The company's activities cover transport, haulage and terminal operations, ship's agency, dredging and marine consultancy.

Ports formerly owned by rail and canal companies were nationalised in 1947 by Clement Attlee's post Second World War Labour government, forming part of the operations of the British Transport Commission.

[1] In 1981 the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher implemented the Transport Act 1981, which provided for the BTDB's privatisation.

[2] Because of BTDB's statutory powers as a harbour operator, a straightforward conversion to limited company status was impractical.

As a result of these transactions the shareholdings in the group holding company as of 2015 were: 33.3% owned by Borealis Infrastructure, 33.3% by Anchorage Ports LLP, 23.3% by Cheyne Walk Investment Pte.