This June, three trainee pilots joined the PLA to start an intensive, six-month course, with more set to follow in their footsteps later this year.

River trade is kept flowing, through the PLA’s recruitment of experienced master mariners, vying to become specialist Thames navigational pilots.

The new starters are Rhys Hetherington (from Solihull, West Midlands, England), Mihovil Pedisic (from Zadar, Croatia) and William Walsh (from Youghal, County Cork, Republic of Ireland).

They join the PLA team of over 100 pilots, who guide vessels safely up and down the estuary. Their role involves boarding and disembarking vessels by ladder, in all weathers, at all times of day and night.

In 2022, the pilotage team maintained a 98.5 per cent service level.

Dave Newbury, the PLA’s marine pilotage manager said: “The addition of more new blood into our pilotage team helps meet growing demand and will also ensure we can continue to offer a reliable service to our customers.

“Our pilots must know every inch of the estuary like the back of their hand, to be able to make sure that goods can continue to arrive safely, day in, day out, whatever the weather.”

The Port of London remains the UK’s largest port by volume.

On the second day of Maritime Safety Week 2023, the Port of London Authority (PLA) is taking a lead in creating a positive safety culture, announcing its latest safety campaign, Watch Your Wash, to increase awareness of the potential risks of vessel wash and draw-off on river users along the tidal Thames.

“Wash” is a term used for the waves that are created when a vessel moves through the water, displacing it. It often extends behind a vessel in the shape of a V and varies, depending on several factors, including the size and speed of the vessel, the rate of acceleration/deceleration and the available depth of water.

“Draw-off” refers to the effects that occur when two or more vessels come into close proximity of each other, when either one or both vessels are making way. The stationary vessel can experience a “pull-off”’ effect, resulting in it being pulled away from its moorings.

Bob Baker, the PLA’s chief harbour master, explains:

“As the navigational safety authority of the UK’s largest port, and busiest inland waterway, we have decided to take a pro-active approach to the safety risks of wash and draw off.

“The masters of any power-driven vessels must ensure that their vessels are navigated at a speed and manner, so that neither the safety of other river users, (including moorings, piers, berths of jetties), nor the integrity of the foreshore are compromised.

“So, our simple message to all masters is Watch Your Wash.”

A quarter of all reported navigational incidents in 2022 at the PLA were related to wash complaints, which are increasing year on year. So far this year, the PLA has received 47 wash complaints.

As well as causing a risk to the safety of navigation, and to the safety of other river users, such as the houseboat community, wash or draw off can have a detrimental impact on the environment and wildlife, through noise and disruption.

The PLA encourages all river users to submit a wash complaint, even by those not personally affected.

The PLA investigates all reports it receives and uses sophisticated data analysis to identify trends. This data in turn can be used to affect appropriate mitigation measures with the aim of continually improving safety.

Wash complaints (and other issues) can be reported via Resolver, our reporting portal.

Having launched a successful safe access initiative in February this year, Safe Boarding Week, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has welcomed the news that Navigator Thames has commenced work today (3 July), at the start of Maritime Safety Week 2023, to improve safe access at their West Thurrock bulk liquid terminal on the tidal Thames, the UK’s largest, by throughput volume.

Navigator Terminals had identified some areas for improvement as the access to vessels was at an acute angle at high tide. Under the stewardship of Navigator’s new and experienced terminal manager, Robert Marshall, the project has recommenced and fortuitously coincides with the start of the Department for Transport’s Maritime Safety Week (3-7 July).

Bob Baker, the PLA’s chief harbour master, commented:

“Safety is at the heart of what we do every day at the PLA.

“We are delighted that our safety initiative, Safe Boarding Week, had a positive influence on Navigator Thames’ decision to reboot the works that they had planned.

"We welcome the response of Navigator Thames to improving safe access for not just our pilots, but everyone else who needs to access the vessels, which will support the highest safety standards as the port continues to grow.”

Robert Marshall, Navigator Thames’ Terminal Manager, said:

“The investment in our jetties to improve safe access is part of our ongoing commitment to process safety throughout our organisation.

“We are going to work 24 hours per day for four days, during absolute low tide, to eliminate the need for a jetty outage, and ensure no business interruption to our customers.”
 

A ban on commercial vessels discharging sewage to the tidal River Thames will be enforced by the Port of London Authority (PLA) from 1 July 2024.

On 1 March 2021, following a consultation process that commenced in 2017, the PLA announced the ban would be introduced, to give operators adequate time to make alternative arrangements for disposing of toilet waste from on board their vessels.

The move is part of a suite of efforts undertaken by the PLA to tackle pollution in the Thames.

The Clean Thames Manifesto, recently convened by the PLA, commits a range of stakeholders, including water companies, to decrease their impact on the Thames, with a particular focus on sewage.

