The Olympics

The PLA is working to ensure that the River plays its part in the 2012 London Olympics.

The Olympic opportunities for the Port include:

The transport of building materials and special ‘project’ cargoes to the Olympic site
The removal of spoil and wastes from the site
The transport of spectators to events – particularly at the River Zone venues around Greenwich
Additional cruise calls timed to coincide with the Games

River-borne transport of building materials has a significantly lower carbon footprint than road transport, for example -

Sea and Water reports that carbon emissions from moving freight by water are 80% lower than those for road;
A European Union report showed that one kilogram of fuel could move more than twice the weight of cargo over a kilometre by water than road (50 tonnes by road, 97 tonnes by rail, 127 tonnes by water); and
Flemish Institute for Technical Research reports that transport by inland waterway was seven times more environmentally friendly for bulk transport than road.

The Bow Back Rivers are a network of post-industrial waterways that have been derelict and underused since the Second World War. Today they form part of the 2012 Olympic Park and the first step towards their restoration is underway with the construction by British Waterways of a £18.9million new lock and water control structure on Prescott Channel in Bow. The new Prescott Lock will restore the Bow Back Rivers to navigation, creating a green gateway for barges entering the Olympic Park and reviving water transport in the area for the first time in 50 years.

The Port is therefore well-placed to help the Olympics organisers achieve their goal of a ‘carbon neutral’ Games and operators on the river already have relevant experience, having delivered large volumes of materials for the Canary Wharf development by water.