Licensing

Filming and photography on the tidal Thames is licensed by the PLA to help ensure that it is completed safely and does not interfere with operations on this busy tidal highway for passenger, tourist, freight and leisure vessels.  We can help guide you through securing the necessary PLA licence for filming on the Thames.

All licence applications must be submitted using the form at the foot of this page, which covers the key information we need to know to consider your request. 

Fees

A fee is charged for commercial filming and photography on the Thames, with charges reflecting its duration, complexity and purpose.  Fees are by agreement with the PLA Corporate Affairs team.

Drone filming

Some productions make use of drones in their filming operations. The consenting of drone operations over the river is completed via our online drone portal, which can be reached at this link.

River traffic management

Some particularly complex filming or events may need river traffic to be controlled for a limited period. In this case we may need to issue a Notice to Mariners so that river users are aware of the operation and to supply launches to patrol/control traffic on scene.

The costs of both these activities must be borne in full by the film maker/event producer.

The Port of London Authority has the primary responsibly to maintain safe access and to manage and support the safety of navigation for all vessels using the tidal River Thames.

Thames Byelaw 9 requires event organisers to seek consent from the Harbour Masters should they want to organise a: recreational, sporting, race, sponsored event, display, regatta, rally,   demonstration, culture event, a fireworks display or any other river event on the tidal River Thames.

The PLA requests that all event organisers consult with the Harbour Masters at their earliest opportunity, prior to undertaking any detailed planning for a proposed event or waterborne activity.

Harbour Masters: [email protected] or 01474 562 203 / 01474 562 328

Event organisers and persons involved in the proposed events/activity must comply with the provision of: the Port of London Act 1968; the Port of London Thames Byelaws 2012; the PLA General Directions for Navigation; Notices to Mariners and any other statutory requirements. They must also comply with instructions from PLA officers and their authorised representatives.

All events will be required to submit a formal Risk Assessment and event plan (including; numbers involved, timetable for event, location(s) of proposed event) for the proposed event/activity to the District Harbour Master. Should the PLA have any comments on these documents then these must be fully considered prior to the event being given consent.

It cannot be overstated enough, that early dialogue takes place with the District Harbour Master to ensure that it is clear what details will be required within the Risk Assessment and event plans. However in most cases the following as a minimum must be considered and include:

• Collisions (with fellow competitors and other Port users),
• Contact (i.e. piers, buoys, moored vessels, etc),
• Grounding
• Mechanical breakdown/failure
• Failure of safety cover
• Man Over Board (MOB)
• Weather considerations (with actual parameters as to when the event/activity will be abandoned or cancelled (this needs to include; wind speed/direction, temperature, restricted visibility),
• Abandonment protocols in case of incident, emergency or unsuitable conditions
• Evidence of insurance cover* (see note at bottom of the page)
• Environmental impacts on the river, river species and designated habitats sites.
• Minimisation of litter and use of sustainable materials.
• Consideration for the need for safety cover and appropriate checks carried out on Safety Boat(s) suitability.

The organiser must implement all safety recommendations arising from the Risk Assessment, and all requests by the Harbour Master.

The organiser must ensure that dispensation from certain regulations during the event, such as for Byelaw 16, are confirmed and authorised by the harbourmaster in writing.

Lifejackets/Buoyance Aids - If the event wishes to allow participants not to wear lifejackets/buoyancy aids, it must be proven within your risk assessment that the risk to participants is as low as is reasonably practical, and to the satisfaction of the district Harbour Master.

Event organisers must be able to demonstrate how they have made all participants aware of their responsibility to themselves and others in the event and/or Port users’ with regards to their ability to take part safely in the conditions as they find them on the day.

All participants must have access to any safety instructions used as mitigation in the Risk Assessment in advance of the event.

Where vessels are used for the carriage of persons or goods, each vessel must be under the charge of a person duly qualified as required by PLA Byelaws.

Any vessels utilised for proposed events/activities; which are not “pleasure vessels” as defined under the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 1995; must provide the District Harbour Master with the vessel’s PLA Licence or MCA Certification.

After approval but before the event

The District Harbour Master will issue the Event Organiser with a PLA Letter of Consent (LoC) which must be signed and returned prior to the event taking place.

