Julie Barber (asker) Jun 3, 2019:

Thanks all for your thoughts. I ended up using "publicly-owned", as per Adrian's answer but taking into account Phil B's comments. Lorraine - thanks for your input too, but it would only make real sense when taking about a licence to occupy a plot of land within the port if it was referring to physical area

Ph_B (X) Jun 3, 2019:

public domain may not be the right term as philgogoddard points out, but domaine public explicitly refers to property held by the State, regions, cities and towns, etc. It may be open to the public or not, depending on how it is used.

philgoddard Jun 3, 2019:

Public domain is a term from intellectual property law.

Lorraine Dubuc Jun 2, 2019:

A PH_B Precisely public domain as opposed to private domain, nothing to do with a physical zone or area of a port, in my opinion.

Ph_B (X) Jun 2, 2019:

public domain "public domain" more than "public area": for instance, in countries where nuclear energy is nationalised, nuclear plants are part of the public domain where private contractors will be allowed to work, but they're not exactly public areas where any one can go for a walk. What your text appears to be saying is that someone is being allowed to use/occupy part of the public domain (belonging to e.g. the State) run by the Port Authority.