In the United Kingdom, a trust port is a port that is administrated as a trust by an independent statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament and governed by its own set of rules and statutes.
[4] An example of a Scottish trust port is Aberdeen Harbour Board.
[5] Modernising Trust Ports: A Guide to Good Governance notes that:[6] Many of the local Acts governing the conduct of trusts and appointment of board members have remained basically unchanged since their inception and, in many cases, fall far short of what might, today, be considered open and accountable.
Many boards adhere to the basic principles of the trust, discharging their duties in a conscientious open and accountable manner.
The British government is considering further privatizations of trust ports in the future.