by corporations.
  73. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  74. 57Interpretation.
  75. 58Drainage and river authorities not to be harbour authorities for purposes of this Act if not possessing exceptional powers.
  76. 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  77. 60Power to amend Acts of local application.
  78. 61Expenses.
  79. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  80. 63†Short title, extent, repeal and commencement.
  81. Schedule 1Schedule 1
  82. Schedule 2: Objects for whose Achievement Harbour Revision Orders may be made
  83. 1Paragraph 1
  84. 2Paragraph 2
  85. 3Paragraph 3
  86. 4Paragraph 4
  87. 5Paragraph 5
  88. 6Paragraph 6
  89. 7Paragraph 7
  90. 7AParagraph 7A
  91. 7BParagraph 7B
  92. 8Paragraph 8
  93. 8AParagraph 8A
  94. 9Paragraph 9
  95. 9AParagraph 9A
  96. 9BParagraph 9B
  97. 10Paragraph 10
  98. 11Paragraph 11
  99. 12Paragraph 12
  100. 13Paragraph 13
  101. 14Paragraph 14
  102. 15Paragraph 15
  103. 16Paragraph 16
  104. 16AParagraph 16A
  105. 17Paragraph 17
  106. Schedule 3: PROCEDURE FOR MAKING HARBOUR REVISION AND EMPOWERMENT ORDERS
  107. Part I: ORDERS MADE ON APPLICATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
  108. Introductory
  109. 1Paragraph 1
  110. 1AParagraph 1A
  111. 2Paragraph 2
  112. 2AParagraph 2A
  113. Pre-application procedure
  114. 3Paragraph 3
  115. 4Paragraph 4
  116. 4AParagraph 4A
  117. 4BParagraph 4B
  118. 4CParagraph 4C
  119. 5Paragraph 5
  120. 6Paragraph 6
  121. The application
  122. 7Paragraph 7
  123. 8Paragraph 8
  124. 8AParagraph 8A
  125. Co-ordination of environmental impact assessment and other assessments
  126. 8BParagraph 8B
  127. 9Paragraph 9
  128. Fees
  129. 9AParagraph 9A
  130. Notices
  131. 10Paragraph 10
  132. 10ZAParagraph 10ZA
  133. 10ZBParagraph 10ZB
  134. 10AParagraph 10A
  135. 11Paragraph 11
  136. 12Paragraph 12
  137. 13Paragraph 13
  138. 14Paragraph 14
  139. Consultation
  140. 15Paragraph 15
  141. 16Paragraph 16
  142. Objections
  143. 17Paragraph 17
  144. 18Paragraph 18
  145. Reasoned conclusion about environmental impact
  146. 18AParagraph 18A
  147. The decision
  148. 19Paragraph 19
  149. 19AParagraph 19A
  150. 19BParagraph 19B
  151. 20Paragraph 20
  152. Defence projects: exemption from environmental impact assessment
  153. 20AParagraph 20A
  154. Civil emergencies: exemption from environmental impact assessment
  155. 20BParagraph 20B
  156. Exemption from environmental impact assessment in exceptional circumstances
  157. 20CParagraph 20C
  158. Deferral of environmental impact assessment: direction and effect of direction
  159. 20DParagraph 20D
  160. 20EParagraph 20E
  161. 20FParagraph 20F
  162. 20GParagraph 20G
  163. The order
  164. 21Paragraph 21
  165. 22Paragraph 22
  166. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  167. 24Paragraph 24
  168. Statutory undertakers’ land
  169. 25Paragraph 25
  170. Part II: ORDERS MADE BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF HIS OWN MOTION
  171. Notices
  172. 26Paragraph 26
  173. Objections
  174. 27Paragraph 27
  175. 28Paragraph 28
  176. The decision
  177. 29Paragraph 29
  178. The order
  179. 30Paragraph 30
  180. 31Paragraph 31
  181. Part III: HARBOUR EMPOWERMENT ORDERS: MODIFICATIONS OF PART I
  182. 32Paragraph 32
  183. Schedule 4: Procedure for Confirming and Making Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
  184. Part I: Procedure for Submission and Confirmation of Harbour Reorganisation Schemes
  185. 1Paragraph 1
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. 3Paragraph 3
  188. 4Paragraph 4
  189. 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.
  190. 5Paragraph 5
  191. 6Paragraph 6
  192. 7Paragraph 7
  193. 8Paragraph 8
  194. 9Paragraph 9
  195. Schedule 5Schedule 5
  196. Schedule 6Schedule 6