Port authority


In Canada and the United States, port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body 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.
In Mexico, the federal government created sixteen port administrations in 1994–1995 called Administración Portuaria Integral in Spanish, as result of the Lay de Puertos of 1993.
These are organized as variable capital corporations, 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 her 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

Charter date in parenthesis.

Mexico

Listed from northwest to southeast. API is Administración Portuaria Integral.

Caribbean

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