Photo: PLA Chief Executive Robin Mortimer speaking at the International Maritime Hub.

Photo credit: Marc Turner

Robin Mortimer, chief executive of the Port of London Authority (PLA), is looking forward to the tidal River Thames playing its part in delivering Net Zero.

It’s transport day at COP26, and I am feeling optimistic.

There’s no room for complacency, but the mood in Glasgow at the International Maritime Hub, which I attended last week, was extremely positive.

One particularly engaged participant was the Belgian prime minister Alexander Croo.

His country is a key partner for the UK in research on how to best to reduce maritime carbon emissions.

Recently confirmed as the UK’s biggest port by volume, for the first time in over two decades, London is leading the way.

The PLA heads a consortium, supported by Government, working to establish a national Hydrogen Highway, integrating land, sea and port.

This includes trials at Denton Wharf in Kent to establish the business case for vessels on the Thames powered by hydrogen.

Our work with Royal HaskoningDHV to model future energy use on the Thames, in response to climate change, is essential to ensure that the port remains competitive in the long term.

Feasibility studies are also planned by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and Cory to develop the vessels that can make Net Zero possible on the river.

Actions not words

We recognise the need to practice what we preach.

Thanks to funding from the Cross River Partnership, work is underway to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from Driftwood II, one of our river maintenance vessels.

As part of our air quality strategy, the first to be produced by a UK port, we also offer incentives to larger visiting vessels to exceed the minimum required environmental standard.

Additionally, our Thames Green Scheme encourages operators to improve the sustainability of their fleet.

Later this month, in partnership with Thames Marine Services, we will take our first bulk delivery of lower-emission biofuels at Royal Terrace Pier, near our Gravesend headquarters.

Barrier Gardens Pier in Woolwich will follow suit in December, as part of a major refurbishment to make our operations there safer, quieter and greener.”

Freight opportunity

Meanwhile, significant progress is being made towards the Thames Vision goal of increasing the volume of freight carried on the river.

The importance of this is underlined in the Centre for London’s new report (Worth the Wait: Making London’s Deliveries Green and Smarter).

Tideway, the company building London’s much-needed ‘super sewer’, has blazed a trail on “more by river”.

So far, five million tonnes of material for the project have been transported by river, saving 600,000 HGV journeys and 14,816 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Others are making a difference too, also aided by our work over decades to ensure the river did not lose its protected wharves.

Roof parts for Fulham FC’s new stand, for example arrived in the capital by barge from Tilbury.

As the economy changes post the pandemic, getting more light freight onto the river is a major opportunity.

This summer’s trial by CEVA Logistics and Livett’s Launches to ferry medical goods twice a day from Dartford to Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital has been a success.

More initiatives to utilise the river for the delivery of goods ordered online are in the pipeline too.

No plain sailing

It would be wrong of me to suggest greening the river will be easy or quick.

Restoring passenger numbers on the river to pre-covid levels is a pressing challenge, for example.

But we are committed to doing all we can to decarbonise the economy of the river.

The Thames has shaped London’s past and can shape its future too.

Shopping trolleys dumped in the River Thames near Gravesend have been retrieved by the Port of London Authority (PLA).

New pictures, taken by local photographer Fraser Gray, have been released, coinciding with London Rivers Week (23-31 October), showing the PLA’s Marine Services team rescuing over a dozen discarded trolleys stuck in the foreshore mud, near Imperial Business Park in the Kent town.

Part of the 200-plus tonnes of litter removed from the river each year by the PLA, the trolleys were taken for safe disposal ashore, aboard Driftwood III, a PLA vessel which patrols the river for litter and objects, such as tree branches, with the potential to hamper safe navigation of the river.

The PLA’s marine manager afloat, Michael Russell, said: “We work hard all year round to remove litter of all shapes and sizes from the tidal Thames, from Teddington to the coast.

“Our message to all shoppers is please always return your trolleys to the designated supermarket collection points.

“Left stranded anywhere near by the river, they can all too easily end up in the deep mud of the river’s banks, posing a unnecessary hazard both for river users and wildlife, not to mention the eyesore they create.”

