A floating art gallery backed by Dame Judi Dench and Prince Charles is set to be destroyed after the London Port Authority failed to offer an alternate site appropriate for the nine-barge art collection.

Max Couper, the gallery’s curator, went to court in 2013 claiming he had “ancient mooring rights” to live and work at Albion Wharf in Battersea, London, where he had been for 30 years.

But the court ruled in favour of the port and developer Hutchison Whampoa Properties, saying that the permanent collection was illegally moored and should be removed.

The port and developer are now both seeking to enforce the ruling with a further High Court order to “dispose of or destroy” the vessels housing the artwork, which also serve as Couper’s home.

Dame Judi said in a statement that “the collection would not survive if it had to be moved”, while Prince Charles had previously aired his support for the project.

A spokesman for the PLA said it had offered alternative moorings for some of the boats, adding: “Despite many options being considered, Mr Couper has declined all proposals.”