Ports & Harbours

We act for a significant number of ports and harbours across the UK and have a real understanding of the complexities involved in running and managing them. 

Drawing on our multi-disciplinary team to support on a wide range of legal issues, we are nationally recognised for our expertise and advise in respect of harbour orders, compliance with statutory harbour powers and marine regulation more broadly. We regularly draft and review general directions, pilotage directions, harbour directions and byelaws and can advise on the correct process for bringing them into force.

We also advise our clients on property management issues, marine construction & infrastructure projects, procurement and subsidy control, environmental and planning laws, energy projects, acquisitions & disposals, commercial & contract matters, finance, disputes, employment and health & safety law.

We use our industry expertise and experience to ensure that we bring real value to our clients, building long term and collaborative partnerships. 

Our Ports & Harbours experience

• Acting in relation to over 35 Harbour Order applications in Great Britain during 2026.
• Acting for a major port on various property management matters at one of the largest logistics parks in Europe and the adjacent deep sea container port. Our work includes advice on landlord and tenant matters, acquisitions and disposals and development.
• Assisting with numerous commercial agreements and MoUs between harbour authorities and their customers; reviewing / drafting standard terms and conditions, and advising on their interaction with statutory harbour powers, duties and pilotage.
• Advising and defending statutory harbour authorities in relation to challenges against harbour dues, including claims in restitution in Court and section 31 Harbours Act 1964 challenges.
• Advising statutory harbour authorities in relation to complex port-related procurements under the Procurement Act 2023. 
• Currently advising on over £1 billion of port-related infrastructure projects. 
• Removal of unserviceable and/or occupied vessels from port limits.
• Advising in respect of the installation of shore power in various ports/harbours.