A major exhibition, now open, brings the history – and future – of the country’s biggest port to life.

Filled with fascinating stories of people involved in trade on the river over two centuries, London: Port City runs at the Museum of London Docklands till 8 May 2022.

Featuring a wealth of rarely seen images, housed in the Port of London Authority (PLA) archive at the museum, must-see exhibits include:

• Spectacular, large-scale projections of the river, simulating a day in the life of the port, including a virtual tour of the PLA’s river traffic control room in Gravesend.
• A tracker, monitoring the live movement of trade vessels on the Thames. Annually, the port welcomes over 12,000 commercial vessels, connecting over 80 countries worldwide.
• An interactive timeline, using 221 artefacts, ranging from sandals used to smuggle opium, to the original plans for the docks.
• How the docks influenced language, inspiring the naming of places, pubs and streets in the capital.
• An aromatic tour of the port, featuring smells of imported goods, fragrant and not so fragrant!
• A look at how the river has provided a backdrop for film and TV blockbusters, from Harry Potter to James Bond.
• The engineering feats that became a blueprint for docks around the world.
• Susan Stockwell’s Trade Winds, London, a flotilla of boats, floating on a sea of coins, crafted from international paper currency, maps and travel tickets.
• A new artwork by Hilary Powell, using experimental photographic techniques to explore the container shipping industry and its workforce.
• Paintings, drawings and maps charting the port’s development, including an unseen drawing signed by Marc Brunel (father of Isambard), who designed the Thames Tunnel at Rotherhithe, the first north-south tunnel under the river.
• An exploration of the work of PLA divers over the years, featuring a 1920s helmet and air pump.
  The exhibition also investigates the port’s early dependence on the sugar trade and slavery.

A document commemorating the original unveiling of the statue of merchant and slave owner Robert Milligan, which was removed from outside the museum in 2020, will be displayed, alongside original plans for the docks.

Claire Dobbin, curator, Museum of London, said: “The port has had a profound impact on London - physically, economically and culturally.

“With this exhibition we wanted to bring the significance, scale and dynamism of port operations – past and present - to life, as well the experiences of those working on the docks.

“Historic film and photographs, artworks and artefacts, archival documents and oral histories bring personal stories and professional insight from the past into new light, while specially commissioned film and audio-visual displays create a window on to contemporary working practices.

“Visitors can step back in time, to engage with the historic sights, sounds and smells of the docks, and also explore behind the scenes of the PLA’s current activities, which continue to play a vital role in our daily lives.”

Robin Mortimer, PLA chief executive, said: “This brilliant exhibition is a timely look at how the River Thames has driven the economy of London and the country, through tough times and good. It comes as London has recently reclaimed the top spot as the UK’s biggest port.

"The exhibition shows that there is a huge amount to celebrate in the life of the Thames, but also rightly does not shy away from the uncomfortable parts of its history – in particular showing the port’s role in the slave trade.”

“I hope people from far and wide will enjoy exploring not only the port’s history, but also its future, as we work towards a more sustainable and more inclusive world.”

From pleasure boat barmaid to volunteer guide at the PLA’s new London: Port City exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands, Kate Cameron’s seven decades have revolved around the tidal Thames.

Life-long links

“I have lived near the river for most of my life. It becomes part of you.

“If you work on the river, your life is the river. It completely defines you.

“For me, it’s a people thing.

“The River Thames is London.

“It’s the reason why the city has become the magnificent place it is today.

“In the heyday of the old docks, the river not only meant jobs on boats, it also sustained pubs, cafes, newsagents, you name it.

“As London: Port City shows, trade on the river has permeated into the language of the capital too – for example, influencing the names of places, streets and, of course, pubs.  

“I just love that sense of belonging that history provides.”

Listening to London

“It’s been an honour to be one of the Londoners who have helped and advised the exhibition curators.

“Rifling through the museum’s audio archives triggered so many memories for all of us who volunteered to be part of the Listening to London project.

“Even via Zoom, we could not stop talking.

“Truth be told, even though the formal sessions are over, the conversations continue on a regular basis.

“With the lockdowns finally consigned to history, it’s great to be able to do so in person now.”

Living history

“It gets me thinking, in a hundred years’ time, what will future generations think of the pandemic?

“It’s a good reminder for everyone to share your recollections – written or verbal.

“You are never too young to start living history.”

Oral histories

“Over the years, I have met so many characters.

“It’s hard to know where to begin. The Prentices, the Dwans, the Bulmans…. the list goes on.

“It’s why I am so looking forward to being a guide at London: Port City.

“It will be the perfect opportunity to remember all the people I have met and retell their stories.

“One of my own earliest memories is my mother describing how the Thames glowed orange during the Blitz, reflecting the inferno of flames from buildings bombed along its bank.

“I remember her words to this day. They painted such a vivid picture in my mind.”

Magic moments

“There are so many great river moments that stand out in my memory.

“I vividly recall back in 1977, the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, I was pregnant with my daughter, Jane. Loads of boats were moored in Westminster.

I was determined to speak to a mate, who was on another boat. I crawled through the stern windows of the boats. It was the easiest way to get to her, as river traffic had been halted.  

“Over three decades later, no-one who was lucky enough to take part will forget the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, despite the torrential rain that day.

“Being on the river on New Year’s Eve is always special too.

“On a boat near Parliament, the bongs of Big Ben at midnight reverberate through your whole body.

“It will be so good to celebrate the arrival of 2022 out on the river again.

“There have been political moments too.

“I was on the picket line when the original docks closed.

“Nor will I forget, years later, Colin’s satisfaction, as a freeman of the river, being able to instruct Margaret Thatcher’s vessel to move, as it was obscuring my view of a meridian line laser display over the river.”

West End girl

“My own river story began at the original Westminster Hospital, where I was born.

“My education took me as far afield as a convent school in Crystal Palace, but I grew up nearby, close to Chelsea Bridge, in Pimlico, and clearly remember the waste disposal tugs at Grosvenor Dock, now home to apartment blocks.    

“My maternal grandfather was closely involved in bridge repairs locally.

“The world was a smaller place back then.

“I remember setting off to Greenwich for the day with a friend once. I had no idea you could get there and back in a day – so packed a suitcase.”

Matches, hatches, and dispatches

“After a spell working in Scotland, I got a job serving at the Wandsworth Bridge Tavern, where I soon met my former husband, Colin, who was a freeman working on the river, following in the footsteps of his father, Cornelius, known to all as simply “Connie”.  

“Dating the local barmaid was a competitive ritual for river workers in those days. I suspect it still is…

“It only took Colin some twenty years to claim the winnings of his bet with his friend that he would succeed in asking me out first.

“I remember Colin out on the river, using sign language to relay the news of our engagement to his mates aboard other vessels. Life on tugs was hot, smelly and noisy.

“Both my children were born a stone’s throw from the river at Guy’s Hospital.

“Everyone knows one another in the river community.

“I started work behind the bar on tourist and party boats in 1995, when Colin and I separated.

“Often, we would engineer for wedding parties to reach the pool of London, just as Tower Bridge was raised.

“Every bride was convinced it had been arranged just for them.

“One of my favourite tales of river life emerged hearing a 1989 museum recording of a conversation with Charles Lunn, a Rotherhithe café owner.

“It’s a story, passed down from generation to generation, about an open coffin, which was washed out of an open window in Gulliver Street during the floods of 1921 – to be retrieved by boatman, Dido Plum, who had been delivering supplies by boat to stranded locals.

“It sums how up how river folk look after each other, through thick and thin.”

River scents

“It’s no exaggeration to say you used to be able to tell where you were on the river, just through your nose, especially on foggy days.  

“I personally remember smelling the bricks in the wharves, especially the aroma of spices.

“Also, how boat ropes’ aroma’s varied by season - frozen in winter, steaming in summer.

“Call them odorous or fragrant, smells are a key feature of London: Port City – not to be missed!”

Museum geek

“London and its river are so special to me. I have always loved museums too.

“As my family will happily confirm, I also love talking.

