Bosses at only 16% of UK ports have made "significant or practical plans" for Brexit.
Executive search firm Odgers Berndtson quizzed leaders at 100 terminals to assess readiness for the country leaving the European Union.
The majority of respondents had either carried out “only some high level planning” or had done nothing at all.
“The ports industry is keen to seize on any opportunities arising from Brexit, but this is the first real indication of what’s actually happening outside ports like Dover,” said Paul Butterworth, head of the maritime and shipping practice at Odgers Berndtson.
The survey revealed that only 25% of UK port bosses think they are currently in a position to handle Brexit well.
A third believe they could cope, but ideally with further investment, while more than 40% either don’t know or doubt their ability to handle additional demands.
Companies are mainly concerned with physical blockages and additional complexity.
The Brexit effect is already being felt in the UK.
P&O Ferries said on Tuesday it was shifting its English Channel fleet to Cyprus from the UK to remain within EU tax and regulatory regimes.
And the North P&I Club has won approval to start trading in Dublin.
