The Thames – a working, living, thriving river

Destination Thames – one of the three key pillars of our Thames Vision 2050 strategy - could be a strapline for the whole of London International Shipping Week.  

From the location for LISW’s headline conference at the International Maritime Organisation’s HQ at Vauxhall and the venue of its Gala Dinner in Battersea Park, to the Port of London Authority’s own Sustainability & Innovation showcase afloat on the river, the tidal Thames has been a backdrop to so many of the meetings, events and conversations this week.

It’s a working river. We’re the UK’s biggest port and busiest inland waterway; our customers connect the UK with the rest of the world, generating billions for the UK economy and supporting 48,000 jobs.

It’s a living river. Millions of tourists’ visits to London wouldn’t be complete without a boat trip, a view from the London Eye, or tour of the museums at Greenwich. Many more millions of people, drawn from diverse communities, live, exercise or relax on and alongside it.  

It’s a thriving river. The tidal Thames’ story is one of recovery. After being declared biologically dead in the 1950s, it’s now home to everything from seals to seahorses, and diverse natural habitats.  

At the Port of London Authority, we’re responsible for protecting and improving the tidal Thames for all.