Harbour Revision Order Agreed for Dorset Council’s Harbours

By: Jake Brewer – BAJ accredited journalist

Dorset Council has secured formal approval for a Harbour Revision Order covering its three statutory harbours at Bridport (West Bay), Lyme Regis and Weymouth, a move expected to modernise harbour governance and support future development. (Dorset Council)

What Has Been Approved

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has agreed to grant the Harbour Revision Order, which updates the legal framework under which Dorset Council manages its harbours. This Order replaces and consolidates older local legislation governing each port, giving the Council stronger, clearer statutory powers going forward.

Officials say the new Order will:

• Modernise legislative powers for harbour management under the Harbours Act 1964;
• Extend harbour limits for Bridport and Lyme Regis to properly reflect operational areas; and
• Disapply the ‘Open Port Duty’ for larger vessels at Weymouth — meaning the Council will no longer be obligated to keep the harbour open to all shipping over 24 metres, a recognition that such services have not operated there for years.

Why It Matters

Under current arrangements, Dorset Council manages each harbour under separate and sometimes outdated legal frameworks — such as the Bridport Harbour Order 1921 and other historic acts — which can complicate operations and administration. The Revision Order brings all three harbours under a single, modernised scheme with updated powers and duties for safety, navigation, and harbour planning.

According to recent statutory scrutiny documentation, this modernisation was necessary to ensure compliance with industry standards like the Port Marine Safety Code, and to help the Council meet both commercial and leisure needs in harbour use.

Impacts and Next Steps

Council leaders have welcomed the Order as a key milestone in securing long-term operational resilience for the harbours, enabling more flexible management and supporting development plans — including infrastructure improvements and economic activity linked to tourism and marine services.

Officials note that updating the harbour statutory framework also supports the Council’s broader strategic aims for coastal communities and aligns with ongoing investment priorities around safety, maintenance and user services.