The former First Sea Lord and chief of naval staff, Admiral Sir Philip Jones has joined the Board of the Port of London Authority (PLA) as a non-executive director.

The PLA oversees operations on the tidal Thames, home to the UK’s largest port and busiest inland waterway. Sir Philip joins as the Board’s marine expert, with a particular focus on river safety. He served in the Royal Navy from 1978 to 2019, seeing active service in the South Atlantic in 1982, commanding frigates, the UK’s Amphibious Task Group, UK Maritime Forces and EU Naval Forces for Counter Piracy off Somalia, and the Fleet. He also served four times in the Ministry of Defence.

Sir Philip takes over as marine Board member from Ian Moncrieff, who retired from the PLA at the end of December 2021 after seven years’ service.

PLA chairman, Christopher Rodrigues CBE, said:

“We are delighted to have secured someone with Sir Philip’s experience as part of our non-executive team. He joins a Board with the blend of talents needed to support the PLA as we plan, with customers and stakeholders, for the long-term future of the UK’s largest port and busiest inland waterway. His expert insights into marine matters, particularly the application of new technology for the safety of navigation and the move to Net Zero will be invaluable.”

The PLA has just launched a consultation on Thames Vision 2050 the updated development plan for the river, charting a future as trading hub, destination and natural haven.

Sir Philip is a trustee of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) and chair of trustees at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. He has recently joined BAE Systems as the military advisor for the Global Combat Ship programme.

Carbon-cutting concrete is helping re-activate an east London wharf, acquired by the Port of London Authority (PLA) to grow the use of the tidal Thames for freight.

Developed by Australian company Wagners, Earth Friendly Concrete (EFC®) is paving the way for building materials to be delivered by barge to Plaistow Wharf in Silvertown, for use in construction projects, in and around London.

Along with the adjacent Peruvian and Royal Primrose wharves, the site on the doorstep of London City Airport, has been acquired by the PLA, as part of its investment strategy to boost the river’s economy.

Keltbray, the PLA’s tenant at Plaistow Wharf, is leading the installation of EFC on site, in partnership with Capital Concrete, as well as the on the neighbouring Royal Primrose Wharf.

The product typically halves levels of embodied carbon, when compared with traditional alternatives.

On site to review progress (23 February), Steven Clapperton, the PLA’s director of sustainable marine operations, said: “It is exciting to see the latest green technology involved in re-establishing these wharves, which were so integral to London’s development as a major world port.

“Greater, sustainable use of the river for trade is an essential precursor to the capital delivering Net Zero.

“It’s an aim at the heart of our investment strategy, which is now delivering tangible benefits for the growing number of businesses involved in conveying goods and materials by barge, up and down the river.”

The energy savings EFC delivers are the result of an innovative binding system, utilising waste by-products, for example blast furnace slag from the production of iron.

Its other advantages include better durability, reduced shrinkage and increased fire resistance.

Following rigorous laboratory testing to meet strict industry standards, it has already been used in building projects across London.

Due for completion this spring, the marine works, covering 0.4 acres across the two wharves, to create safe areas for the loading and unloading of materials, are currently at their half-way stage.

Tim Lohmann, Keltbray’s director of strategic engineering, said: “Working alongside the PLA, we could not be more proud to be playing our part in the renaissance of the Thames as an eco-friendly conduit for freight.”

Work to reduce emissions from Port of London Authority (PLA) PLA vessel Driftwood II is nearing completion.

Over the winter, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system has been installed to the vessel’s two propulsion engines and generator, to cut levels of nitrogen oxides emitted from the exhaust.

The green upgrade has been co-financed by the Cross River Partnership, as part of Clean Air Thames, supported by the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund. The City of London Corporation is also a project partner.

PLA marine engineering superintendent, Jason Rudd, pictured, said: “Limited space on board Driftwood II required a complete overhaul of the engine room. This included converting an unutilised chemical tank to a fuel tank.”

When Driftwood II returns to service on the river this spring, researchers from University College London (UCL) will collect new data on the vessel’s exhaust emissions. The results will be compared with studies undertaken before the refit.

Driftwood II is used to clear river debris and maintain moorings.

Clean Air Thames is also funding similar improvements to GPS Marine’s tug, GPS Anglia, involving the installation of a new, single auxillary generator, replacing two older ones.

When the works are completed later this year, the vessel is due to support construction works for the Silvertown Tunnel, using 100 per cent hydrotreated vegetable oil, not fossil-derived gas oil, which will further reduce her emissions.