The PLA also:

• Operates a network of passive debris collectors, reducing litter in the river.
• Works with charity Thames21 and community groups to arrange safe foreshore clean ups.

Studies on how to remove wet wipes that have accumulated in the river near Hammersmith are also underway, along with the commissioning of water quality monitoring.

Bob Baker, chief harbour master at the PLA, said:

“Our goal of eradicating both sewage and plastic from the river, as part of our Thames Vision 2050 strategy, means that vessel operators discharging toilet waste to the river from their vessels can no longer be tolerated.

“Historically the volumes involved were comparatively small, compared to the wider pollution of the river, but that situation is changing.

“In parallel with our own efforts to clean up the river, the Thames Tideway Tunnel due to come into operation in 2025, means the nation’s most iconic waterway is set to become the cleanest it has been for centuries.

“By capturing polluting discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs), built into the capital’s largely Victorian sewerage network, the opening of the ‘super sewer’ will be a great day for the river, making vessels’ discharges of sewage no longer acceptable.”

The PLA will audit compliance with the ban and prosecute offenders, who face potentially unlimited fines from magistrates.
 

Coinciding with World Hydrography Day (21 June), the Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, officially named the first fully-electric, remotely operated survey vessel of any UK port, UCL Tamesis.

Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere, and PLA chair, Jonson Cox CBE, with UCL Tamesis, the first fully electric remote survey vessel of any UK port

As it is jointly operated by the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the University College of London (UCL), the name acknowledges both organisations; ‘Tamesis’ being the ancient Latin name for the River Thames.

UCL Tamesis, which was acquired following a successful bid and award of an £263,000 grant from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will facilitate PLA and UCL research in coastal morphology, carbon reduction, habitat mapping and other areas of education and development in the sphere of maritime safety, autonomy, and robotics.

Manufactured by MARITIME ROBOTICS and featuring the most advanced sonar and scanning system from NORBIT, UCL Tamesis will enable safety of navigation surveys in previously inaccessible areas, safely and sustainably. It will also be used in trials to inform the port authority of how best to manage and interact with remote and autonomous vessels.

Held at Woods Quay, a beautiful building moored on the Thames with a revered riverscape from Waterloo Bridge across to Westminster, the naming ceremony was led by the PLA’s chair, Jonson Cox CBE, and attended by key stakeholders and partners at the invitation of UCL and the PLA. In the centuries’ old tradition, the Maritime Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, formally named the vessel, UCL Tamesis, whilst breaking the miniature bottle of champagne.

Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said:

“It’s a privilege to name UCL Tamesis, the first fully-electric survey vessel for the Port of London, to honour the historic river that it’ll operate on, while pointing to a net-zero maritime future.

“Innovation is at the heart of our voyage to reducing carbon emissions in the maritime sector and today’s announcement shows how it can also keep our waterways safe with its surveying technology.”

With sustainability and safety at the heart of the innovation and change to remote and autonomous vessels, the hydrographic surveying industry is ready to embrace these solutions to be able to provide safer, more efficient and versatile underwater data collection.

The PLA’s port hydrographer, John Dillon-Leetch, said:

“It means a lot to us that the Maritime Minister has officially named our new remote survey vessel, UCL Tamesis, today, on World Hydrography Day, and in a longstanding maritime tradition, taken the honorary title of being its “Godmother”. We hope she will bring good luck and protection to the vessel and those who operate it as it carries out vital hydrographic work and research by UCL and the PLA in the years to come.”

The PLA’s Hydrography team has worked in partnership with UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering (CEGE) since 1999 to deliver the internationally accredited* MSc in Geospatial Science, Hydrographic Surveying, which is currently the only CAT A accredited course in the UK, supporting the education of future hydrographic surveyors from around the world.

UCL CEGE’s lecturer in marine geospatial science, Dr Cassandra Nanlal, commented:

“What an extraordinary way to celebrate World Hydrography Day! We really appreciate the show of support by the Minister for our collaborative research initiative. The UCL/PLA partnership on the MSc Hydrographic Surveying has been tremendously beneficial to elevating the standards in the industry internationally and now we embark on joint innovative research towards sustainability and autonomy.”

* International Board of Standards and Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (FIG/IHO/ICA)

In time for London Climate Action Week (24 June to 2 July), the Port of London Authority (PLA) has announced this year’s Thames Environment Fund, with the news that it has doubled the funding to £50,000 and tripled the maximum amount of each bid to £15,000.

As a trust port, the PLA holds the river in trust, working to hand it on in a better condition to future generations. In order to deliver on the environmental aims of the PLA’s strategy Thames Vision 2050, the 100% increase in this year’s funding, as well as the increase in the limit of each bid to £15,000, aims to attract a wider variety of applicants, including from schools, charities and sports clubs with an interest in the River Thames.

