The Belfast Harbour Commissioners (the Board) was first constituted by the Belfast Harbour Act 1847 as a body corporate with perpetual succession which will continue in existance until statutorily dissolved, with the underlying purpose of operating, maintaining and improving the Port of Belfast. The powers and duties of the Board are limited to those conferred by the various Belfast Harbour Acts and Orders 1847 to 2002 and any relevant public general Acts such as the Harbour Acts (Northern Ireland) 1970. In common with other Northern Ireland and Great Britain ports whose management is similarly constituted, the Port of Belfast is commonly referred to as a ‘Trust Port’.

Board Members are appointed by the Department for Regional Development on the basis of open public advertisement. The number of Board members, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, may be no less than ten and no more than fifteen and up to four Board Members shall be members of Belfast City Council. At 31 December 2002 there were fifteen Board Members, including the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer.

The management of the Port of Belfast is independent of Government and falls to the Board and the management team. The duties of Board Members are akin to those of a company director, in particular to be accountable for the proper exercise of the statutory and administrative requirements placed upon them. In addition Board Members are required to: