Port authority

In Canada, the United States and Spain, a port authority (less commonly a port district) is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body (or bodies) to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure. In Canada, the federal Minister of Transport selects the local chief executive board member and the rest of the board is appointed at the recommendation of port users to the federal Minister; while all Canadian port authorities have a federal or Crown charter called letters patent.

Numerous Caribbean nations have port authorities, including those of Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Central and South America also have port agencies such as autoridad and consorcio (authority and consortium).

In Mexico, the federal government created sixteen port administrations in 1994–1995 called Administración Portuaria Integral (Integral Port Administration) in Spanish, as result of the Ley de Puertos (Port Law) of 1993. These are organized as variable capital corporations (Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable), with the intent of creating more private investment in a state owned sector.

Port authorities are usually governed by boards or commissions, which are commonly appointed by governmental chief executives, often from different jurisdictions.

Most port authorities are financially self-supporting. In addition to owning land, setting fees, and sometimes levying taxes, port districts can also operate shipping terminals, airports, railroads, and irrigation facilities.

Port authorities and districts
The distinction between inland and being marine is occasionally open to discussion. No distinction is made here between river and Great Lakes ports.

Canada
The Minister of Transport is ultimately responsible for his patronage of Canadian port authorities, a useful map of which is electronically available at Transport Canada.

Port authorities
With date of Letters Patent.

Other agencies

 * Transport Canada
 * St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
 * Canada Ports Corporation

Former agency

 * National Harbours Board

United States
Charter date in parentheses.

Mexico
Listed from northwest to southeast. API stands for Administración Portuaria Integral (Integral Port Administration).

Caribbean

 * Port Authority of Jamaica, Jamaica
 * Barbados Port Authority, Barbados
 * Grand Bahama Port Authority, The Bahamas

Central America

 * Autoridad Marítima de Panamá
 * Comisión Portuaria Nacional, Guatemala
 * Dirección General de Puertos Empresa Nacional Portuaria, Honduras
 * JAPDEVA – Atlantic Port Authority, Costa Rica

Middle East

 * Israel Port Authority
 * General Organization of Sea Ports, Bahrain
 * Saudi Ports Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Asia Pacific

 * Bintulu Port Authority
 * Busan Port Authority
 * Gwadar Port Authority
 * Indonesia Port Corporations
 * Port of Kitakyūshū
 * Port of Niihama
 * Port of Shanghai
 * Port of Singapore
 * Port Qasim Authority
 * Sri Lanka Ports Authority
 * Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
 * Taiwan International Ports Corporation

United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom operators of ports and harbours become de facto port authorities under several pieces of legislation. Examples include the:


 * Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
 * Port of London Authority