“So being on hand to chat to visitors at London: Port City, well it’s the perfect gig. What’s not to like?

“I am very much looking forward to meeting visitors from far and wide.

“It will be great to hear their memories of the port and how things have changed over the years.”

Youth appeal

“I think children in particular will love London: Port City.

“It’s the perfect destination for a half-term day out.

“The design team have done a tremendous job in making it accessible to people of all ages.

“There is truly something for everyone. And its free!

“Forget the museums of days gone by, all dusty cabinets and endless text.

“This exhibition is a truly interactive experience, bringing the story of London’s port to life.

“There is one section where the children put bricks of the place names into a pretend wall  

“I think the adults will have a great time ‘helping' the children.

“Look out for the whale poo too….”  

Past, present and future

“My river journey started as a resident of the north shore of the Thames, when the communities either side of the river were very different; even the language we used was different – “car” in the north for example, “motor” in the south.

“Over the years, the differences have become much less pronounced.

“These days, I am firmly at home on the southern shore, living just a stone’s throw from the Woolwich ferry terminal.

“I love watching the boats cross the river to and fro. It’s hypnotic.

“And, given my passion for history, it’s great to be on the doorstep of Maritime Greenwich.

“I am also lucky to have my children and grandchildren living nearby.

“My daughter Jane, who was the first female to become a freeman of the river in 1993, before joining the PLA, now works on river-related matters for the union UNITE.

“James, my son, is in charge of lighterage for Cory, based just up the road in Charlton, continuing the work his father did for the company back in the 1970’s.

“Jane was apprenticed in 1993, James the following year.

“It’s too early to say whether my grandchildren will follow them into maritime careers.

“But I would not be surprised if they did.

“The river seems to be in our blood.”

Quick fire

• West End or East End? That’s not difficult. East End.
• Favourite spot on the Thames? At the back of a boat on the river. Watching the sun come up over London is magical.
• Summarise the river in three words: I can do no better than “boozers, bompers and bridgers”, the title of a book by Con Maloney of the Friends of Island History Group.
• Sources of relaxation? I am a great lover of Kpop bands, as such SHINee, BTS and Third Line Butterfly.

Additional information:

• Listening to London is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Collectors Fund - delivered by the Museum Association.
• Take a look at the London: Port City Virtual Exhibition Tour.

A £380,000 upgrade of the Stoneness Lighthouse, on the north bank of the Thames near Dartford Bridge, is close to being completed by the Port of London Authority (PLA).

A jack-up barge was used to deliver all plant and materials from Tilbury, with the existing base slab being reused to reduce the volume required.

PLA assistant civil engineer, Peter Trent, who led the project, said: “Part of our ongoing investment to keep the river safe for all users, this upgrade will ensure the lighthouse is fit for purpose for years to come.”

The paint coating used for the refurbishment has an anticipated 15-year lifespan.

Peter added: “Daily work over two weeks earlier this month was hampered only by dense fog.

“In liaison with Natural England, we undertook the project in autumn, to avoid disturbing local overwintering birds."

The project contractors were Southbay Civil Engineering Limited, Red 7 Marine and Oscar Nelson Limited. It was designed by M. D. Carvell Associates, with IMS Energy Limited fabricating and painting the new structure.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is leading a consortium of eight organisations in a ground-breaking development project looking at the scope to establish a national hydrogen highway network, integrating land, sea and port.

Under the Smart Maritime Land Operations Call, a Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) initiative supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) the two-year project will benefit from £1.3 million towards the £2.1 million total cost. Partners in the project include OS Energy, University of Strathclyde, University of Kent, Solutions from HSE, ORE Catapult, University of Birmingham and Newcastle Marine Services, supported by a number of other ports, operators and trade associations. The project partners are providing the balance of the funds, under MarRI-UK match funding rules.

The six project work packages cover energy diversity research, trialling hydrogen power generation for vessels based at the PLA’s Denton Wharf, establishing the business case for back hauling hydrogen into central London, ship design and health & safety requirements.