The Event Organiser must confirm the number of participants with the District Harbourmaster, at least one working day in advance of the event.

On the day of the event the organiser must ensure that the weather and river conditions are suitable and that adequate marshalling, safety and rescue craft, capable of communicating with other vessels and London VTS through the medium of International Maritime Mobile band VHF radio, are available and all other identified risk control measures are in place.

London VTS must be contacted either by VHF or telephone (as below) before the start of the event and after the event has finished:

• West of Crayfordness -- VHF Channel 14 or 02032 607 711
• Crayfordness to Sea Reach No. 4 -- VHF Channel 68 or 01474 562 215
• East of Sea Reach No.4 -- VHF Channel 69 or 01474 562 215

Additional costs

Any additional services provided by the PLA following discussions with the Event Organiser (e.g. Harbour Service Launch to conduct Local Traffic Control or a River Closure) will be subject to additional charges.

If the PLA decides that a Notice to Mariners needs to be promulgated to advise fellow Port users of the event, the full administration cost of a Notice will also be subject to additional charges.

Regularly held events

Where events are held on a regular basis, for example a weekly or monthly yacht race organised by a club, a generic Risk Assessment and Event Plan may be authorised by the District Harbour Master for a limited period not exceeding 12-months. The Risk Assessment and Event Plan must then undergo a formal review, prior to re-approval. In all cases clubs are requested to inform the District Harbour Master of all events during this period so that adequate information can be promulgated to fellow Port users.

Firework displays

Due to the hazardous nature of these events, regardless of who is responsible for the event’s organisation, it is the firework display operator who should forward a Fireworks Display Method Statement and Risk Assessment to the District Harbour Master. The fireworks display operator must agree to comply with the Code of Conduct for Fireworks Displays available here.

The PLA will not normally permit private firework displays within Central London (Lambeth to Greenwich). However each display will be judged on it own merits especially in regard to the effects it might have on other Port users and the river environment.

Other aspects to consider

All event organisers will need to consider the following aspects in their event planning process:

Group activities on the Thames foreshore: Anyone wishing to organise a group activity such as a walk or guided tour which does not involve any disturbance of the Thames foreshore must first apply for permission from our Estates department on [email protected].  

If the group activity involves any disturbance of the foreshore, then each participant must also have their own individual Thames foreshore permit. In addition, the event organiser will also need permission from the Estates department.

Environmental issues: should the event have an impact on the tidal River Thames environment (proposals for Waterscreens, Confetti, Streamers, fireworks, etc), this should be given careful consideration and discussions may be required with the PLA’s Environment Team to minimise the impact on the river. Balloon and lantern releases are not permitted over the river.

If the event is likely to impact on a designated habitat site (SSSI, SPA, SAC, Ramsar) the applicant must obtain permission from Natural England (NE) before applying to the PLA and provide evidence of NE approval with their PLA application.

Corporate / PR / advertising / sponsored events: Should an event on the river be corporate / corporate sponsored and / or involve any commercial branding / logos / advertising or PR element then the activity should be discussed at an early stage with the PLA Corporate Affairs Team. (This includes any private / corporate fireworks). A commercial licence fee is charged for all such corporate activities including those with branding / PR / advertising etc.

Similarly, if the event involves any professional filming / video / photography, the vessel shall be suitably licensed for the carriage of passengers and you will need to apply for a filming licence from the PLA Corporate Affairs Team.

All filming permit applications must be submitted using our online form, which covers the key information we need to know to consider your request. The form can be accessed at this link.

Consultation: The Event Organiser, where appropriate, needs to consult the following organisations (which is not an exhaustive list):

• HM Coastguard
• Local Emergency Services
• The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI)
• The Local Authority/Council

Further reading

• Event Organisers should be familiar with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's Port Marine Safety Code and A Guide to Good Practice on Port Marine Operations.
• The Royal Yachting Association (RYA), British Rowing’s Thames Regional Rowing Council (TRRC) and British Canoeing have their own risk assessment guidelines and these are available on: https://www.rya.org.uk,  https://www.thames-rrc.org and  https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk respectively.

The Port of London Authority has a duty to protect and conserve the River Thames. Under the PLA's environment policy there is a commitment to reduce pollution and waste in the river and the Ports business. We recognise that event organisers also want to minimise their impact on the river and the PLA has provided this guidance to assist them.

