Caption: (L-R) PLA Chief Executive Robin Mortimer, MP for Gravesham Dr Lauren Sullivan, PLA Chair Jonson Cox CBE, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Keir Mather
Commander and Leader are named at PLA blessing ceremony
The PLA welcomed Maritime Minister Keir Mather to its Headquarters in Gravesend (4 November) as it formally unveiled its two newest service boats as part of its ongoing investment to support growing trade through the UK’s biggest port.
The state-of-the-art boats – named Commander and Leader – are pilot cutters, used to ensure river and sea pilots can quickly and safely meet vessels within the Port.
The boats went through the tradition of being formally named at ceremony where they were blessed, given a Godmother, and christened with a bottle of champagne.
Gravesham MP, Dr Lauren Sullivan, was invited to become Godmother of Leader and a long-serving member of the PLA team, Marine Office Manager, Barbara Jewiss, was recognised for her two-decades of tireless support to the PLA operation, as she became Godmother of the Commander.
Dr Lauren Sullivan MP said:
"I am incredibly proud to have the Port of London Authority headquartered in my constituency of Gravesham, and it was a privilege and honour to be asked to be the Godmother to the vessel Leader at the naming and launch ceremony."
Keir Mather, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, oversaw the ceremony before taking a short trip on Commander and then touring our operational facilities. He said:
“The UK’s maritime sector powers over £100bn in trade, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and drives growth nationwide.
“It was great to join the Port of London Authority who are investing in places like Gravesend to drive growth and real change. We're backing British maritime including with £448m in green investment - boosting jobs and innovation to deliver our Plan for Change.”
Hear Mark Beck, Principal Superintendent of the lock and naval architect, talk about why the annual draw-off process is so important and what it involves.
Annual PLA draw-off at Richmond Lock and Weir begins
On Monday 27 October, the PLA begun the annual draw-off process at Richmond Lock and Weir. This year, the draw off will be extended to last 8 weeks whilst essential maintenance work is completed on the Grade II listed building which was built in 1894.
As Richmond Lock’s Manager, Jim Deeney, explained:
“We’ve extended this year’s closure to fit a specially made part into one of the gates; it’s been crafted by a British supplier. This is all part of our continued investment in looking after Richmond Lock and Weir, which is a treasured Grade II* listed site.”
From now until Friday 19 December 2025, the weirs at Richmond Lock will be held open across low tide, meaning the river between Richmond and Teddington Locks will not be kept at its usual level of 1.72m above Ordnance Datum. The riverbed will be exposed at low water.
Vessel and structure owners in this stretch should make arrangements in good time to move to suitable moorings or ensure their craft can safely take the ground. Anyone navigating near the lock should proceed with great care. Certain weir arches may be temporarily closed for works and will be clearly marked.
(For foreshore activities, a PLA river works licence is required.)
Fully-electric light freight vessel trial on the tidal Thames
From mid-November until the New Year, pending formal planning approval from London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the PLA has authorised the use of its permitted development powers for a “battery barge” to be moored on the inside of Tower Bridge Quay.
This will enable – for a trialling and testing phase, prior to future entry into commercial service - an innovative approach to charging the first fully electric light freight vessel on the Thames. This Thames Clippers project is partially funded by the Department for Transport and their Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure “Zevi” initiative.
Designed to support the transition to net zero logistics and in line with the PLA and partners’ Net Zero River Plan, this electric light freight vessel can replace up to 20 light goods vehicles (LGVs) per journey, reducing CO₂ emissions by around 964 tonnes per year.
Credit: RMS
Historic Royal Primrose Wharf brought back to life
After many years of disuse, one of East London’s historic wharves is being reactivated.
Following a major investment by RMS, supported by the Port of London Authority, Royal Primrose Wharf in Silvertown will soon operate as a vital transport hub for bulk materials, including recycled aggregates, concrete, and other essential construction products.
“This project isn’t just about reactivating a wharf,” said an RMS spokesperson. “It’s about investing in the future of sustainable logistics. By shifting more of our material movement from road to water, we can reduce congestion, cut emissions, and strengthen the resilience of local supply chains.”
The reactivation is part of a broader commitment by RMS to building a circular economy, where materials are recovered, reused, and transported responsibly. The site’s transformation includes reinforced quay structures, new loading and unloading facilities, a state-of-the-art concrete batching plant, and upgraded environmental safeguards designed to protect the River Thames and surrounding ecosystems.
By reintroducing water-based transport to the RMS network, the new wharf will enable RMS to move large volumes of aggregates/construction materials, as well as various cargo loads, more efficiently. This will reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles on local roads, ease congestion, and lower carbon output across the region.
Major refurbishment begins on the London Eye ahead of its 25th anniversary
Work is now underway to restore all 32 capsules of the iconic London Eye as part of a major refurbishment project marking its 25th anniversary.
Over the next few years, each 10-tonne capsule will undergo extensive testing and restoration to assess which components need replacing. The upgrades will introduce the latest safety features, new technology, and ensure the attraction is future-proofed for years to come.
The first capsule has already been transported by barge down the River Thames to a specialist workshop for refurbishment.
The London Eye will remain open to visitors throughout the renovation period, with all works expected to be completed by early 2029.
Credit: DP World
London Gateway’s new ‘superstack’ technology
DP World is investing £170 million in cutting-edge container handling technology for installation at London Gateway’s new all-electric Berth 4.
This investment marks a major step forward in the digitalisation and automation of their port operations.
Developed by BOXBAY, the technology, which uses fully electric stacker cranes, will also support improvements to safety, operational efficiency and environmental performance.
On 21 October 2025, Net Zero Marine unveiled a 0.55MW shore power system at Denton Wharf, cutting CO₂ emissions by over 280,000kg a year - the equivalent of saving 4,000 litres of diesel each week.
A milestone for NZM and Svitzer, this is the largest shore power facility on the Thames and one of the UK’s biggest non-subsidised installations, proving that clean energy investment delivers.
Stakeholders from the Port of London Authority, Svitzer, and industry partners gathered to celebrate this leap toward a zero-carbon Thames.
Caption: Thames Lens 2025 ‘River People’ Winner: The Boy and the River by Lichena Bertinato - ‘River People’ winner
Thames Lens 2026: New category for video!
In collaboration with the Illuminated River Foundation, Thames Festival Trust has announced a brand-new category for its annual Thames Lens photography competition.
With the competition now in its 20th year, for the first time, participants will be able to submit videos as Thames Lens entries.
In addition to the new video category, the competition has five categories for photographers to respond to: ‘River City’, ‘River of Life’, ‘River People’, ‘Working River’ and Photojournalism.
