Seaport governance pertains to the interactions between the public and private
sectors that shape the organisation of ports at different levels, from local to
global. Since most models of seaport legal status and governance incorporate
the institute of a Port Authority as a core and integral element, it is discussed
in greater detail. Typically, every seaport in the world is managed by a Port Authority.
This institution is so ubiquitous that most of literature omits any mention
of scenarios where it is absent. The only Slovenian sea freight port, Luka
Koper, is managed under concession by the company LUKA KOPER, d.d. The
Republic of Slovenia maintains a unique and distinctive regime in this area,
having transformed the ownership of the seaport operator into a joint stock
company and granted it a concession without establishing a Port Authority, a
practice almost universally adopted by other port states. Introducing a different
governance form for Slovenian ports could significantly impact the existing
governance structure and, consequently, the broader regional economy.
Key words: maritime administrative law, seaports, company, governance, concessions,
public agency, public undertaking.