The Port of London Authority (PLA) is a self-funding public trust established on 31 March 1909 in accordance with the

Port of London Act 1908 The Port of London Act 1908 (8 Edw 7, c 68) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established the Port of London Authority and regulated corporate governance at the Port of London. It merged numerous inefficient and overlapping pr ...

to govern the

Port of London The Port of London is that part of the River Thames in England lying between Teddington Lock and the defined boundary (since 1968, a line drawn from Foulness Point in Essex via Gunfleet Old Lighthouse to Warden Point in Kent) with the North Sea ...

. Its responsibility extends over the

Tideway The Tideway is a part of the River Thames in England which is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock. The Tideway comprises the upper Thames Estuary including the Pool of London. Tidal activity Depending on ...

of the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...

and its continuation (the

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...

strait). It maintains and supervises

navigation Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.Bowditch, 2003:799. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navigation, ...

, and protects the river's environment. The PLA originally operated all enclosed dock systems on the river (except the Regent's Canal Dock), but these have long been closed to commercial traffic, with the exception of

Port of Tilbury The Port of Tilbury is a port on the River Thames at Tilbury in Essex, England. It is the principal port for London, as well as being the main United Kingdom port for handling the importation of paper. There are extensive facilities for contai ...

, which was

privatised Privatization (also privatisation in British English) can mean several different things, most commonly referring to moving something from the public sector into the private sector. It is also sometimes used as a synonym for deregulation when ...

in 1992. It inherited the private police forces of the companies which had previously run the docks, reorganising them into a single

Port of London Authority Police The Port of Tilbury Police is a non-Territorial police force, Home Office List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories#Miscellaneous police forces, ports police force responsible for t ...

Finance

The PLA receives no funding from the government and is entirely self-financing. Revenues are raised from conservancy charges on vessels and cargo, pilotage charges, annual port dues, hydrographic services, river works licence fees and charges for other services.

Limits

The PLA's responsibility extends from a point marked by an obelisk just downstream of

Teddington Lock Teddington Lock is a complex of three lock (water transport), locks and a weir on the River Thames between Ham, London, Ham and Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. Historically in Middlesex, it was first buil ...

(the upstream limit of the

tidal river A tidal river is a river whose flow and level are influenced by tides. A section of a larger river affected by the tides is a tidal reach, but it may sometimes be considered a tidal river if it has been given a separate name. Generally, tidal ri ...

) to the end of the Kent/Essex strait of the North Sea (between

Margate Margate is a seaside resort, seaside town on the north coast of Kent in south-east England. The town is estimated to be 1.5 miles long, north-east of Canterbury and includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay, UK, Palm Bay and Westbrook, Kent, ...

to the south and

Gunfleet Lighthouse Gunfleet Lighthouse is a derelict screw-pile lighthouse lying in the North Sea, six miles off the coast at Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, constructed in 1850 by James Walker of Trinity House. George Henry Saunders was the contractor. Walker and Burg ...

, near Frinton-on-Sea, to the north,) a total of about 95 miles (150 km). The PLA does not cover the

Medway Medway is a unitary authority district and conurbation in Kent, South East England. It had a population of 278,016 in 2019. The unitary authority was formed in 1998 when Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with the Borough of Gillingham to for ...

or the

Swale Swale or Swales may refer to: Topography * Swale (landform), a low tract of land ** Bioswale, landform designed to remove silt and pollution ** Swales, found in the formation of Hummocky cross-stratification Geography * River Swale, in North ...

. From the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...

, via the

Thames Conservancy The Thames Conservancy (formally the Conservators of the River Thames) was a body responsible for the management of the that river in England. It was founded in 1857 to replace the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines. Nine years la ...

, the PLA inherited the conservancy, management and control of the river instead of ownership of the bed of the river and foreshore (the Crown was prohibited from alienating any of its lands by section 5 of the

Crown Lands Act 1702 The Crown Lands Act 1702 (1 Ann c 1) is an Act of the Parliament of England, originally entitled ''An Act for the better Support of Her Majesties Houshold and of the Honour and Dignity of the Crown''. The Act was still partly in force in Great B ...

, the Crown was presumed to own the bed of Thames and 'as conservators' the City of London were prohibited from owning any part of that same river bed) from Teddington to the Yantlet Line (between

Southend Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authority area with borough status in southeastern Essex, England. It lies on the north side of the Thames Estuary, east of central London. It is bordered ...

and

Grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legum ...

