Steven Clapperton has been appointed Director of Marine Operations at the Port of London Authority (PLA), the body responsible for running the UK’s largest port and busiest inland waterway, the tidal Thames.

Steven will join the PLA in September, from the Port of Tyne, where he has been maritime director & harbour master since late 2016. He succeeds Peter Steen, who is retiring after 32 years’ service.

Steven will lead the PLA’s marine operations team, including hydrographic services. His duties will cover managing the authority’s significant vessel fleet, channel marking, salvage and driftwood clearance. He will also take on a range of other senior management responsibilities.

Prior to joining the Port of Tyne, Steven worked at sea for Subsea7 and Fugro McClelland Marine Geosciences. He first worked at the Port of Tyne from 2005 to 2013 as a senior pilot, before joining DNV GL and working on secondment with Shell UK Exploration & Production.

PLA chief executive, Robin Mortimer, said: ““Steven brings with him a range of valuable skills and experience.

“He’s set to join us at a key moment. Last year we became the UK’s largest port again, for the first time since 1999.

“Currently, we are busy updating the long-term Thames Vision development plan to 2050, to make sure the river’s full social, economic and environmental potential is fully realised.

“When Steven joins us in September, we will be saying farewell to Peter Steen, who will be leaving with our profound thanks for more than three decades of service, which saw him lead many of our main operations. He can be very proud of his fantastic contribution.”

Steven is a qualified master mariner, holds a diploma in port management, and is studying for an executive MBA at Cranfield University.

“Don’t underestimate the tidal Thames’ ability to claim lives.”

That’s the advice this summer, from river safety chiefs to staycation tourists and those tempted to cool off in its waters.

As the schools break up and families prepare to head for domestic attractions, rather than foreign beaches, due to the pandemic, the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum (TTWSF) is keen to alert all river users to the need to prepare fully and stay alert, when on or by the tidal Thames.

Port of London Authority Harbour Master Ryan Hall said: “The Thames is a great all-year-round destination for relaxation and recreation, but holds hidden dangers that should be kept front of mind at all times, particularly by inexperienced or untrained users.

“With warmer weather forecast for the capital, it’s important to remember that the Thames’ waters remain chilly, whatever the season, and can cause anyone who plunges in to suffer heart seizure, known as cold water shock.

“The Thames also flows at a faster rate than an Olympic swimmer and is subject to a daily rise and fall of up to seven metres.

“The deep foreshore mud is a further hazard, subjecting anyone caught there to the power of the river’s rapid ebb and flow.”

On average the officers from the capital’s Marine Policing Unit attend over 20 incidents a week on the River Thames.

Anyone who finds themselves struggling in the waters of the tidal Thames this summer, should follow the RNLI’s Float to Live advice:

• Fight the natural instinct to thrash around.
• Lean back, extend your arms and legs; if needed, move them gently around, to keep your head above water.
• Float until you can control your breathing; only then call for help, or swim to safety.

Ryan Hall added: “Members of the public who spot someone in the river in trouble should call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard, rather than attempt a rescue.

“The best way to help is to throw a life ring, if possible, keep a close eye on the person in trouble and wait for professional rescue personnel to arrive.

Further river safety advice is available on our website.

Brandon Cripps (19), from Hoo in Kent, has secured a contract with the Port of London Authority (PLA), just two months into a temporary placement, funded by the government’s Kickstart programme, designed to help unemployed young people build long-term careers.

The former student of motor vehicle engineering at Bromley College started his six-month Kickstart placement with the PLA’s marine services team in early May.

With a fresh contract, putting him on the PLA’s payroll, he will now stay in post until at least the end of the year.

Brandon’s role involves maintaining infrastructure along the 95-mile course of the tidal Thames, from Teddington to the North Sea.

His line manager, Michael Russell, said: “Brandon has rapidly established himself as a reliable and hard-working member of the team. Right from day one, he has shown the highest levels of enthusiasm and commitment. It’s right that we should convert his traineeship into a PLA funded role.

“Brandon will be a vital pair of hands for us, helping cover colleagues’ summer leave. Given the exemplary attitude he has displayed, a permanent, long-term role is not out of the question.”

Prior to the pandemic, Brandon worked temporarily on pleasure boats in central London.

A total of 11 trainees have joined the PLA via the Kickstart programme, working across a range of departments, from environment, legal, HR, IT, finance and facilities.