UCL will also be monitoring the improvements from the GPS Anglia changes.

CRP will publish the project's overall findings and lessons learned.

Four more mariners with global experience have joined the Port of London Authority (PLA) to help ensure continued navigational safety for vessels visiting the UK’s busiest port.

They join a team of over 100 pilots, working round the clock to guide, in and out of port, the growing number of vessels navigating the tidal River Thames each year.

Last year, was the busiest ever for the PLA’s sea pilots. It saw them board almost 11,000 vessels navigating their way up and down the estuary, as trade recovered, following the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Adding to 12 PLA trainee pilots appointed in 2021, the new recruits have embarked on a five-year training programme, to equip them with the skills and knowledge essential for vessels’ safe navigation of the tidal Thames.

• David Barnett, from Cork, started his marine career aboard tankers in 2012, before moving to ferries. For the past three years, he has mainly worked on UK routes to Ireland and continental Europe.
• A Kent resident all his life, David R Hocking trained first as a Trinity House cadet. On qualifying, he worked as a deck officer on aggregate dredgers around Europe, predominantly on the Thames.
• Sailing the world with cruise line Holland-America for the first nine years of his career, Stuart Little joined Svitzer Marine in 2020, mainly operating tugs on the Thames and Medway. He moved to London from Preston four years ago.
• After graduating from Plymouth University, Adam Smith worked initially for the Seabourn Cruise Line, before joining Trinity House as a trainee cadet in 2013, rising through the ranks to become a master. He now lives in Dorking, Surrey.

The team’s work involves boarding and disembarking ships while underway, in all weathers and at all times of day and night, demanding a high level of training and safety awareness.

Bob Baker, chief harbour master at the PLA, said: “The addition of more new blood into our pilotage team not only helps meet growing demand, but will also ensure we can continue to offer a reliable service to our customers, as longer-serving pilots retire.”

Throughout the pandemic last year, the team delivered a 98.8 per cent service level to customers.

Divers employed by the Port of London Authority (PLA) helped remove a giant anchor, lodged in the bed of the River Thames near Gravesend (9 February).

The exact age of the iron anchor - measuring over 15 feet in height and weighing more than five tonnes - is a mystery.

It’s presence deep in the tidal Thames’ muddy waters was confirmed by routine surveys of the river bed, undertaken by the PLA’s hydrographic team, using a high-resolution multi-beam sonar, to identify changes in the river bed and objects that could pose a navigational risk for vessels.

Divers Ryan Pearce and Jason Durkin were deployed on the river on consecutive days, tasked with salvaging two submerged items with the potential to obstruct river traffic.

The anchor was top of their list of items to remove from the Gravesend Reach.

On Thursday (10 February), they turned their attention to a smaller, rectangular pile, which proved trickier to locate in the pitch-black waters, and required brute force to dislodge it from the bed of the river.

Ryan, a diver since 2008, explained: “You can’t see anything down there; you have to work by touch.”

A PLA crew aboard London Titan returned both the divers’ finds safely back to dry land.

Few of Mark Towens' many friends and colleagues from across the river community had any idea that he was battling resurgent skin cancer, when he welcomed Prince William to the launch of the tidal Thames’ first-ever drowning prevention strategy in May 2019.

First diagnosed in 2005, shortly before his marriage to his “rock”, Claire, Mark had, with typical drive and determination, resolved to fight his illness every step of the way. With the constant support of Claire, his family and friends, he did just that.

As inaugural chairman of the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum, he came to see the multi-agency work to tackle accidents and suicides on the river as his legacy and had personally secured the duke’s support.

Mark was characteristically humbled and deeply appreciative of the campaign to raise money for specialist treatment of his condition, which reached its target in a matter of weeks last year.

His only route for the treatment in Tel Aviv was a flight for Israeli nationals trapped in Europe by COVID-19 restrictions. On landing, he and Claire had to persuade the airport officials to allow them to go direct to hospital rather than go into quarantine.

Born in 1981, Mark lived in Northfleet for the first 18 months of his life, before moving to Gravesend.

A star pupil at the town’s grammar school, motion sickness cut short his dream of being an airline pilot.

He joined the PLA in 1999 as a marine apprentice, becoming ports marine surveyor in 2005. He rose through the ranks and was appointed harbour master in 2014, aged 32.

He had taken particular pride in helping to organise HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant and was a key player in arranging other milestones in the river’s calendar, including the Boat Race and the New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Throughout his career, he made special efforts to mentor young trainees following in his footsteps, inspiring respect and loyalty from them for his commitment and leadership.

