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The Port of London Authority (PLA) has appointed Toril Eidesvik as non-executive director of the Board. 

Toril Eidesvik has more than a decade’s experience in the shipping industry, having worked as chief executive of reefer shipping company Green Reefers, general ship supply company Seven Seas and cargo handling equipment supplier TTS Group (now Nekkar). 

Toril replaces Annette Malm Justad, who stepped down from the PLA Board after six years’ service. 

Commenting on the appointment, PLA chairman, Christopher Rodrigues CBE, said: “The members of the PLA board bring a diverse range of experience to the business which helps us shape and steer the organisation to the long-term benefit of stakeholders. I am delighted that Toril is joining us. Taking over from Annette, her experience will ensure that the needs and interests of shipping stakeholders continue to be represented around the table.” 

Toril has extensive board experience from several shipping related companies and is presently a board member of Solstad Offshore and Eksportfinans. She holds a Master of Law from the University of Oslo, worked as a lawyer for the first nine years of her career, firstly within a private law firm and later within the legal department of a bank.

The Port of London Authority is actively engaged in discussions around the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

Strategic discussions continue with the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Richmond upon Thames, Transport for London and the Department for Transport.

We have also engaged with the promoters of several possible temporary ferry schemes. So far, no formal applications for these proposals have been submitted although pre-application discussions are underway. As and when they are, we will determine them quickly as part of the range of consents that will be needed. Our prime consideration will be ensuring any scheme is navigationally safe.

More widely, we are working with the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to allow a controlled passage of vessels that need to travel to their home berths, either up or downriver of the bridge.

Hammersmith Bridge remains closed to all traffic, including vessels on the river.

There are safety concerns linked to the recent hot weather, which pose a significant risk to vessels and persons passing underneath the structure.

Following expert technical advice, Hammersmith & Fulham Council closed the bridge on 13 August 2020.

In the light of the council’s decision, the PLA has established a 15-metre exclusion zone either side of the bridge.

We regret that passage under the bridge is not permitted until further notice.

Q: When will the bridge re-open?

That will be a decision for the council, who are legally responsible for maintaining the bridge. We are working with them closely to try and ensure it re-opens as soon as is safely possible.

Q: Who is responsible for maintaining the bridge? Does the PLA have any role in keeping it safe?

This responsibility lies with the local authority, who own the bridge.

Q: Will commercial boat operators be entitled to compensation for loss of business linked to the bridge’s closure?

That is a matter for Hammersmith and Fulham Council, who have made the decision to close the bridge to navigation, not the PLA.

Q: If a boatowner has a vessel stranded either side of the bridge following the closure, what should they do? What options are available for owners who are currently unable to moor their boats, as a result of the closure?

River users will need to seek alternative, safe and legal moorings, until the bridge re-opens

Small vessels may be able to use the canal system to circumnavigate the closure but, this is subject to being locked in and out by the Canal and River Trust and has size limitations. This would be achieved using the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, via Brentford and Limehouse Locks which has beam, draft and air draft restrictions, so will be unsuitable for most vessels.

A full list of local visitor moorings on our Boating on the Thames website.

Q: If I have further questions, who should I contact?

Anvar Alizadeh, Highway Structures Manager, Hammersmith & Fulham Council: Tel. 020 87533303

Email: [email protected]

As Maritime Safety Week kicks off (6 July), the Port of London Authority (PLA) is calling on river users to make reporting tidal Thames ‘near misses’ a priority in its latest safety drive.

The PLA aims to reduce the number of serious incidents on the river, between Teddington Lock and the coast, by ten per cent year on year. In 2019, there were six such incidents, down from nine in 2018. In 2014 there were 41.

The campaign unveiled today, features a new set of posters, being promoted by the PLA via its website, Tidal Thames News online newsletter and its social media channels. They highlight the variety of routes river users can use to report incidents to the PLA.

Bob Baker; chief harbour master at the PLA, said: “Safety is the heart of everything we do at the PLA. There is no greater priority for us.

“The good news is that, in line with our Marine Safety Plan targets, we have seen a continuing downward trend in the number of serious incidents on the river since 2016.

