In collaboration with over 30 river users, riparian councils and supporting stakeholders, the Port of London Authority (PLA) launched a Clean Thames Plan at an event in Parliament yesterday (22 April) to lay out achievable actions towards a clean river, free of sewage, waste and pollution, encouraging greater biodiversity and recreation.

In its role as a trust port, the PLA has made progress to reduce pollution in the tidal Thames through actions such as convening the Thames Litter Forum, removing up to 200 tonnes of rubbish each year from the river through its driftwood service, running public awareness campaigns and funding projects through its Thames Environment Fund.

Robin Mortimer, PLA’s Chief Executive, said:

“The fastest progress is made in partnership; our unique position as a trust port means that we’ve been able to galvanise wide support and set out achievable actions in the Clean Thames Plan in order to reach the ambitious vision that we have set for the tidal Thames.

“We all want a river that is clean, with a healthy ecosystem. Delivering on the ten priorities in this action plan will enable us to focus our shared efforts and resources and realise the ambition for the river that flows through our capital city.”

After hosting a roundtable discussion and showcase event to launch the Clean Thames Plan at the UK Parliament today (22 April), Dame Jackie Doyle-Price MP commented:

“Improving water quality is a pressing concern for everyone. I welcome the PLA’s efforts to draw attention to these important issues; injecting greater focus on key actions to remedy the situation, while shining a light on best practice up-and-down the tidal Thames.”

Working in partnership with stakeholders, the PLA has agreed ten priority areas towards a clean Thames, as follows:

1. Seek opportunities for nature restoration
2. Collect, use and share meaningful data and research
3. Engage with the public to access, understand and value the river
4. Create funding opportunities to enable innovation and technological development
5. Partner with businesses to co-develop best management practices to reduce pollution
6. Thames is an evidence-based exemplar for solutions to river pollution in the UK
7. Combat pollution pathways into the river
8. Co-produce holistic and enforceable legislation
9. Understand the plastic lifecycle to tackle sources of litter
10. Remove existing litter in the river

Progress on reducing litter in the Thames

Since launching the Thames Litter Strategy in 2018, there has been significant progress in research, policy and action for water quality along the Thames.

In alignment with key legislative and policy developments, including the Environment Act 2021, the 25 Year Environment Plan, South East Marine Plan 2021 and the Ban on Single Use Plastics in 2023, our strategy has gained substantial momentum. The strategy was divided into four strategic themes: baseline and evidence, combating pathways of litter, removal of existing litter and behavioural change. Together with Thames21, we have been monitoring the abundance and type of litter in the tidal Thames via our litter rapid appraisal surveys. Our goal was to achieve 75% of foreshore graded B (foreshore predominately free from litter) or higher by 2022, and on average between 2018 and 2022, we exceeded this target with 80% of the foreshore earning a B grade or higher.

The COVID-19 pandemic also led to an increased demand for single-use plastics that intensified pressure on river and marine systems. Studies have estimated that more than eight million tons of pandemic-associated plastic waste was generated globally, with more than 25,000 tons entering global oceans [3]. Meanwhile, more members of the public utilised their local green and blue spaces in the UK and built a stronger connection to the river and the wildlife that live within it. 

The previous strategy and forum provided a valuable opportunity for partners to share information and lessons learnt in relation to tackling challenges related to inherited litter on the Thames. As we move forward, the PLA remains resolute in its mission to protect and preserve this vital waterway. Therefore, we are taking forward the partnership working approach in our new Clean Thames Plan to tackle the key sources of pollution in the Thames. 

[1]     Environment Agency, “Environment Agency - Catchment Data Explorer,” environment.data.gov.uk, 2022. https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning (accessed Sep. 2023).
[2]      ZSL, “The State of the Thames 2021: Environmental trends of the Tidal Thames,” McCormick, H., Cox, T., Pecorelli, J., and Debney, A.J. (Eds), Regent’s Park, London, UK, 2021. Accessed: Sep. 07, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://cms.zsl.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/ZSL_TheStateoftheThamesReport_ Nov2021_0.pdf?_ga=2.266511502.1227659184.1694073430-1611245276.1694073429 
[3]      Y. Peng, P. Wu, A. T. Schartup, and Y. Zhang, “Plastic waste release caused by COVID-19 and its fate in the global ocean,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118, no. 47, Nov. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111530118. 

Approved NAABSA Berths in the Port of London

Houseboats are exempt from VAT. However, a review by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has determined that River Works Licences or Licences to Moor are not sufficient evidence to determine that they should be exempt.

Unless we can evidence a vessel is a houseboat, as defined by HMRC, then the PLA has to apply VAT on all future invoices.

Affected PLA licence holders were notified of this change by letter (March 2021).

What this means

The HMRC ruling is backdated for four years.

VAT will only be passed on to PLA licence holders from this year (2021/22), with a credit applied to the account of non-VAT registered licensees, to cover the first year’s additional charge.

We will pay the back-dated four years of VAT to HMRC.

Definitions

A houseboat is defined for the purposes of VAT as being a floating decked structure which:

• is designed, or adapted, for use solely as a place of permanent habitation.
• does not have the means of, and which is not capable of, being readily adapted for, self-propulsion.

We know that many houseboats registered with us don’t meet this definition.

More information is available on HMRC’s website.

“Qualifying ships”

A qualifying ship is zero rated for VAT, which means the VAT charge is zero.

We do not have any licences that specifically relate to “qualifying ships” in the category of people we have written to. These are legally-defined as any ship that has a gross tonnage of not less than 15 tons and is not designed, or adapted, for use for recreation or pleasure. They cannot be permanently moored, which is the case with licences used for residential uses.

“The intended use of a vessel does not affect qualifying ship status. The only factors to be considered are the gross tonnage, the design of the ship and any future adaptations”.

