Ministers have refused to step in and sort out a row which has pushed the organisation in charge of Cornwall's biggest harbour to the brink of collapse.
Cracks began to appear in the Newlyn Harbour Commission earlier this week when three members were ousted and a fourth resigned following a secret ballot.
The move prompted calls for the Department of Transport (DfT) to intervene in the commission, which has only been established for just one year.
However, a spokesman for the department yesterday told the Western Morning News that was not on the cards and that Newlyn must sort out its own problems.
"The new constitution provides the tools for the Harbour Commissioners to manage the port effectively," said the spokesman.
"The management of any trust ports is for its Board to decide within its statutory powers.
"It would be inappropriate for central Government to intervene in the management of a port."
The constitution of Newlyn Pier and Harbour was revised by Harbour Revision Order last year after a long-winded process following complaints about previous governance.
To smooth the transition from the former commission to the new structure, the DfT appointed the new commissioners and therefore it is understood that it would not be involved in future appointments.
The Chairman of Newlyn Harbour Commission, Gilbert McCabe, was not available for comment yesterday.
However, the events of this week have left a yawning gap in the port with the commissioned effectively halved.
Nick Howell, John Lambourn and Juliet Taylor were all kicked off the port authority as a result of a secret ballot, although the issue which prompted it remains unclear.
Dave Munday subsequently threw in the towel in protest over what he called "a grossly unfair" decision.
With Vice Chairman Ray Tovey about to leave for a new post anyway and another empty, unfilled chair at the table, just six Harbour Commissioners remain.
Mr Munday said: "I cannot work with a commission that has been so discredited."
"I believe the board is completely undermined and has brought itself into disrepute. It should be dissolved and the DfT be asked to take over the management of the port until a new board can be appointed."
Mr Howell questioned whether the move to remove him was valid.
"It's a wrong way of conducting business and has a bad reflection on the DfT" he said.
Mr Lambourn said he had hoped any differences could be settled.
Juliet Taylor said the chairman had to be accountable for what had happened.
"It is not transparent and it is not constitutional," she said. "They gave no reason for what they did."
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