“But there is no room for complacency. Our worry is that over the same period we have also seen a decline in the reporting of instances where there was a close call or ‘near miss’. Carefully recording all such incidents is essential to ensure the river is a safe place for everyone who uses it, for work or pleasure.

“Investigating and understanding the causes of all near misses is the key first step to preventing accidents occurring in the future.

“That’s why we need river users to get in touch with us, whenever near misses occur. This can be done via our VTS radio network, by phone, by email or via our app – it really couldn’t be easier.”

You can find the new posters on the PLA website here: https://pla.co.uk/Safety/Near-Miss-Reporting

The PLA’s latest safety initiatives include:

In partnership with other members of the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum (the RNLI, the Met Police, the London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance Service and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency), developing a drowning prevention strategy, launched by HRH the Duke of Cambridge (May 2019).

The development of a pioneering pilot training ladder, to fully prepare new recruits for the rigours of climbing aboard vessels they guide up and down the estuary. So far over 100 PLA employees have completed training courses using the facility.

Thames safety workers and watermen bid to boost fundraising for Harbour Master’s cancer battle

The tidal Thames river community is joining forces to support fundraising efforts for Mark Towens, Port of London Authority (PLA) harbour master, who is battling cancer.

Members of the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum (TTWSF), which Mark chairs, gathered at Tower Pier (22 July), in a bid to boost an appeal to enable Mark to secure emergency treatment overseas. The trip is needed urgently as the cancer, first detected over 15 years ago, returned at an advanced stage four years ago and has recently spread to Mark’s brain.

In its first seven days, the appeal raised over £70,000 towards the £100,000 target.

It was under Mark’s leadership, while he was dealing with the impact of advanced cancer and its treatment, that the TTWSF, with the help of HRH The Duke of Cambridge, last year launched a Drowning Prevention Strategy for the tidal River Thames.

Among the organisations who attended the Tower appeal for Mark are the Police, the RNLI, the London Fire Brigade, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the London Ambulance Service. Mark’s deputy, Sarah Macleod, represented the PLA.

Former winners of the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race wearing their bright red ceremonial jackets and golden armplates also lined up on the banks of the river to add their support to the fundraising appeal. Mark, a member of the Company of Watermen & Lighterman, competed in the race in 2004. Founded in 1715, it is thought to be the world’s oldest continuous sporting event.

Neil Withers from the RNLI, one of Mark’s colleagues on the TTWSF, said: “The entire river community is rallying behind Mark and his family at his time of need.

“There is no greater champion of safety on the river than Mark, a fact reflected in the determination and persistence he showed in making the Drowning Prevention Strategy a reality last year, despite his illness.

“He’s a man of the Thames to his core, who as a rower has long enjoyed the recreational opportunities the river offers.

“He cares passionately about all aspects of life on the river. Now it’s our turn to show how much we care about him and how much we are supporting him in his fight against cancer.”

Access for larger vessels to onshore power points to boost air quality and reduce noise

Investment by the Port of London Authority (PLA) to improve and expand its pier at Barrier Gardens in Woolwich is underway (30 June).

The work, close to the iconic Thames Barrier, will improve environmental performance, reduce noise generation and enhance crew safety.

Due to be fully operational later this summer, the new berth will cost £685,000. It will enable larger vessels, such as PLA flagship, London Titan, to dock directly at the pier, making it quicker and safer for crews to get on and off at the start and end of their shifts.

The investment will also enable London Titan and other vessels to tap into onshore electrical charging facilities, rather than running diesel generators, as they have to on the current ‘mid-stream’ moorings.

The PLA’s fleet of over 40 vessels helps keep a wide range of craft safe on the river, the UK’s busiest inland waterway. Users range from fast ferries to cargo ships and from stand-up paddle boarders to barges carrying building materials.

The improvements require the insertion into the riverbed of two 38-metre long piles, manufactured in Cardiff. They were delivered to Woolwich by boat from Tilbury.

The first is due to be put in position on the river on Wednesday 1 July, with the other one expected to follow on Monday 6 July.