Legislation

All events within the river must comply with the Port of London Act 1968 and the Water Resources Act 1991, section 85, which

regulates any polluting matter entering controlled waters. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) asks for protecting and improving the water environment.  All events should be undertaken inline with the PLA’s Environmental Policy. Environment Agency guidance to the Port of London Authority states there should be no lasting effect, either short or long term to the marine environment. These elements are all considered in the following guidance.

Confetti, streamers or leaflet drops

Due to their lasting effect, these will not be given permission. Even in small quantities there is a lasting effect. Depending on the weather and river conditions the pieces can spread far across the surface of the water and can be deposited on the foreshore in the strandline for some time after the event.

Some types of biodegradable and water soluble papers or petals have also been considered, but can not be permitted. Metallic confetti used in pyrotechnics will last for much longer periods of time and may sink, reducing the chance of it being removed.

Material in the water will degrade and this process takes oxygen from the river. While the process is occurring the materials will persist in the water and cause increased litter in the river, and on the foreshore. Scavenging birds and animals may mistake them for food during this time. Vessels in the area may also have problems with paper or PVA products collecting in their intakes immediately after the event.

Altered water/painting projects

If it is possible the colour in a cascaded waterfall/hydrant should not be visible once it hits the Thames. Painting projects should be kept away from the Thames, for example be on a floating, bunded structure that contains all falling paint from the public activity of painting. The structure must be removed and cleaned elsewhere.

Additives and paints can be damaging to aquatic organisms and the environment and all additives must be approved by the Environment Agency in writing before the PLA will consider the event.

Event organisers should consider the need to have the activity on the river or use of river water for the potential human health implications. (http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/adviceandinformation/watersafety/weils-disease.aspx)

Balloons and lanterns

A large amount of balloons over the Thames will also cause a lasting effect. They can last for days on the water surface, often causing the emergency services to be called to them having been mistaken for persons in the water.

They can also tangle around birds legs. Despite being sold as biodegradable the latex balloons can take months or years to degrade in the marine environment. Once burst they can be ingested by marine birds and mammals, causing them to starve. The PLA does not recommend the use of balloons during events along the banks and would not approve large intentional releases from a structures  over or vessels on the Thames.

Over a period of five years, the Marine Conservation Society found on average 3 balloons per 100 metres during their Great British Beach Clean.

Sky and floating lanterns also pose similar threats to wildlife and navigational safety. They appear similar to red flare and have caused several false alarms for search and rescue services. They can cause confusion when floating on or near to the surface of the water, as they can be mistaken for another vessels lights.

They can cause significant damage to property due to their high heat and flammable contents.

The component parts become a hazard to the environment with entanglement from the frames, or ingestion of the frame. The PLA does not approve releases of floating or sky lanterns from structures over or vessels on the Thames.

Find out more: https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/ocean-friendly-living/dontletgo/

Rubbish collection and control

All events are likely to encourage more people to the river or its banks. This will increase the amount of rubbish that is created. Event organisers need to consider provision of waste management, prevent it entering the river, and recycle as much as possible.

Vessel use

All vessels used in the event should comply with the PLA and/or MCA licencing requirements, and should be fueled responsibly, in accordance with the PLA byelaws.

It is recommended that all support vessels carry a spill kit in case of an emergency during the event.  Guidance on the appropriate contents can be found at http://www.thegreenblue.org.uk/leaflets__resources.aspx

Vessels coming from areas outside of port limits may be creating pathways for alien species not yet in the tidal Thames. Guidance should be sought from the PLA and the Environment Agency on the precautions that may need to take place prior to entering the port limits.

Find out more: https://thegreenblue.org.uk/advice/

The Green Blue

The Green Blue is a joint environment programme created by the British Marine Federation and the Royal Yachting Association for anyone who enjoys getting out on the water or whose livelihood depends on it. Guidance has been created to help event managers reduce their impact on coastal and inland waters. https://thegreenblue.org.uk/marine-businesses/

World Rowing

World rowing provides guidance on how to minimise the impact on the environment of rowing events. https://worldrowing.com/responsibility/sustainability/

Additional advice

If you require any further advice or guidance please contact the PLA’s Environment Team on: [email protected]