About us

Cowes Harbour is a Trust Port, which means we have no shareholders or individual owners. The harbour is managed for the benefit of its users and stakeholders.

The harbour is an independent statutory body, run by an independent board of commissioners for the benefit of stakeholders. We are committed to operating within government DfT guidelines, as published in the Ports Good Governance Guidance.

Port business for Cowes Harbour is conducted in the interests of all stakeholders with openness, transparency, accountability and commercial prudence. The DfT requires Cowes Harbour Commission to operate as a commercial business, seeking to generate a surplus from its operations and marine services. Surpluses are then reinvested into the port or otherwise directed towards the interests and benefit of Cowes Harbour stakeholders.

The trust board consists of independent non-executive commissioners and the chief executive. Board members are appointed on merit on an open recruitment basis to provide Cowes Harbour Commission with the professional skills and experience to determine the policy and business decisions of the organisation. Board members are appointed for a term of three years and can usually serve a maximum of two terms. A maximum of two additional commissioners can be co-opted at any one time for specific purposes and serve for a period of 12 months.