“A proactive opportunity to review and demonstrate alignment with the Code,” said the MCA’s interim ports lead Keeta Rowlands as a UK‑wide safety compliance check opened on 1 January 2026. Northern terminals-from the Humber to the Tyne and Mersey-are being urged to take part before the 31 March deadline.

Known as the Ports and Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC), the government‑endorsed framework sets out how harbour authorities and marine facilities manage risk. It is not statutory, but there is a strong expectation of adoption, with Duty Holders making a declaration every three years. Submissions for the 2026–2028 cycle are via a new online form now open.

Why it matters in the North is straightforward. Department for Transport figures show Grimsby & Immingham handled around 10% of all UK port tonnage in 2024, second only to London; in 2023 it was 11%. When these gateways run safely and smoothly, supply chains across Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East hold up better.

Ports tied to the energy transition also have skin in the game. The Port of Tyne hosts the operations and maintenance base for Dogger Bank, the vast North Sea wind farm set to supply a large slice of UK power. Strong safety management underpins that day‑to‑day work at the quayside.

For smaller harbours and marinas, the MCA stresses proportionality. The ask is to show how risks are controlled at a scale that fits each operation-whether a major international gateway or a small marina-so everyone plays their part in raising standards.

What facilities must do now is clear: upload a signed Duty Holder declaration confirming compliance and complete the online form in one sitting, as it cannot be saved and resumed. The window opened on 1 January and closes at 23:59 on 31 March 2026.

Some will ask why bother if the Code isn’t law. Because lenders, insurers and global shipping lines look for proof of robust risk management. The MCA also says formal declarations build trust with shipping companies, regulators and local communities-useful when investment cases land on council desks.

The backdrop is tough. DfT data shows total UK port tonnage fell to 429.7 million tonnes in 2024, the lowest since records began in 2000. Getting safety right is one lever Northern operators can control as volumes and cargo mixes ebb and flow.

Rowlands’ message is plain: get returns in on time and keep standards tight. The MCA has set the three‑month window for the 2026–2028 cycle; after that, attention turns to verification and lessons learned across the sector.

Queries go to the MCA’s navigation safety team, which is also inviting feedback on the new form’s usability. We’ll track uptake across the Humber, Tees, Tyne and Mersey and report where operators strengthen systems off the back of this exercise.