The shipping minister kicked off Maritime Safety Week (5-9 July), by climbing a ladder, used by the Port of London Authority (PLA) to train employees who board commercial vessels, in all weather, to ensure they have a safe passage up and down the Thames estuary.

Robert Courts MP was in Gravesend, Kent, to meet some of the PLA’s newest pilot trainees, recruited to ensure it can continue to provide a high level of service to customers, along with apprentices from a range of disciplines, and trainees funded by the Government’s Kickstarter programme.

The minister commented: “At the start of Maritime Safety Week, it was great to meet the pilots and other PLA staff, who have played such a vital role in keeping the river open for trade throughout the pandemic.

“Thanks to them and their counterparts at ports around the country, ever since COVID-19 first hit, supermarkets shelves have been regularly replenished, and other vital commodities, such as fuel and medical supplies, have not run short.

“Learning about the physical rigours pilots boarding and disembarking from ships have to endure, come rain or shine, was a real eye-opener.

“It was reassuring to see the high priority the PLA gives to the safety of its staff, on the water and on land."

Robin Mortimer, chief executive of the PLA, said: “The safety of our employees and all river users is fundamental for us. It’s the non-negotiable bedrock of how we operate.

“Maritime Safety Week is a vital annual reminder of why preventing even small mishaps is so important.”

So far in 2021, the PLA’s pilotage team has delivered a 99.6 per cent service record to customers.

Port of London Authority (PLA) corporate affairs and strategy director, Alistair Gale, looks at the building blocks in place for the Thames’s cleaner future and invites you to have your say on the Thames in 2050.

London Climate Action Week has inspired debate and events, drawing a bead on one of the greatest challenges of our generation.

At the PLA, we have climate change firmly in our sights: for our own operations and the river as a whole.

For our own operations we have a costed, planned programme to reach Net Zero by 2040, or earlier. The first step? Switching our vessels to cleaner diesel, which will rapidly halve our carbon emissions. It is just the first of many changes.

In two weeks, we will start refitting one of our driftwood vessels with selective catalytic emissions reduction technology. This is part funded by Clean Air Thames, a Mayor’s Air Quality Fund £500,000 pilot project.

Driftwood II is one of two vessels that recover rubbish, including plastics and timber, from the river. On return to the river later in the summer, the vessel’s emissions will be dramatically reduced. Simply put, it will be cleanest vessel on the Thames, cleaning the waters of the Thames.

We’re looking to the future of the wider tidal Thames out to 2050, refreshing the river development framework, the Thames Vision. Originally focused on increasing river use by 2035, we are now updating it to reflect a Net Zero carbon world, in just 29 years.

As the UK’s largest port and busiest inland waterway for passengers and freight, it’s an important transition to what will be a radically different future.

Over the last 12 months, we have engaged in ground-breaking research as we prepare, looking at the likely shape of port trade in 2050. This shows a projected rapid fall in fossil fuel imports, with future total annual trade volumes ranging between 50 million to 90 million tonnes.

With an expert panel, we have been looking at the global factors set to influence the future of the tidal Thames. From those discussions, emerged outline proposals for a future centred on sustainability pillars: social, economic and environmental.

For ports, there is scope to go further. As points of exchange in transport networks, as the route through which energy flows to businesses and consumers, ports will have a central role to play in our low carbon future.

With our partners at the Thames Estuary Growth Board, we are looking at hydrogen as part of our low carbon energy mix, for transport, both on water and on land.

The research, the planning goes further again. In partnership with vessel operators on the Thames we have created the UK’s first emissions reduction roadmap for inland waterways vessels. To complement it, we have just commissioned a study mapping the landside infrastructure needed to ensure deepsea and inland vessels can access the energy they need in the UK’s biggest port.

The river renaissance for freight is playing its part. Traditionally a low carbon route for bulky materials such as sand and gravel, logistics companies are now looking to the Thames for light freight projects too. Just two weeks ago, CEVA started a pilot trial bringing NHS supplies into the heart of the city by boat from Dartford, congestion free, with the last couple of miles completed by electric bike.

Technological development is being targeted. We’ve recently closed the first round of bidding for our Sustainable Innovation Fund. The initial innovation priority: the first zero-emission berth on the river. Alongside this, is the tidal energy generation test site we designated earlier in the year. Our commitment to building back cleaner and better is manifest.

These developments deliver on core commitments of the Thames Freeport, a unique coalition of experts and capability in transport, logistics and manufacturing, ready to deliver transformative change in supply chains and urban mobility.