PLA chief executive, Robin Mortimer said: “We are delighted to win Government backing for Hydrogen Highway from 19 bids submitted. The project underlines our collective commitment to creating a Net Zero future and using the Thames as a test bed for new technologies. The scheme’s strategic fit with the Government’s Maritime 2050 policy was recognised and we are looking forward to getting the work underway with our partners.”

The Government published Maritime 2050 – a strategic vision for the future of the maritime sector – in January 2019. Maritime 2050 targets the UK leading the way in taking action on clean maritime growth, enjoying economic benefits from being an early adopter or fast mover.

MarRI-UK launched its initial call for project proposals in November 2020. The Hydrogen Highway project was the sole one selected for funding, from 19 submissions. The funding package is looking to support development of technological innovation that integrates the land and maritime needs that enable the use of cleaner, alternative fuels.

The PLA’s sustainability commitments include a 2040 target for achieving Net Zero, development of the first evidence-based Air Quality Strategy for a UK port and development with operators, of an emissions reduction roadmap for inland waterway vessels.

Learn More About the Project

Clemence Barbey, from the Port of London Authority (PLA), has been named Apprentice of the Year by the Marine Society.

The marine apprentice was presented with her award by Darrell Bate, the Marine Society’s director of maritime training and development in an online ceremony on 6 October.

Clemence was one of three apprentices who joined the PLA during the pandemic.

She said: “I’m really pleased to receive this award; it means so much. Thank you to the PLA and particularly Rachel De Bont for supporting me. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere other than on the water.”

Clemence also thanked training provider SeaRegs, who work closely with our apprentices as they train and study for their Boatmasters’ licenses.

Rachel De Bont, PLA training officer, who oversees Clemence’s apprenticeship, added: “Clemence is a strong illustration of what hard work, dedication and perseverance can achieve. We are exceptionally proud of her and look forward to watching her career progress.”

The Thames at Greenwich will be centre stage in a major festival of polar environmental science and engineering (28-30 October), supported by the PLA.

On the eve of the UN COP26 conference in Glasgow, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Royal Museums Greenwich have teamed up to showcase the role of science, engineering and technology in tackling climate change.

The three-day programme of events will feature expert talks and virtual tours of RRS Sir David Attenborough, Britain’s new polar research vessel, which will be making her debut visit to London on 28 October. She will be moored at our Greenwich Ship Tier. Public tours of the vessel are not possible, due to the pandemic, but giant quayside video screens will offer a glimpse of life on board, with footage also streamed live online.

RRS Sir David Attenborough was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and built in Birkenhead by #CammellLaird.

Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, director of innovations and impact at BAS, said: “This is a great chance for the whole family to hear first-hand from our experts on their pioneering work to understand the challenges of climate change. The polar regions have been a focus for scientific enquiry and exploration for centuries. As we confront the consequences of climate change, understanding that legacy is more important than ever.”

The National Maritime Museum is home to some of the most significant records and artefacts in British polar exploration history.

Photo credit: Will Whatley/BAS

Watersports on the Thames, London’s canals and other inland waterways are set for a boost with grants of up to £5,000 being made available as part of a new programme, Active Thames, led by the Port of London Authority.

The launch of the fund follows a summer survey, where those involved in watersports voiced their desire to see improvements in diversity and inclusion, and high demand for coach and volunteer development.

More than 900 people responded to the survey run by the PLA with London Sport, to assess how best to develop watersports through Active Thames.

PLA sports manager, Jenny Cooper, said: “Active Thames is a key part of the Thames Vision, looking to maximise the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the river.

“Applications for projects to increase opportunities east of Tower Bridge are particularly welcome, given the potential for greater use of the river from the east of the capital to the outer estuary. We are also keen to improve participation by people from under-represented groups.”

Grant funding will focus on projects engaging under-represented groups, including people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, people from lower socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse communities.

Applications for grants will be judged by a panel of Active Thames partners: Active Essex, Kent Sport, London Sport, British Canoeing, British Rowing, the Royal Yachting Association, Canal & River Trust, Thames Path National Trail and PLA.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2021. Projects will only be considered if delivery can be well underway by end March.

Further details and enquiries can also be sent to: [email protected]