Peter Steen, the PLA’s director of marine operations, said: “This is another example of our efforts to promote safe, sustainable use of the river. It adds to the pier’s ability to welcome a wide array of other vessels.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to help support a green economic recovery, post COVID-19, by rolling out long-term investment projects, which also contribute towards meeting ambitious Net Zero carbon reduction targets on the river.”

Preparations by the PLA for the arrival of the piles have included a specialist survey of the riverbed to check for unexploded World War Two bombs.

To minimise potential noise disruption, the piling works will be limited to between 8am and 6pm.

As the capital prepares for its hottest day of the year, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has issued a reminder not to underestimate the powers of the tidal River Thames.

Mark Towens, PLA harbour master, said: “With temperatures rising, the river is understandably particularly attractive, but our advice to anyone drawn to its waters is: only go afloat if you are an experienced river user and properly prepared.”

The PLA has expressed concern at recent incidents of people taking to the water in inflatable craft, without proper safety equipment. With the heatwave set to make the river appear a great place to find some respite, it has issued an urgent call for people who are inadequately equipped or inexperienced not to venture onto the river.

The PLA’s dedicated website Boating on the Thames includes full details on how the river can be enjoyed safely for recreation.

“Flowing at the speed of an Olympic swimmer, the force of the river can take the inexperienced by surprise,” explains Mark Towens, highlighting the risks the river poses. “With a daily tidal rise and fall of seven metres, even the strongest athlete can find it challenging to keep their head above water, if they end up in the river.”

Hazards the PLA has highlighted include:

• Cold water shock on entering the river, which can send the heart into seizure;
• The river being a busy transport artery for vessels with limited scope to act if they see someone in the river;
• The muddy banks of the foreshore, putting people trying to leave the river at risk of being stranded.

Mark Towens concludes by highlighting the risks of mixing alcohol and the river:

“Alcohol and the river do not mix. We urge everyone enjoying a summer drink to stay away from the water’s edge. And just like the roads, never try to navigate a vessel under the influence of alcohol.”

Any member of the public who spots someone in trouble in the river should always call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard, rather than attempt a rescue themselves.

Greener vessels support maritime contribution to sustainable economic recovery

As the capital prepares for its hottest day of the year, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has issued a reminder not to underestimate the powers of the tidal River Thames.

Mark Towens, PLA harbour master, said: “With temperatures rising, the river is understandably particularly attractive, but our advice to anyone drawn to its waters is: only go afloat if you are an experienced river user and properly prepared.”

The PLA hasThe world’s biggest container ship, HMM Algeciras, has docked at DP World London Gateway port in Essex at the end of her maiden voyage to the UK.

At 400 metres, HMM Algeciras is longer than The Shard is tall and 61 metres wide.

Her arrival on the Thames (14 June) concluded a long journey from China, via South Korea, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

She joins the 3,500 other vessels that have called at terminals on the tidal Thames since the coronavirus lockdown was introduced, keeping the country stocked with essential food, fuel and medicines. She will leave on 15 June, carrying British exports on her return journey home, via Singapore.

Investment by DP World in the new container handling facility at London Gateway has paved the way for large vessels like HMM Algeciras to call on the Thames, on the doorstep of the UK’s largest consumer market. London Gateway is also home to one of Europe’s largest logistics parks.

Ernst Schulze, CEO, DP World UK, said: “The visit by HMM Algeciras is testament to the capabilities we offer, not just at London Gateway, but at DP World Southampton too, where her sister ship, HMM Oslo, is due to call later this month.

“DP World is an enabler of global trade. Sustained investment and innovation mean that we offer customers like HMM world-class and resilient performance. That performance and the commitment of our dedicated teams has been critical as we’ve kept operating throughout lockdown. It sets us up well to play a key role in supporting a long-term green recovery too.”

Peter Livey, Managing Director (Gt. Britain) for HMM, commented: “The maiden voyage of the HMM Algeciras in Europe is a major milestone for HMM. These Megamax-24 ships are ground-breaking, not just in their size, but in world leading environmental performance too. Their optimised hull design and highly energy-efficient engines make a significant leap forward in reducing CO2 and other emissions. It’s all part of our long-term goal to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions across our container fleet by 2050.