When you visit London, there is no better place to see the city than from a Thames passenger boat, at night. Passenger operations will be part of the energy transition as well. For now, as we watch for a recovery in travel and tourism, they offer a fantastic, COVID-secure travel option to access UNESCO world heritage sites by day and the new bridge illuminations by night.

In the country's largest port and busiest waterway, our aim is to draw together all of the developments in river use, the low emissions innovations, the plans for the future into Thames Vision 2050.

The Thames is set for an exciting future. It will remain a route for trade, a highway for travel and commerce, a centre for sport and recreation. And it will become a catalyst for change as we work towards and secure a low carbon future.

If you want to share your view on what we might do, take the opportunity now. Until midday on Wednesday, 14 July you can complete our Thames Vision 2050 survey.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is working with property developers, London & Regional, and the Royal Docks Team (RDT) to deliver the first new shipyard on the Thames for over a century at Albert Island in the London Borough of Newham.

Use of the Thames has been growing rapidly in recent years, with increasing passenger services, barge movements and deep-sea trade. The planned shipyard forms part of Albert Island, London & Regional’s 25-acre, multimillion-pound industrial regeneration scheme in the Royal Docks. The whole area is undergoing significant transformation as London’s only Enterprise Zone and presents a unique opportunity for a skilled maritime operator to develop dedicated facilities and highly skilled jobs for local people, serving the UK’s busiest inland waterway.

Development of a London shipyard is in line with wider Government moves to reinvigorate shipbuilding in the UK; an updated National Shipbuilding Strategy is due to be released later this year. This is expected to take in broader merchant and other vessels, alongside the current strategy’s focus on vessels for the Royal Navy.

PLA chief executive, Robin Mortimer, explained:

“The Thames has been the centre of a river renaissance over the last decade, with continuing investment in new vessels and services of all kinds. This shipyard opportunity has major significance, as it will put the essential repair and maintenance facilities at the heart of the busy river. Once developed it will mean services can be provided swiftly, saving operators time taking vessels to yards off the river and minimising downtime.”

News of the planned development has been welcomed by the Government, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the London Borough of Newham.

Shipping Minister, Robert Courts MP, said:

“As an island nation, shipbuilding has long been a source of pride for the UK and it’s encouraging to see the industry continue to grow.

“Building this new shipyard is a fantastic opportunity to support hundreds of jobs in the UK and forge ahead with the Government’s ambition to reinvigorate shipbuilding right across the country.”

The GLA supports development of a new strategic-scale boatyard through the London Plan. The centre would be a transport engineering hub and will benefit from significant investment already underway across the area, including transport infrastructure and local education and training provision.

The 3.3-acre shipyard development at Albert Island, one of three strategic sites in the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, already has outline planning permission. The PLA is currently seeking expressions of interest from potential operators of the facility at the eastern end of the Royal Docks.

Deputy Mayor, Planning, Regeneration and Skills Jules Pipe, said:

“The Royal Docks is one of London’s most exciting areas of regeneration and it’s great that shipbuilding is returning to this part of the Thames.

“The partnership between London & Regional and the PLA is driving delivery of this important new asset for London which will bring with it new, skilled jobs as part of our developing industrial engineering base.”

A 2020 study of the economic impact of Thames’ operations found that there are 780 full-time equivalent jobs in the London Borough of Newham linked to the river, and that those operations generate value added each year of £162 million.

The Mayor of Newham and Co-Chair of the Royals Docks Enterprise Zone Board, Rokhsana Fiaz, added:

“The river has always been of strategic importance to Newham and this exciting and historic development of a new shipyard at Albert Island in the Royal Docks will create another major asset for the borough. Most significantly, as part of my community wealth building agenda, we’ve agreed to a target with London & Regional that 35% of the construction workforce and many of the shipbuilding workforce will be recruited through the Council’s Our Newham Work jobs brokerage service.”

The shipyard is expected to feature a boat lift and other infrastructure. The selected operator will be expected to obtain all relevant consents in accordance with the policies in the London Plan, Newham Local Plan, plus permits/licenses from the PLA, the Marine Management Organisation and the Environment Agency.

All expressions of interest must be received by 16 July 2021.

