Live Tides
NOTICES TO MARINERS
Charts & Surveys
Incident reporting
Life-threatening emergencies on the river:
Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
For near miss, safety observations and incident reporting click below
Regulations & guidance
Rules, guidelines and best practice for navigation on the tidal River Thames
On this page
Regulations
Regulations
These Byelaws and associated guidance relate to the management and regulation of marine operations and navigation in the Port of London.
The General Directions for Navigation in the Port of London are rules and regulations on the tidal Thames.
Updated as of November 2024
Rules and regulations concerning compulsory pilotage for certain vessels.
October 2023
Rules and regulations covering the licensing of certain commercial vessels.
2014
Rules and regulations covering the transport of dangerous substances in bulk.
Byelaws 1991 (as amended)
Guidance for operators on Byelaw 49 and General Direction 10.
Technical standards for commercial vessels on the tidal Thames
June 2013
Thames AIS technical requirements specifications
Codes of practice & procedures
These codes and procedures general guidance and advice for safe marine operations and recreation on the tidal River Thames.
The Code of Practice for the Management and Operation of Commercial Vessels on the Thames establishes a common standard for the safe operation of commercial inland waterway vessels.
2013
Code of Practice for Craft Towage Operations on the Thames aims to provide guidance and advice on craft towage on the tidal Thames and illustrate examples of good practice.
2022
Code of Practice for the Safe Mooring of Vessels on the Thames describes established good practice for the safe and efficient mooring and unmooring of vessels on the Thames.
2016
The NAABSA (Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground) Procedure provides guidance for Berth Operators, Agents, Ship Operators and vessel Masters in order to safely operate/use a NAABSA berth in the Port of London.
April 2024
The Port of London Authority, in partnership with its key stakeholders, has developed a Code of Conduct for Personal Watercraft Users in the Thames Estuary.
2019
Code of Practice for Ship Towage Operations on the Thames describes safe working practices for ship towage operations and guidelines for the utilisation of ship towage tugs.
Amended November 2024
In collaboration with the Thames Regional Rowing Council and Paddle UK, this edition has been revised and updated to provide a current Code of Practice for rowing and paddling on the tidal Thames.
2024
River user guidance
These guidance documents from the Port of London Authority promote safe working and recreation practices on the tidal Thames.
This guide has been produced by the PLA to assist river users when planning to use specified jetties, piers or berths.
2012
Guidance to Berth Operators on the Thames 2012 (as amended) highlights the obligations placed upon berth operators by national legislation, the Port Marine Safety Code and Codes of Practice.
The Mariners' Guide to Bridges on the Tidal Thames is available for purchase, the book provides an overview of navigating London's bridges, and highlights the safety issues associated with this challenging environment.
Recreational Users Guide
Tidal Thames Recreational Users Guide
Recreational Users Guide
Tidal Thames Recreational Users Guide
2016
Houseboat Mooring Guidance contains advice and best practice for the mooring of houseboats on the tidal Thames, which has been reviewed and commented on by the PLA Wash Forum.
Living on the tidal Thames
Our guide to living on the river.
The Riverside Code is designed to explain and promote safety on the River Thames. The code’s main aim is to prevent accidents in the river as well as on the foreshore.
Thames Vision 2050
As a Trust Port, we hold the river in trust, working to hand it on in a better condition to future generations.
We will nurture the country’s largest and most competitive port, closest to the UK’s biggest market, producing Net Zero emissions.
