The Port of London Authority
(PLA) is the UK’s biggest port, central to the country’s economy and ambitions
for growth. It connects the UK to the world, but it is much more than a
conventional port.
The PLA is driven by its
purpose to protect and improve the 95-mile stretch of the River Thames which is
tidal – from Teddington Lock on the border of Surrey, through the heart of
London, Kent, Essex and out to the North Sea.
As a trust port, the PLA
reinvests all the money it makes back into the tidal Thames region – caring for
the river and supporting the communities who live and work along it.
Its people bring together
their passion and expertise as harbour masters, workboat crews, river and sea
pilots, hydrography surveyors, environmental scientists, engineers, commercial
and planning experts, business service professionals, and more.
Working together, the PLA is
committed to doing the right thing, championing its customers and their growth,
promoting sustainability and the voice and interests of people who live and
work on the river – and always putting safety first.
What the PLA does
Its 470 staff keep river users
safe – patrolling the tidal Thames and managing traffic on the UK’s busiest
inland waterway 365 days a year. The PLA provides highly skilled and
experienced river and sea pilots, and maps, marks and dredges the riverbed to ensure
safe passage of all vessels and keep river users safe.
It drives growth and
investment – working with partners to lead on innovation and the investment in
skills, technology and river infrastructure to enable significant growth. The
PLA provides high-quality services to the port’s customers, making it easier
for them to trade, and advocates on their behalf to create opportunities to
grow, build resilience, and decarbonise.
It campaigns for a clean river
– free of sewage, waste and pollution. The PLA pushes for net zero emissions,
capturing opportunities for renewable energy, and boosting biodiversity.
It champions the people who
visit, live and work on the river – helping more people build a fulfilling
career on the tidal Thames, enjoy the water for sport, leisure and relaxation,
and connect with the greatest river in the world.
It reinvests any financial
surplus back into the tidal Thames region – as a trust port, the PLA has no
shareholders and reinvests all the money it makes back into the river and the
people who live and work along it.
History
The River Thames has been the
lifeblood of London since Roman Times, shaping the city and the country. For
more than 100 years, the PLA has served London and the rest of the UK by
overseeing its biggest and flagship port – safely bringing the world’s goods
and products into the country’s capital and promoting trade and growth.
The PLA has played various
other roles in serving the country: supporting wartime operations, promoting
tourism, and hosting longstanding and globally recognised annual events like
the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race and London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Over the century, its role has
evolved from owning and operating east London’s docks to managing the waterways
– directing traffic, dredging the river, maintaining its banks and protecting
the environment – so its customers can efficiently and safely trade.
Now, in addition to its
commitment to growth and enabling its customers’ commercial success, as a trust
port the PLA also operates with a dedication to secure social value and
sustainability. This is how it pays tribute to the Port’s legacy and ensures the
tidal Thames is protected for future generations.
Future
The PLA wants to leave the
tidal Thames in a better condition than it found it – more prosperous,
sustainable, thriving, and vibrant.
The Port of London will
transport up to 50% more cargo and generate thousands of new jobs by 2050. The
PLA is investing in skills, technology and port infrastructure to drive
ambitious growth and help to fuel the UK’s economy.
Its vision is for a clean
river, free of pollution and rubbish. A resilient tidal Thames, adapting to
climate change and richer in wildlife, and Net Zero by 2040. A more diverse
Thames, providing jobs, learning and enjoyment to the whole community.
To deliver that, the PLA is
committed to doing the right thing for the river, championing growth by working
with others to embed innovation, dedicating itself to sustainability and the
people who live and work along the river, and always putting safety first.
Thames Vision 2050
Thames Vision 2050 was
launched in September 2022. The development framework for the river, created by
the PLA with stakeholders, targets the long-term development of the Thames as
trading hub, destination and natural haven.
The PLA’s Vision for the
Thames in 2050 is:
The UK’s leading port, central to the
nation’s economy, with Net Zero emissions. A clean river, free of pollution and
rubbish, supporting more sport, passengers and freight. A resilient Estuary,
adapting to climate change and richer in wildlife. A more diverse Thames,
providing jobs, learning and enjoyment to the whole community, and always,
everyone, staying safe.
For more on Thames Vision
2050, visit the microsite: Our Vision for the Thames in 2050 - Thames Vision
2050 (pla.co.uk)