Balancing both family life as a father and a recurrence of his illness, he secured a university MBA with customary aplomb.

Mark combined a direct, no-nonsense style with infectious good humour and charm, even when his health was deteriorating.

A desire to always do his best was second nature for him.

As a proud member of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen and Globe Rowing Club, he came second in the 2004 Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race, much to his annoyance.

His teams triumphed nine times in the traditional Thames Barge Driving Race, staged annually between Greenwich and Westminster.

He approached all team pursuits with PLA colleagues with limitless competitive zeal; from crazy golf to ice skating and white-water rafting, victory was always in his sights.

An insatiable thirst for adventure also took Mark on sailing expeditions around the world, including aboard the tall ship Winston Churchill, from the Canary Islands to the Azores.

Cycling, another of Mark’s passions, led him to complete numerous charity bike rides.

A love of American cars, shared with his father, inspired them to import a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro from Florida.

Mark was also a keen fisherman.

Family was particularly important to Mark. When his illness became terminal, he made the most of the opportunity to spend time with his closest relatives, regularly embarking with them on trips and adventures for as long as he could.

He celebrated his 40th birthday with a family dinner at the top of The Shard, overlooking his beloved river.

As his medical condition worsened, it was Mark’s last wish to spend Christmas at home with Claire and his children, Jamie and Katie, which he managed to do.

Following his funeral in Gravesend, (27 January) tug boats on the river staged a water canon display as a mark of respect.

Mark died on New Year’s Day.

He will be much missed by all who knew him.

A drive to maintain tidal River Thames workers’ skills throughout their careers has been hailed by the UK maritime minister as a model for the rest of the country to follow.

Meeting river workers on the Thames in central London (25 January), Robert Courts MP described the Thames CPD (Continuous Professional Development) programme, led by the Thames Skills Academy (TSA), Port of London Authority (PLA) and Company of Watermen & Lightermen as “an exemplar for ensuring that safety is at the heart of greater use of the nation’s inland waterways.”

Boat operations on the tidal Thames, the UK’s busiest inland waterway, are set to accelerate rapidly over the next decade. The boom in online shopping, linked to the pandemic, has generated unprecedented interest in using the river for the transportation of light freight and parcels. The river’s network of passenger piers is also expanding eastwards.

From early 2024, Thames CPD will be mandated by the PLA for all tidal Thames boat masters, from Teddington to the North Sea.

To encourage early-sign up to Thames CPD, by lowering costs, the PLA has launched a five-year investment programme of over £150,000 to roll out a two-day course at HR Wallingford in Oxfordshire, developed by the TSA with employers, to ensure boat masters can contend with a variety of scenarios, at the helm of a virtual vessel. It mirrors long-established training in the aviation industry and other sectors, putting workers through their paces in a safe setting. The programme was established by Tideway, the company managing the construction of London’s “super sewer”, due for completion in 2025.

Robert Courts said: “I salute all the partners involved in the Thames CPD programme for their drive and determination to make it a reality.

“It is a really significant step forward in ensuring that the nation’s premier waterway is a global beacon of best practice.”

Christopher Rodrigues CBE, whose six-year term as PLA chairman ends this spring, explained:

“I am proud to conclude my time at the PLA with this Thames CPD programme in place. It will help underpin safety on an increasingly busy river and sustain the skills of the Thames’ workforce for years to come.

“Though the river may sometimes appear slow-paced and traditional, the reality is starkly different. Technology, Net Zero and increased opportunities for commercial and leisure use all mean the river is changing faster than ever before, making a robust, long-term approach to CPD absolutely imperative.”

Katherine Riggs, chief executive of the TSA, said: “The pace of change on the river is getting faster all the time, making it essential for mariners to keep skills up to date with all the latest developments through CPD, to help keep the river safe and prosperous.

“The new Thames CPD programme will help workers at the helm of boats to access training on all aspects of river operations and ensure their skills remain relevant, meeting employers’ needs.”

Derek Mann, master of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen, commented: “Thames CPD provides a structure for training of the Thames’ workforce, enhancing the high standards already in place and firmly underlining the value of the river as a place of work, for current and future generations.“

Employers supporting the programme include City Cruises, Cory, GPS Marine, Walsh, Livett’s Group, Tideway, Transport for London/Woolwich Ferries and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

Details of the Thames CPD programme are available at: ThamesCPD.co.uk.