Notes to editors

• The redevelopment of Albert Island is being led by London and Regional (L+R) properties in partnership with the Mayor of London, the Mayor of Newham, the Royal Docks Team (RDT) and the Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA).
• The Royal Docks Enterprise Zone is a joint project between the Mayor of London, the London Borough of Newham, led by Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, and the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP). It has the potential to deliver 35,000 jobs, 4,000 new homes and more than £5 billion of inward investment by 2037/38. As London’s only Enterprise Zone, the Royal Docks has a special government designation that means new business rates in the Zone are reserved and reinvested into the area. This has enabled plans for £314 million of investment into the area over the next 10 years to revive the area as a distinctive location for business and culture. www.royaldocks.london

On Women in Engineering Day (23 June 2021), Rosie Arrowsmith, a Port of London Authority Marine Engineering Apprentice, has advice for young women considering their career options.

River beginnings

“I was born in Erith, so I’ve always been near the river.

“I love that the Thames is right on my doorstep.

“I have sailed from a young age and am a member of Erith Yacht Club, which is based just above Crayfordness.

“As a child, we often went on family trips to Greenwich, so I know that part of the river well too.

“One of my favourite stretches of the river, is at Richmond Lock, just past Kew Bridge. It’s so peaceful but there’s lots to see.”

Engineer inspired

“My dad was the one who got me interested in cars and engines.

“Once I realised boats can have engines, I knew I wanted to study Marine Engineering.

“Later this year, I’ll be a fully qualified engineer.

“One life hack I’ve learned would be, that each ring spanner has a different mould, so you can use one and swap to another for a better angle.

“Also, a lick of paint should never be underestimated, with how it can transform a project.

"In ten years’, perhaps I’d like to move into a management role, but still with plenty of time on the tools.

“It’s so important for women to be given the same opportunities as men.

“Women are able to offer a different range of skills and outlook on jobs, compared to male counterparts.

“My engineering hero is Isambard Kingdom Brunel, due to his immense prowess he was able to build a variety of dockyards, bridges and tunnels, the Great Western Railway and the SS Great Britain. What isn’t there to be inspired by?”

PLA progress

“I started at the PLA in 2017, after leaving school.

“An apprenticeship is the perfect pathway for any school leaver wishing to be apart of the engineering industry.

“Lockdown was initially a real challenge due to the lack of practical work I could do, but I soon realised it gave me the perfect chance to get ahead on my theory course work.

“The best advice I could give to my younger self would be to take every opportunity that is presented to you with open arms.

“My stand-out moment at the PLA would have to be learning how to walk in heels, with the assistance of one of the engineering technicians, a day before the premiere of a video I was part of.

“My colleagues would say I’m hard-working, determined and fun. I’m working on honing my skills and gaining confidence.

“I love being able to do a variety of engineering disciplines in a week, or even a day!

“Going to college, and working at the PLA, I love meeting different people who all have the same interest in engineering I do.

“To future PLA apprentices: the hard work is so worth it. Stick with it and it will fly by.”

Quick fire:

• What’s one thing you became better at over lockdown? Zoom meetings!
• Favourite band? Blink-182.
• Next holiday destination? Wales or Cornwall, not sure yet.
• One thing that’s always in your fridge? Chocolate.

Anthony Fletcher has been appointed head of information technology at the Port of London Authority (PLA).

He joins the Gravesend-based organisation, responsible for safety, recreation and trade on the tidal Thames, from the Harwich Haven Authority in Essex, where he has worked since 2009, with a remit covering information technology, business systems, and stakeholder engagement. Previously he was a self-employed software developer.

Julie Tankard, PLA chief financial officer said: “Maximising the potential of IT will be key to meeting the goals of our Thames Vision strategy, so it’s great to be able to deploy Anthony’s extensive experience in the sector.

Anthony said: “I am looking forward to the challenges of ensuring the resilience and development of PLA’s IT infrastructure in a fast-moving world, as the port adapts to new circumstances post the pandemic, including the drive to meet our Net Zero commitments."

Anthony succeeds Andy Wallace, who retired in May, following 30 years of service for the PLA.

Julie Tankard added: “In his remarkable career, spanning three decades, Andy successfully guided the PLA into the modern world of information technology, which is so important to our ability to provide a 24/7 resilient service to our customers and other river users. We wish him well in his well-earned retirement.”

The tidal Thames, not the boardroom, beckons for more Port of London Authority (PLA) apprentices.

Responsible for the river between Teddington and the North Sea, the PLA is recruiting three apprentices to join its marine operations and engineering teams, based in Gravesend, Kent.

