Safety Management

Safety is our number one priority. As the Statutory Harbour Authority for the Port of Newhaven, we’re responsible for health and safety, environmental, and maritime legislation guidance. The Port’s Safety Management System sets out the duties of management and staff across these areas.

The Port Marine Safety Code

Newhaven Port & Properties Ltd (NPP) is the Statutory Harbour Authority for the Port of Newhaven, with obligations under a wide spectrum of health & safety, environmental and maritime legislation and guidance. To meet these obligations, NPP has developed a comprehensive Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) that defines the responsibilities of management and staff, embeds clear lines of accountability, drives continuous improvement and ensures ongoing compliance across all marine operations.

In 2025, the Department for Transport updated the Port Marine and Facilities Safety Code in collaboration with the ports industry to establish a unified standard for safe marine operations at UK ports. This Code sets out the framework against which harbour authorities’ policies, procedures and performance are measured, clarifies the safety-related roles of board members, officers and key personnel, and summarises the statutory duties and powers of harbour authorities. To align with the Code, NPP’s MSMS—together with its Annual Management Review Action Plan—serves as the formal Safety Plan for the harbour, capturing lessons learned and setting measurable objectives to enhance standards and operating procedures.

Each year, independent consultants carry out a formal audit of the MSMS to verify compliance, identify areas for improvement and recommend enhancements.

Health & Safety Policy

In addition to its MSMS, NPP maintains a steadfast commitment to health and safety through its dedicated Health & Safety Policy, which pledges to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment for all employees, customers and port users. Through rigorous training programmes, regular risk-assessment reviews and strict adherence to safety regulations, NPP strives to minimise hazards and foster a culture of responsibility, wellbeing and proactive hazard reporting.

The current Health and Safety Policy is under review.