UK Offence Report

The Port of Southampton Harbour Revision Order 2025

UK Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 198 — creates 2 criminal offences.

2offences created
0recorded in force
0revoked
Made
21 February 2025
In force from
20 March 2025
Extent
Not stated
Subject
Transport: maritime, aviation, rail and harbours
Made under
Harbours Act 1964

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

This Order, made on the application of Associated British Ports (“A. B. Ports”) updates the statutory harbour authority powers applying in relation to the Port of Southampton (“the Port”) and provides for: 1 The amendment of the Southampton Harbour Act 1887 (1887 Ch. lii) to ensure that the definition of the limits of the Port includes the dock estate (article 3). An illustrative plan showing the Port may be inspected during working hours at the main office of A.B. Ports at Ocean Gate, Atlantic Way, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 3QN or on http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/ (article 4). 2 Additional powers to be conferred on the harbour master (defined in article 2) at the Port to make directions regulating use of the Port, including requiring the preparation and provision of information, which would cover the provision of risk assessments in a case where the harbour master reasonably considers that there is a risk to safety within the Port. 3 A procedure for giving, amending or revoking general directions and providing for their publication (articles 7 and 8). 4 The manner of giving, and the harbour master’s power to amend or revoke, special directions are set out at article 6. 5 The creation of an offence of failing to comply with general or special directions, the penalty for which is a fine on summary conviction not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (article 9). A defence of due diligence is available to a person charged under article 9 (article 9(3)). 6 Consequential amendments to local legislation applying to the Port (article 12). This Order amends section 52 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 (c. 27) (“the 1847 Act”) in its application to the Port by updating the definition of vessel and the Order also disapplies section 53 of the 1847 Act. This Order amends section 17 of the Southampton Harbour Act 1863 (cap.cxix). This Order repeals section 13 of the Southampton Harbour Act 1939 (c.lxxxiii). 7 The creation of an offence for the owner of a vessel of refusing to give the harbour master information as to the person who at any given time was the master of the vessel. The penalty for this offence is a fine on summary conviction not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (article 13). An impact assessment has not been prepared for this Order as there is no, or no significant, impact predicted on businesses, charities, voluntary bodies or the public sector. An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside this Order on the UK legislation website at legislation.gov.uk.

Offences created by this instrument

What Parliament said about it

Hansard was searched for this instrument by name and returned nothing. That is the ordinary outcome: an instrument laid under the negative procedure is usually never debated, and becomes law without a word said about it in either House.

How Parliament handled it

This instrument became law without a debate or a vote. Under the negative procedure it took effect unless a motion to stop it succeeded, and none was tabled.

Procedure
Made negative — law unless a motion to stop it succeeded
Could either House amend it?
No. A statutory instrument is put to each House as a whole thing, to be approved or not. Neither House can change a word of it.

Procedural history

From Parliament's Statutory Instruments service. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

Check the source