Port of Fleetwood
Byelaws: Fleetwood
The byelaws in force at the Port of Fleetwood are the Fleetwood Harbour and Docks Bye-Laws 1982.
They are eleven pages long. They continue in force after 18/09/2026 under article 6 of The Ports of Fleetwood and Silloth (Transfer of Undertaking) Harbour Revision Order 2026, SI 2026 No. 404, as if they had been made by FJ Ports (Fleetwood) Ltd. Where they name Associated British Ports, read them as naming FJ Ports (Fleetwood) Ltd. Byelaws are enforced by the harbour authority. Breach of a byelaw is a criminal offence.
Where the byelaws are published
The legal act is the board. Under section 88 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, confirmed byelaws are published by being displayed on boards at the harbour office and at the harbour, open for inspection without charge. A copy is also kept at the principal office for free public inspection under section 87.
This web page is a convenience copy. If the two ever differ, the confirmed byelaws are what apply.
Reading the byelaws
Until a copy is published here, the byelaws can be inspected free of charge at the harbour office. If you need the information another way, ask the harbour office. See the accessibility page.
Text-searchable copy of the 1982 byelaws. This is being confirmed and will be published here.
Byelaw 33: water skiing and fast craft
One byelaw is worth pulling out because it is the subject of a standing notice to mariners. Byelaw 33 prohibits water skiing, aqua-planing and similar activities in the docks and in any navigable channel, and restricts the use of speed boats, hydroplanes, motor boats and similar craft. Fleetwood Local Notice to Mariners 009 of 2022 draws attention to it.
Directions, and how they differ
Byelaws are not the only rules that bind you in the harbour. Directions given by the harbour master and harbour directions given by the authority also apply. See the directions page.
The legal position on transfer
The change of authority notice sets out how the byelaws, the directions and the notices continue under SI 2026/404.