“Just as importantly, ships of this size give us the capacity and flexibility to get our customers’ goods to the right place at the right time. Working across Gateway and Southampton, we have great coverage of the UK market and service teams ready to match cargoes and slots to customers’ needs.”

Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive of the Port of London Authority, said:

“The Thames is a crucial part of national supply chains. The arrival of HMM Algeciras underlines how investment by shipping lines and terminal operators creates a compelling offer to customers. Fundamentals like this, allied to a commitment to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions, are key to building a long-term, sustainable recovery. I’m proud that the port has operated uninterrupted throughout lockdown; our focus now is supporting recovery.”

The PLA has been working with DP World and HMM Europe planning for HMM Algeciras’ arrival for over six months. Its team has modelled the vessel’s arrival and departure in a ship simulator and surveyed the seabed en route to the port in advance. Two PLA pilots guided the vessel into port, London Port Control coordinated river traffic and a harbour launch was on standby as the ship went alongside. expressed concern at recent incidents of people taking to the water in inflatable craft, without proper safety equipment. With the heatwave set to make the river appear a great place to find some respite, it has issued an urgent call for people who are inadequately equipped or inexperienced not to venture onto the river.

The PLA’s dedicated website Boating on the Thames includes full details on how the river can be enjoyed safely for recreation.

“Flowing at the speed of an Olympic swimmer, the force of the river can take the inexperienced by surprise,” explains Mark Towens, highlighting the risks the river poses. “With a daily tidal rise and fall of seven metres, even the strongest athlete can find it challenging to keep their head above water, if they end up in the river.”

Hazards the PLA has highlighted include:

• Cold water shock on entering the river, which can send the heart into seizure;
• The river being a busy transport artery for vessels with limited scope to act if they see someone in the river;
• The muddy banks of the foreshore, putting people trying to leave the river at risk of being stranded.

Mark Towens concludes by highlighting the risks of mixing alcohol and the river:

“Alcohol and the river do not mix. We urge everyone enjoying a summer drink to stay away from the water’s edge. And just like the roads, never try to navigate a vessel under the influence of alcohol.”

Any member of the public who spots someone in trouble in the river should always call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard, rather than attempt a rescue themselves.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has released an update of its Air Quality Strategy for the tidal Thames, reflecting progress made in the two years since the strategy was launched and new actions responding to rapid changes in technology and regulation.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has released an update of its Air Quality Strategy for the tidal Thames, reflecting progress made in the two years since the strategy was launched and new actions responding to rapid changes in technology and regulation.

The Air Quality Strategy, launched in May 2018, was the first evidence-based air quality strategy for a UK port. Since then, the PLA has worked with customers and stakeholders to deliver a number of the actions the strategy identified. These include: publishing the emissions reduction roadmap for inland vessels on the tidal Thames; convening London’s first Greening Inland Shipping conference; and completing an air quality monitoring programme around its Greenwich Ship Tier mooring.

Over the same period, Government regulation related to maritime air quality has evolved. In particular, the Department for Transport published the Clean Maritime Plan in July last year, following on from the Government’s adoption of a legally binding Net Zero target by 2050.

The PLA is updating its Air Quality Strategy in line with Department for Transport requirements for major ports to share their understanding of the impact of port operations on air quality and provide an action plan for mitigation. The update features five new actions including proposals for developing a River Ultra Low Emission Zone, green technology demonstration project, diffusion monitoring of ozone from river operations and investigating port call optimisation.

PLA head of environment, Tanya Ferry commented:

“Over the last two years we have made substantial progress, completing six of the actions identified and making strong progress with the others. The same period has seen amazing progress in regulation, technology and understanding of air quality. We’re taking the opportunity of the DfT’s call for major ports to produce air quality strategies to review and update our strategy, in light of what we’ve learnt and the new options now available.”

The PLA is running a survey to gather customer and stakeholder feedback on the updated Strategy. The survey closes on 3 July 2020.

You can access the updated strategy on the PLA website here.