Glenn Witham, director of human resources, said: “We want to create long-term opportunities and careers for our apprentices. They are key to the future of the PLA and the wider marine sector.

“These new recruits will join an established team of eight apprentices, who are making a big contribution to the success of the PLA and the river.”

Training and liaison officer, Rachel De Bont, added: “Our apprentices encounter all aspects of the river, from the cargo vessels downriver at London Gateway to the recreation and sport upriver at Putney.

“These new vacancies are an exciting opportunity to start a career on the tidal Thames, supported by first class training opportunities.”

There are two marine operations vacancies and one for a marine engineer apprentice.

The closing date for applications is Monday 5 July.

Applicants must be 18 years of age by 1 September 2021.

• Guy’s and St Thomas’ has teamed up with CEVA Logistics and Livett’s Group to trial a riverboat delivery service on the River Thames
• It’s part of the Trust’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and tackle air pollution
• The pilot launches on Clean Air Day on Thursday 17 June

An NHS trust has become the first in the country to pilot a daily riverboat delivery service as part of plans to reduce its carbon footprint.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with CEVA Logistics and Livett’s Group to trial the service on the River Thames.

If the proof of concept pilot is successful, the service will operate on a larger scale, removing trucks from the capital’s roads while providing a reliable delivery route into London during the day. The Trust’s three delivery trucks currently travel around 1,500 miles per week. For each truck removed from the road, approximately 708 kgs of CO2 could be saved per week.

The service would help Guy’s and St Thomas’ work towards its aim of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and support the Mayor of London's aim to reduce the number of lorries and vans entering central London in the morning peak by 10% by 2026.

The riverboat pilot service will run twice a day, five days a week. Parcels will be loaded onto the boat at Dartford International Ferry Terminal in Kent, before making the journey to Butler’s Wharf Pier in London. The parcels, which include clinical supplies for operating theatres, will then be transported by Absolutely, the final mile delivery partner, on electric cargo bikes to Guy’s Hospital.

The three-month pilot launches on Clean Air Day on Thursday 17 June. Earlier this month Guy’s and St Thomas’ unveiled its sustainability strategy which sets out a clear path towards more sustainable healthcare for the next 10 years. The pilot is just one of the initiatives that the Trust has introduced to help reduce its carbon footprint and to become more sustainable.

In 2019, the Trust worked with CEVA Logistics to open a consolidation supply chain hub in Dartford close to the M25, which has reduced the number of daily truck deliveries onto the hospital sites by 90%. The Trust is also planning to introduce a fleet of three large electric trucks to deliver consolidated deliveries from the supply chain hub.

This initiative followed the switch to cargo bikes when transporting blood and tumours for testing between Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital, which replaced vans and motorbikes.

David Lawson, Chief Procurement Officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “The riverboat pilot forms a key part in our ambition to remove over 40,000 truck deliveries from central London roads each year. We also want to encourage and support other organisations to adopt the use of zero emission delivery models to improve air quality for the communities that we serve.”

Chris Walton, Managing Director UK and Ireland at CEVA Logistics, said: “The riverboat trial firmly supports our commitment to sustainable and ethical supply chains. As part of what we call responsive logistics, we constantly look for smart, alternative solutions to improve our carbon footprint and reduce noise and air pollution, specifically when operating in urban areas. As part of our global FORPATIENTS strategy for healthcare customers, we offer flexible end-to-end logistics solutions that place the patient at the centre of the supply chain.”

Edward Livett, Director of Livett’s Group, said: “We are very excited and proud to be a part of this trial as it is a clear example of positive use of the River Thames, something we are constantly striving for. Livett’s specialise in river logistics and as a Group have assets from Putney down to Gravesend which we are confident will help make this trial an absolute success. We look forward to helping freight back onto the river and proving it to be an environmentally sustainable and safe solution.”

Stuart Godman, CEO at Absolutely, said: “We are proud to have been chosen as the final mile delivery partner. As a business, we want to build on our ambition to be a true ambassador for carbon neutrality. Significant partnerships, like this, provide the opportunity to utilise our expanding fleet of electric cargo vehicles and allow us to continue to provide an excellent service in a more sustainable way across London.”

James Trimmer, planning & environment director at the Port of London Authority, said: “This innovative scheme is another great example of the river’s potential as a green superhighway. It’s a win-win situation; the tidal Thames can help rebuild the economy post the pandemic and both reduce carbon emissions and air pollution in the capital.”