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
Services
We offer a range of services to support the Port of London
Licensing & permits
Our Licensing team administers our permitting process. They evaluate applications for works in or over the river to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and safety.
Pilotage
Our Pilotage department ensures the effective and economic provision of pilotage services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our team of over 100 pilots board and guide more than 10,000 ships through the Port of London every year.
Marine Services
A busy, safe river depends on our efficient Marine Services department. Our team ensures that channels are clearly marked with lights and buoys, that any obstructions are quickly removed, that the driftwood is removed from the river.
They also provide a base for boat lift out and repairs.
Hydrography
Our hydrography team is responsible for the continuous monitoring of the river and estuary essential to safe navigation of the Thames.
Surveys are primarily conducted for safety of navigation, but a significant effort goes into conservancy and environmental monitoring surveys, as well as detailed engineering works.
Masters of commercial vessels operating on the Thames in London need an LKE.
A pilotage exemption certificate may be granted to a Master who fulfils criteria showing they can safely manage their vessel.
Our GIS platform provides mariners with the most current navigation charts, surveys and corrections.
The Thames provides a fantastic backdrop for film and TV programme makers.
We are responsible for the licensing of inland waterways vessels operating commercially on the tidal Thames.
Inspections are undertaken by two qualified Marine Surveyors, who work closely with owners and operators to ensure that the required safety, technical and competency standards are met.
Find PLA publications and charts available for purchase in our shop.
General Direction 32 requires all commercial intra-port vessels on the tidal Thames to be registered with the PLA, regardless of any other registration, licence or certificate held.
PLA services and navigation guidance as easy as A, B, C.
Our non-exhaustive listing of businesses in the Port of London.
Thames Vision 2050
Trading Thames
We're working toward making London the UK’s leading port, central to the nation’s economy, with Net Zero emissions.
