Congratulations to PLA Pilot Hywel Jones Pugh, who has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service; the first serving Pilot to receive this national honour!
Congratulations to PLA Pilot Hywel Pugh, who has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service; the first serving Pilot to receive this national honour!
The medal, which is the highest state award for the UK’s merchant seafarers, recognises Hywel’s outstanding contribution to maritime safety and his dedication to serving the Thames community.
Hywel joined the PLA in 1999 and has played a central role in ensuring the safe navigation of commercial and passenger vessels on one of the world’s busiest waterways. In his interview, he said that one of his career highlights was piloting the HMM Algeciras which, at the time, was the largest container ship in the world, on her maiden voyage into London Gateway (2020).
His award is not only testament to his professionalism and commitment but also a proud moment for our whole PLA Pilotage service.
All river users, as well as ashore staff, are invited to attend the Emergency Services Awareness Session hosted by the Thames Skills Academy (TSA) and presented by the RNLI, Marine Police Unit and London Fire Brigade.
During the session, participants are brought up to speed with the latest vital safety updates on the Thames. This includes:
RNLI: Water safety including float to live, life jackets (including how to inspect them), throwlines, lifeboat equipment on board for a range of emergencies and how to assist the RNLI.
Marine Police Unit: Roles, responsibilities, advice and guidance and counter-terrorism information specific to the River Thames.
London Fire Brigade: Roles, responsibilities, advice and guidance including capabilities, equipment carried, inter-agency working and the area they operate within.
The Port of London Authority Harbour Master team are in attendance to answer any queries you may have.
The session is ideal for masters and crew working on the river and to wider staff who also work on and around the river. For Masters and Crew registered on the Thames CPD Programme, this training gains five CPD points.
The next session will be on Thursday, 23rd October 2025 at the
RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2PP.
Throughout September, the Thames will once again take centre stage with the Totally Thames Festival, a month-long celebration of the river’s culture, history, and environment. Managed by the Thames Festival Trust, the programme stretches across 42 of the 95 miles of the tidal Thames, with events ranging from boat races and heritage walks to music, art installations, and river clean-ups.
Highlights this year include:
The Great River Race (20 Sept): A 21.6-mile boat marathon from Millwall to Richmond featuring hundreds of crews.
St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival (6–7 Sept): A showcase of vintage vessels and maritime heritage.
Conduit at Crossness Pumping Station (13 Sept): An improvised jazz performance exploring environmental and social themes.
Mudlarking exhibitions across London, bringing the hidden stories of the riverbed to life.
Alongside these headline events, community projects, environmental challenges, and creative residencies will run throughout the month, encouraging Londoners and visitors alike to explore the Thames in new ways.
For the Port of London Authority, the festival reflects the Thames Vision 2050 ambition to make the river a leading destination for culture, recreation, and community life, as well as a vital working waterway. Supporting programmes like Totally Thames helps more people experience the river in new ways, building connections that enrich London’s cultural landscape and encourage sustainable use of the Thames.
Join us on Sunday 14 September, from 11am to 4pm, at Strand on the Green, Chiswick for Thames Tidefest 2025, London’s much-loved community river festival. Packed with free or low-cost family-friendly activities, the day features kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, foreshore history walks, and an angling competition. The Port of London Authority is proud to support this celebration of our river, drawing Londoners and visitors alike closer to the Thames; its heritage, its ecology, and its community.
From 15-19 September 2025, London will once again host London International Shipping Week (LISW); a premier biennial gathering that attracts thousands of maritime leaders to over 350 events across the city. The week features seminars, receptions, and high-level forums, including the Headline Conference and Gala Dinner, bringing together professionals from all corners of the shipping industry.
For the Port of London Authority, LISW underscores London’s global maritime prominence and offers an invaluable platform to advance dialogue on sustainable port operations and our net zero by 2040 ambition.
Waverley Returns to the Thames
This autumn the paddle steamer Waverley - the world’s last seagoing example of her kind - will return to the Thames. From 24 September to 12 October, the historic vessel will offer a series of cruises on the river and out into the estuary.
Built in 1946 and lovingly preserved, Waverley is an important part of the UK’s maritime story. Her annual visits are always a highlight of the cultural calendar, drawing residents and visitors alike to experience the river in a new way.
Supporting events like Waverley’s Thames season helps us deliver on Thames Vision 2050’s goal of making the river a vibrant destination for everyone.