). During much of the 20th century the PLA owned and operated many of the docks and wharfs in the port, but they have all now been either closed or

. Today the PLA acts mainly as a managing authority for the tidal stretch of the River Thames, ensuring safe navigation, and the well-being of the port and its activities. Comparable responsibilities for the river including, and upstream of, Teddington Lock fall to the

Environment Agency The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enha ...

. The PLA today has a number of statutory duties, including river traffic control, security, navigational safety (including

pilotage Piloting or pilotage is the process of navigating on water or in the air using fixed points of reference on the sea or on land, usually with reference to a nautical chart or aeronautical chart to obtain a fix of the position of the vessel or air ...

buoy A buoy () is a floating device that can have many purposes. It can be anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift with ocean currents. Types Navigational buoys * Race course marker buoys are used for buoy racing, the most prevalent form of yac ...

beacon A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location. A common example is the lighthouse, which draws attention to a fixed point that can be used to navigate around obstacles or into port. More mode ...

s, bridge lights and channel surveys), conservation (including

dredging Dredging is the excavation of material from a water environment. Possible reasons for dredging include improving existing water features; reshaping land and water features to alter drainage, navigability, and commercial use; constructing da ...

and maintaining certain river banks), encouraging both commercial and leisure uses of the river, and protecting its environment. The PLA is responsible for the operation of Richmond Lock, but not for the

Thames Barrier The Thames Barrier is a retractable Flood barrier, barrier system built to protect the floodplain of most of Greater London from exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the North Sea. It has been operational since 1982. When n ...

which is managed by the

in its flood management role.

Harbour masters

The PLA's navigational safety team is headed by a Chief Harbour Master who has overall responsibility for defining and enforcing the regulations needed to support and manage the safety of navigation within the PLA's limits. Given the extensive length of river covered by the PLA, day-to-day management of the river is overseen by a team of

harbour master A harbourmaster (or harbormaster, see spelling differences) is an official responsible for enforcing the regulations of a particular harbour or port, in order to ensure the safety of navigation, the security of the harbour and the correct operat ...

s who cover the entirety of the river between Teddington Lock and the outer estuary.

Centres

Port of London Authority building on Charterhouse Street 1

The PLA originally had its

headquarters Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

Tower Hill Tower Hill is the area surrounding the Tower of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is infamous for the public execution of high status prisoners from the late 14th to the mid 18th century. The execution site on the higher grou ...

in the

, but today it is based at London River House and

Royal Terrace Pier Royal Terrace Pier is owned and managed by the Port of London Authority (PLA) and is located adjacent to their headquarters at London River House in Gravesend. History The Grade II listed pier was built in 1844 by the Gravesend Freehold In ...

Gravesend Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames and opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Ro ...

. The PLA retains a presence in the City in offices at Pinnacle House on St. Dunstan's Hill, where the Chairman and Chief Executive are based. Control of ship traffic on the Thames within the Port is orchestrated from two Port Control centres: *The Thames Barrier Navigation Centre in

Woolwich Woolwich () is a district in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained throu ...

, for reaches upstream of

Erith Erith () is an area in south-east London, England, east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater London in 1965, it was in the historical county of Kent. Since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Bexley. It lies nort ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, and *Port Control

(the main facility) for reaches downstream of Erith. Both Port Control centres operate the same system for coordinating traffic within the PLA's area, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). The system involves 16

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

stations along the river and out in the estuary. The PLA owns

Denton Wharf and Jetty Denton may refer to: Places In England * Denton, Cambridgeshire, part of Denton and Caldecote * Denton, County Durham * Denton, East Sussex * Denton, Gravesham, part of the town of Gravesend, Kent * Denton, Greater Manchester * Denton, Kent, ...

in Gravesend, which is the main base for its fleet of more than 40 vessels. It also provides lift-out and maintenance services for other users of the Thames. The PLA owns

Barrier Gardens Pier Barrier Gardens Pier is a pier on the River Thames near the Thames Barrier. It is owned and managed by the Port of London Authority (PLA) which took over the pier and adjoining Unity House from the Environment Agency The Environment Agenc ...

and Unity House, near the Thames Barrier, providing a convenient base for its Driftwood vessels. There are also two

pilot station Pilot Station ( esu, Tuutalgaq) is a city in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 568 at the 2010 census, up from 550 in 2000. Geography Pilot Station is located at (61.936050, -162.883403), on the northern bank of t ...

s at

Harwich Harwich is a town in Essex, England, and one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the north-east, Ipswich to the north-west, Colchester to the south-west and Clacton-on- ...

and

Ramsgate Ramsgate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the district of Thanet District, Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. In 2011, according to t ...

, beyond the estuary and the Port of London. From these stations pilots are sent out and return from large vessels entering and leaving the Port. The PLA employs about 360 people.