“Where a vessel is designed to be lived in as a permanent home by the owner, it may be treated as a qualifying ship, even though it might also be used for recreation or pleasure”.

“Motor cruisers, powerboats and yachts are designed or adapted for use for recreation or pleasure, so they do not qualify as ships, even if they’re 15 gross tons or over, or supplied for business use”.

-- Quote from HMRC Vat notice 744C.

If you think your residential vessel/houseboat is actually a “qualifying ship”, you need to check using the detailed guidance given in HMRC website.

What houseboat owners need to do

• Read the VAT notice; determine whether your vessel is a houseboat or not.
• If your vessel is a houseboat, sign the declaration and return it to us. We will check/verify the information and then issue a variation to your licence.
• If you wish to declare a qualifying ship, we will need to see evidence of the tonnage (merchant shipping registration or a marine surveyor letter) and ensure you can confirm that your vessel meets the other criteria to qualify.

Related Information:

• HMRC Guidance: Caravans and houseboats (VAT Notice 701/20)
• HMRC Guidance: Ships, trains, aircraft and associated services (VAT Notice 744C)

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is a statutory harbour authority, the regulator of river works and dredging and a significant landowner, including large marine and terrestrial sites of high value for nature conservation and biodiversity.

In addition to its general environmental responsibilities, the PLA has duties to conserve and enhance biodiversity within the Port of London under several pieces of legislation.

The relationship between safety of navigation, port development and nature conservation must be managed with care to allow the delivery of potentially conflicting objectives and to ensure compliance with the PLA's statutory obligations and environmental responsibilities.

Associated Legislation

This guidance specifically supports the requirements for vessel maintenance work at moorings or on the foreshore laid down in the Port of London Thames Byelaws 2012, Byelaw 48. (Note: This Byelaw came into force on 1st July 2012)

All works on the River must also comply with the Port of London Act 1968, Section 200; and while also considering the Water Resources Act 1991, Section 85, both of which regulate any polluting matter entering controlled waters. Vessel owners should note that in addition the waste and debris produced during vessel maintenance may be classified as hazardous and will need to be disposed of correctly under the relevant waste regulations. All works should also conform with the PLA’s Environmental Policy and Byelaw 48.

Vessel Maintenance

Minor maintenance work on vessels is permitted on the foreshore as long as the following pollution prevention measures are taken by vessel owners and those undertaking the work:

• When cleaning the topsides and decks of vessels, detergents and bleaches should be used sparingly.  An alternative environmentally-friendly product should be used where possible.
• Try to reduce the amount of water used when cleaning a boat by using a spray gun attachment to a hose which will automatically stop when not in use.
• Removal of weed and paint may be carried out as long as plastic sheeting is placed under the area to be worked on and is large enough to collect all the debris.
• Re-painting can be carried out by roller or brush. Sheeting must be placed under the area of work to protect the foreshore
• This sheeting must be removed before every rising tide and once the work has been completed. The debris and paints must be disposed of appropriately ashore.
• All maintenance materials and waste must be removed from the foreshore before every rising tide and once work has been completed.
• No noxious, polluting or offensive matter is permitted to enter the water
• All major maintenance works should be carried out in a dry-dock or wash-down area ashore with the appropriate permits in place. The associated residue may be toxic and needs to be stored and disposed of correctly as hazardous waste.
• Vessel maintenance can be carried out within a vessel whilst at anchor or at moorings or alongside on the foreshore, but no noxious or offensive matter may be permitted to enter the water
• Generators and/or compressors, other machinery and equipment can not be placed and used on the foreshore
• If unsure about any of these requirements and guidance, please contact the PLA Environment Team for advice. See details below.

Additional authorisations required

The Environment Agency (EA) will provide additional information and guidance on carrying out work in or near water and additional advice on the potential need for the appropriate authorisation. Further information and contact details for the EA can be found here.

If an accident has occurred that has caused material or liquids to enter the water please call the emergency line on 0800 80 70 60. 

Further Advice and Information

The Green Blue

The Green Blue is a joint environment programme created by the British Marine Federation and the Royal Yachting Association for anyone who enjoys getting out on the water or whose livelihood depends on it. Guidance has been created to help boat users, boating businesses, sailing clubs and training centres to reduce their impact of their activities on coastal and inland waters.

The Green Blue's "Green Directory" provides a list of products which can be used as safe and environmentally friendly alternative for cleaning boats. See the website for more details.

PLA Environment Team

If you require any further advice or guidance contact the PLA’s Environment team by at [email protected]

How will this work for people using the portal?

All vessel operators required to comply with Thames AIS will need to set up an account on the web portal. To do so the following information should be submitted to: [email protected] 

• Business Name
• Email domain(s) for users (eg. exampledomain.com)
• A list of vessels including vessel names and MMSI numbers.

Once in the system, you will be able to see your existing submissions and create a new submission by entering the MMSI number of the vessel (the system will remember your commonly used MMSI numbers) and the POB. You will be required to do this before departing any berth on the river.

How can I integrate my system with the API?

We will also accept submissions via a HTTP JSON POST request that contains an API key (to be part of the request headers) issued to your organisation, the MMSI number of the vessel and the number of people on board as follows:

Response: 201 "Record added successfully."

Note: A much more detailed document can be provided for all possible API responses if needed.

What impact will this have on existing equipment?

As stated above, your existing Thames AIS equipment will continue to be compliant with the standard; however, you will no longer be required (or able) to submit POB information via that equipment and instead will use the portal or API.

When are we proposing to do this?

The new system was effective from 4th September 2023. Note that the PLA will stop accepting POB information from Thames AIS transmitters at the same time.

See Appendix A of this document for the requirements, procedures and technical specifications.