The Port of London Authority (PLA) is a public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames. The authority originally operated all the enclosed dock systems on the river. With the exception of Tilbury, which was privatised in 1992, these have all closed to commercial traffic.
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Limits
The PLA's responsibility is from a point marked by an obelisk just downstream of Teddington Lock (the upstream limit of the tidal river) to where the river joins the North Sea (between Margate to the south and Clacton-on-Sea to the north), a total of around 95 miles (150 km). The Port Authority does not cover the Medway or the Swale.
From the City of London, via the Thames Conservancy, the PLA has inherited ownership of the bed of the river and foreshore from Teddington to the Yantlet Line (between Southend and Grain).[1] The PLA during much of the 20th Century owned and operated many of the docks and wharfs in the Port, however they have been privatised. Today the PLA acts mainly as a managing authority of the use of 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 PLA today has a number of duties which it exercises, including responsibility for river traffic control, security, navigational safety (including buoys, beacons, bridge lights and channel surveys), the conserving of the river (including dredging and maintaining certain river banks), encouraging use of the river (for both commercial and leisure use) and protecting its marine environment. The PLA is responsible for the operation of Richmond Lock, but it is not responsible for the operation of the Thames Barrier which is managed by the Environment Agency in its flood management role.
Centres
The PLA originally had its headquarters on Tower Hill in the City of London, but today has its headquarters at London River House in Gravesend. The PLA retains a presence in the City however, with offices at Bakers' Hall on Harp Lane, where the Chairman, Chief Executive and Secretary of the authority are based.
Control of ship traffic on the Thames within the Port is orchestrated from two Port Control centres - one at the Thames Barrier (the Thames Barrier Navigation Centre) in Woolwich, for reaches upstream of Erith, and the other at Gravesend (the main Port Control) for reaches downstream of Erith. Both Port Control centres operate the same system for coordinating traffic within the PLA's jurisdiction of the Thames, know as Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).[2] The system involves 16 radar stations[3] along the river and out in the estuary.
The PLA owns Denton Wharf and Jetty in Gravesend, which is the main base for the authority's vessels. Recently the PLA have acquired Barrier Gardens Pier, located near to their control centre at the Thames Barrier. There are also two pilot stations at Harwich and Ramsgate, which are located 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.
Around 360 people are employed by the Port of London Authority.[3]
Vessels
The PLA currently has three channel surveying vessels, eight launches for harbour and river patrols, and twenty other craft.[3] Five new patrol vessels are being procured by the Authority, which have been built by shipbuilder 'Alnmaritec' in Northumberland, for delivery in 2009.[4]
The Board
The PLA is controlled by a Board. The chief officials of the Authority are at present -
- Chairman of the Board: Simon P Sherrard
- Vice Chairman: Joanna A G Kennedy OBE
- Chief Executive: Richard L Everitt
- Chief Financial Officer: Brian Chapman
- Chief Harbour Master: Rear Admiral David G Snelson (ex-RN)
- Secretary and General Counsel: Robert D Crighton (Barrister)
Traditions
An historic honour is that the Lord Mayor of London, the chief dignitary of the City of London, is ex officio the Admiral of the Port of London.
A defaced blue ensign exists for the PLA, who fly it on their own vessels. The Authority also have coat of arms and a flag. Pennants exist for the Chairman and Vice Chairman.[5]
The authority's armorial bearings were granted in August 1909. The blazon 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 other the figure of
St Paul , 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, issuning from waves of the sea proper, that to the sinister grasping the banner of King Edward II; the to the sinister the banner of King Edward VII[6]
The Latin motto on the is "Floreat Imperii Portvs", or "Let the imperial port flourish".[7]
Port of London Authority Police
For much of the 20th Century, the Port of London Authority Police existed to police the Port of London, but today the port is policed by a number of forces. These are the local Home Office forces of the areas the Thames passes through (the Metropolitan, City of London, Essex and Kent constabularies) and the Port of Tilbury Police (formed in 1992 and a remnant of the old PLA force). The Metropolitan police have a special Marine Support Unit, formerly known as the Thames Division, which patrol and police the Thames in the Greater London area. A sixth police force in the Port may be established with the creation of the London Gateway port.
See also
- London River Services
- List of locations in the Port of London
- List of navigation authorities in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ "Standard Letter re access to the River Thames" (PDF). London Assembly. http://mayor.london.gov.uk/assembly/past_ctees/plansd/2003/plansdmar11/plansdmar11item05appb.pdf. Retrieved on 31 March 2009. (view as HTML)
- ^ "Vessel Traffic Services". Port of London Authority. http://www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/219/site/navigation. Retrieved on 31 March 2009.
- ^ a b c "Short guide to the PLA" (pdf). Port of London Authority. http://www.pla.co.uk/pdfs/pp/ShortguideAlt2.pdf. Retrieved on 31 March 2009.
- ^ "New PLA Patrol Boats". Port of London Authority. http://www.pla.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/2595/site/pla. Retrieved on 31 March 2009.
- ^ "Port of London Authority". Flags of the World. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-e-pla.html. Retrieved on 31 March 2009.
- ^ Fox-Davies, A C (1915). The Book of Public Arms, 2nd edition. London: T C & E C Jack. p. 620.
- ^ Scott-Giles, C Wilfrid (1953). Civic Heraldry of England and Wales, 2nd edition. London: J M Dent & Sons. p. 261.
External links
- Port of London - the website of the Port of London Authority
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