Pier and jetty ownership

The PLA owns three piers and jetties on the

. These are available for other river users as well as the PLA's own vessels. *

and Unity House, Woolwich *

and landing stage, Gravesend *

, Gravesend

Vessels

The PLA has four channel surveying vessels, eight launches for harbour and river patrols, and twenty other craft. Five new patrol vessels were built by Alnmaritec in

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land on ...

and delivered in 2009.

Harbour Service vessels

*''Chelsea'' and ''Richmond''. Catamarans designed for shallow water working in the upper reaches of the port area. *''Lambeth'', ''Kew'', ''Southwark'' and ''Barnes''. Catamarans designed for the lower tidal waters and for use as Pilot cutters. *''Easthaven'' and ''Crane'' two shallow draught RIBs, the former based at Holehaven and the latter at Richmond.

Marine Service vessels

*''London Titan''. Mooring maintenance vessel *''Driftwood II'' and ''Driftwood III''. Primarily designed for the clearance of driftwood and other debris from the river. Also equipped for salvage operations. Normally accompanied by a fast tender. *''PLA Diver''. Diving support vessel. *''Impulse''. Pusher tug for handling barges. Also equipped for salvage and clearance work. *''Recover'' and ''Respond''. Oil clearance vessels. *''Gunfleet''. Open deck RIB. *''Benfleet'' Wheelhouse fitted RIB used for crew transfer purposes.

Hydrographic Surveying vessels

*''Maplin'', ''Thame'', ''Yantlet'' and ''Galloper''. Various catamarans equipped with advanced hydrographic survey equipment. There is also a RIB for use in very shallow waters.

Pilot cutters

*''Patrol''. Ex. Estuary Services vessel built by Halmatic, based on the Arun class lifeboat design. Based at Gravesend. *''Guide''. Ex. Estuary Services vessel, 48/50', built by Halmatic. Based at Gravesend. *''Leader''. A hybrid diesel and battery electric boat by Goodchild Marine, delivered in 2019. Based at Gravesend. *There are six cutters based at Ramsgate and Sheerness operated by Estuary Services Ltd, a company jointly owned by the PLA and Medway Ports Ltd.

Railways

Locomotive built for the Port of London Authority (26362393193)

The PLA inherited an extensive railway system from the previous dock companies. This included engine sheds (located at Millwall, Tilbury and Custom House), its own signal boxes and level crossings. The main duties undertaken by the authority's locomotives were shunting the various sidings, yards (which provided links to the mainline system), wharves and factories around the PLA estate. The PLA operated a fleet of 0-6-0T and 0-6-0ST steam locomotives made by various manufacturers including Hudswell Clark, Robert Stephenson, Andrew Barclay, Hunslet and Manning Wardle. The steam locomotives were largely withdrawn in 1959 although a few lingered on until 1963. The diesels that replaced them were built by the

Yorkshire Engine Company The Yorkshire Engine Company (YEC) was a small independent locomotive manufacturer in Sheffield, England. The company was formed in 1865 and produced locomotives and carried out general engineering work until 1965. It mainly built shunting engi ...

but with declining traffic the railway system closed on 1 May 1970.

Traditions

The

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional powe ...

, the chief dignitary of the

, is ''ex officio'' the Admiral of the Port of London. Arms of the Port of London Authority

The PLA uses a

blue ensign The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated or formerly associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain or Defacement (flag), defaced with a Heraldic badge, ...

with a gold heraldic sealion on all its vessels. It also has a house flag and pennants for the use of the chairman and the vice chairman of its board. The

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

of the PLA was granted in August 1909. The

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vis ...

or heraldic description is as follows:

Azure, issuing from a castle argent, a demi-man vested, holding in the dexter hand a drawn sword, and in the sinister a scroll Or, the one representing the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...
, the other the figure of
St Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
, the patron saint of London.
Crest: On a wreath of the colours, an ancient ship Or, the main sail charged with the arms of the City of London.
Supporters: On either side a sea-lion argent, crined, finned and tufted or, issuing from waves of the sea proper, that to the sinister grasping the banner of
King Edward II Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir apparent to the ...
; that to the dexter the banner of
King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...

The

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

motto is "''Floreat Imperii Portvs''", meaning "May the Port of the Empire Flourish".

References

External links

Port of London
- the website of the Port of London Authority
Boating on the Thames

OPLAC
- the website of the Organisation of Port of London Authority Customers {{Authority control Competent harbour authorities Organizations established in 1909 Organisations based in the City of London Port authorities in the United Kingdom Port of London Economic history of London 1908 establishments in England