Harbour revision order prioritisation framework
Published 17 February 2026
Applies to England
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Background
There is a significant caseload of harbour order (HO) applications from ports, and some ports have experienced longer than normal wait times for their orders to be processed.
Government recognises HOs are critical to allow ports to grow in support of government missions and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) with support from the Department for Transport (DfT) have been taking steps to manage the caseload.
All HOs are important but in some cases the length of time it is currently taking for HOs to be made could impact matters such as safety, viability of a port, critical national infrastructure, or local economic activity. As such, some HOs may need to be moved through the system more quickly to prevent problems for the ports in question.
Prioritisation criteria
The Harbour revision order (HRO) prioritisation framework explains the criteria used to determine whether port applications, including those already with the Marine Management Organisation, can be moved more quickly through the HRO process to obtain a parliamentary laying date.
The criteria to be eligible for prioritisation have been decided by DfT as any HOs that:
- implement critical safety, security or regulatory compliance requirements or recommendations
- are required by a port or harbour facing a real and imminent risk of port closure
- are required for the functioning of critical national infrastructure
- are vital to supporting the wider UK economy and delivering growth - they must be linked to the government’s missions, including Kickstarting economic growth, Making Britain a clean energy superpower or other relevant national priorities
- would have a critical negative impact on the local community and local economic activity if delayed
How the MMO applies the criteria
The MMO will decide on a case-by-case basis if an HO meets the criteria set out, and should it do so, that HO will be prioritised.
If a port considers that an HO application falls into any of the categories and wishes to request that HO application be prioritised, they will be required to submit supporting evidence to the MMO for consideration.
Ports with existing applications who consider themselves within these categories are invited to submit supporting evidence to the MMO. This information will be treated as commercial-in-confidence.
This prioritisation framework will be kept under review.