Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

authorities definition

What does authorities mean? Authorities are the legal sources a lawyer relies on to justify a proposition of law in submissions, skeleton arguments and judgments. The term is descriptive and widely used across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, rather than being defined by statute. Authorities typically include: primary legislation and subordinate legislation; binding appellate case law within the relevant jurisdiction; and, as persuasive material, decisions from other UK or foreign courts, tribunal rulings, EU and ECHR jurisprudence where applicable, and reputable academic commentary. In Scotland, the writings of the institutional writers (e.g. Stair, Erskine, Bell) may carry particular weight. Textbooks and...

UK statutory and competent harbour authorities: duties, powers and governance: pilotage, directions, dues, health and safety, environmental obligations, oil pollution, waste, wrecks and dangerous vessels

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

Duties and powers Harbour authorities

A harbour authority is an independent, autonomous, self-governing body with responsibility for the safe management and efficient running of a harbour. In most circumstances, harbours are administered and run by statutory harbour authorities (SHAs), empowered and governed by local legislation that is generally tailored to the specific requirements of the harbour in question. Different legislation sets out various, differing definitions. Under section 313(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (MSA 1995), a ‘harbour authority’, in relation to a harbour, covers all persons entrusted with the function of constructing, improving, managing, regulating, maintaining or lighting a harbour:

the person who is the statutory harbour authority for the harbour; or
if there is no statutory harbour authority for the harbour, the person (if any) who is the proprietor of the harbour, or who is entrusted with the function of managing, maintaining or improving the harbour

The Department for Transport (DfT) published Guidance on Ports Good Governance in March 2018 for SHAs, whether it is a private port, a trust port, or a Local Authority owned port, to help to deliver their key aim of managing, maintaining and improving their harbour in the broad public interest. The Guidance...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Nicola Canty

9 Hazel Tree Chambers

Nicola is an environmental lawyer specialising in marine, energy and public law. She has advised on judicial reviews, public inquiries and a wide range of regulatory and planning matters. She has broad experience of advising on issues relating to the marine environment, including licensing, planning, regulation and enforcement, and conservation matters. Nicola was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 2006. She has a dual-capacity practice (i.e. operating as both an employed and a self-employed barrister), and has broad experience of working at both the self-employed Bar in Chambers and the employed Bar as a part of a law firm, at the national energy regulator Ofgem advising on renewable energy schemes, and is currently at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero advising on nationally significant infrastructure planning. Nicola provided the update for the titles on the Foreshore, and on...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...