• skip navigation
• Home
• Help
• Sitemap
• Contact us

• About the PLA
  
  • Who we are
  • Publications, Communications and Consultation
  • Development and Works Enquiries
  • PLA statutory information
  • The Port of London Act
  • Statutory Responsibilities
  • The PLA's Mission
  • Waste Management Plan
  • PLA Policies
  • PLA Charges
  • Main Projects
  • Vacancies
  • Contact us
  • Links
• About the Port of London
  
• Navigational Safety
  
• Environment
  
• Leisure Users
  
• Tourism
  
• Events
  
• News
  

Statutory Responsibilities

The PLA has statutory responsibility for the conservancy and regulation of navigation of 95 miles of the tidal River Thames and owns much of the river bed and foreshore to the high water mark. It provides navigational services for ships using the Port . These include the maintenance of shipping channels, moorings, lights and buoys. Other responsibilities include the inspection and licensing of commercial vessels and of river works extending into, over, or under the Thames below mean high water level. The PLA is also the pilotage authority for the tidal Thames.

The PLA also owns and operates public boat moorings.

Contents

Constitution and Powers of the PLA
Regulation of Navigation
Geographical Area of PLA'S Jurisdiction
The Management Of Navigational Safety
Other PLA Responsibilities and Services
PLA Marine Security and Emergency Planning
Communications with River Users
The Diversity of the PLA’s Sphere of Interest
Other Organisations with Responsibilites in the Port of London

The Port of London Authority is a public trust constituted under the Port of London Act 1968 and Harbour Revision Orders of 1975, 1992, 1999 and 2003. The PLA Board comprises a Chairman and up to four non-executive members appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport and up to four non-executive members plus up to four executive members appointed by the Board.

The PLA's mission is to:

• facilitate the safety of navigation on the tidal Thames,
• deliver value for money services to our commercial customers and promote the potential of the Port of London,
• respect the environment of the tidal Thames and pursue principles of sustainable development
• provide an efficient, professional and equitable service to commercial and leisure users and riparian owners on issues affecting the River, and
• safeguard the navigational access to and the viability of the Port of London and its infrastructure

Constitution and Powers of the PLA

The Port of London Authority was established as a Public Trust under the Port London Act of 1908, for the purpose of administering, preserving and improving the Port of London and for other purposes including the conservancy of the tidal Thames. Those powers have been extended in subsequent Acts and Orders, the last of significance being the Port of London Act 1968 (as amended), which gives very wide powers and duties to the PLA in the improvement and conservancy of the Thames including:

• Regulation of navigation by means of River Byelaws, General Directions and other associated Byelaws;
• Licensing of river works and dredging;
• Hydrographic Surveying;
• Inspection and licensing of commercial vessels;
• Removal of sunken vessels and other hazards to navigation;
• Licensing of watermen and lightermen;
• Maintenance of Richmond Lock and Weir.

Statutory powers are also given to the Port of London Authority as a Competent Harbour Authority under the Pilotage Act 1987, which empowers the PLA to make Pilotage Directions as the Pilotage Authority for the London Pilotage District.

The PLA is also empowered under the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations 1987 to make Byelaws to regulate the movement of vessels carrying dangerous substances in bulk on the Thames. Additionally this legislation requires the PLA to prepare, exercise and review port emergency plans and procedures.

The Merchant Shipping Act 1995, which empowers the PLA's Harbourmaster to initiate proceedings against masters of vessels and owners of installations involved in oil pollution, also empowers the Authority to provide navigational lights, buoys and marks within the port area.

"The PLA is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the River in the Port of London.”