Grace Rawnsley, director of sustainability at the PLA said:

“We are excited to launch our Thames Environment Fund this year, offering twice the funding for a greater range of projects for applicants, and providing greater opportunity for environmental improvements on the tidal Thames. We welcome any applicants who share our passion and vision for the future of the natural Thames and its wildlife.”

In the past two years, the PLA has funded seven projects, thanks to the Thames Environment Fund. Last year, two rowing clubs were awarded funding to replace their petrol outboards with electric alternatives. In 2021, a total of five projects were successful in receiving funding related to the themes of invasive species and litter. Examples include: the Whale Company and Active360’s “Paddle & Pick”, combining stand-up paddle-boarding with litter-busting, and Medway Swale Estuary Partnership tackling invasive Pacific oysters on the Isle of Sheppey.

Applications are open to any project ideas that will be of environmental benefit to the tidal Thames.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) presented its refreshed strategy, the Thames Vision 2050, at an afternoon reception at the Palace of Westminster yesterday (5 June) alongside 150 guests, including former maritime ministers.

The reception in the House Commons' Terrace Pavilion brought together leading figures from industry, the port and river community NGOs, sporting and recreational groups, alongside politicians and officials, setting out the future intent across the themes of the river development plan, Thames Vision 2050.

The three Vision themes, reflecting the role the river plays for people and the environment, are:

• Trading Thames – The No. 1 Net Zero UK commercial hub
• Destination Thames – A place to live, visit, play and enjoy
• Natural Thames – Clean air, water and land supporting diverse wildlife.

The event also provided a platform for a group of businesses and innovators to showcase their projects seeking to drive forward a more sustainable river operation, including proposed schemes covering shore-side power, electric foiling ships, zero emissions and autonomous hydrogen vessels.

“As we look to accelerate the path to a decarbonised economy, it is our mission to create a truly sustainable operation and environment. Delivering Net Zero is now a golden thread throughout our working and personal lives, even more so for younger generations. The Thames Vision 2050 will provide that guide-rail for the river community as we drive forward progressive change," commented Jonson Cox CBE, chair of the Port of London Authority, in his address to the guests.

He added: “The Vision is broad, combining ambitions for a safe, Net Zero port, clean and wildlife-rich river, an estuary resilient to climate change and a more diverse Thames, open to and providing opportunity for all.”

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

“The Port of London Authority’s new Vision for the Thames in 2050 underlines the crucial role both the Port and the River Thames will play in our economy and the environment, now and in the future.

“As the UK’s largest and most competitive port, it supports over 45,000 jobs, handles over 50 million tonnes of cargo every year, and has an annual gross value added of more than £4 billion – a huge asset as we continue to grow the economy.”

Priya Nair has been appointed a non-executive board director of the Port of London Authority (PLA), with effect from 1 June 2023.

A senior investment director at abrdn’s Infrastructure Private Equity business, she will chair the PLA’s investment committee.

Her previous experience includes working on advising and financing a range of large infrastructure projects in the water and transport sectors, such as High Speed Rail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel in London.

Jonson Cox, chair of the PLA, said: “Priya is joining the PLA at a very exciting time, as we roll out the delivery of our Thames Vision 2050 and our 2030 objectives, seeking to maximise the economic, social and environmental potential of the river.

“Her wide knowledge and experience linked to the financing of key infrastructure in the UK and internationally will be critical to making the Vision goals a reality.

“It is great to have her on board for our journey to ensure that London is a world-leading, Net Zero trading hub, at the forefront of global port innovation."

Active Thames, a partnership programme led by the Port of London Authority (PLA), have teamed up with Go Jauntly, a walking app for everyday outdoor adventures, to create a collection of family-friendly walks along the Thames Path.

The accessible walks feature a riverside trail and puzzle hunt in Gravesend, a ramble in Rotherhithe, jaunts in Woolwich and Bermondsey, and a nature wander around Surrey Quays.

The Thames Path National Trail covers 185.2 miles, from the Cotswolds all the way to Woolwich, London, where it meets the England Coast Path to form one continuous route from source to sea.

Hannah Gutteridge, Thames Path National Trail manager said:

“The Thames Path is London’s only National Trail. We’ve worked in partnership with Go Jauntly and the PLA to create these walks and show how the Thames Path links with London and Kent’s local communities, green spaces, and cultural history. Being beside the river, watching the tide ebb and flow, is so beneficial for our mental health- particularly in busy urban areas.”

Jenny Cooper, sports manager at the PLA said:

“It’s national trails day this weekend, and these step-free walks have been designed to encourage families to get out and about together, exploring the Thames. There’s always something interesting happening on the river, whether its boats, people or nature, and we hope the new walks encourage people to enjoy being active by the Thames.”

You can access the walks, and thousands of other routes, via the free Go Jauntly app