Following a competitive, international selection process, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has signed a contract with British family-run company, Goodchild Marine Services Ltd, to build a new pilot vessel.
With 95 miles of the tidal Thames under its jurisdiction, the PLA, the UK’s largest port, is investing significantly in its people, infrastructure and equipment to meet increasing demand for its pilotage services as its customers and terminals continue to grow.
This winning tender follows Goodchild Marine’s success during London International Shipping Week, where it was honoured twice at the 2023 National Maritime SME Awards, collecting the awards for “Best Family Business” and overall winner of the “National Maritime SME Business of the Year”.
This vessel acquisition represents a small part of the largest capital investment plan for the PLA in over 20 years. Supporting our customers’ future growth plans, this investment plan is key to delivering the PLA’s Thames Vision; to be the UK’s leading Net Zero port by 2040.
PLA’s Director of Marine Operations, Steven Clapperton, said:
“Goodchild has proven over many years that they are at the leading edge of vessel design and build. This new vessel is designed specifically for our current and future operational needs, and will incorporate the latest in technology, reducing fuel consumption, minimising environmental impacts, whilst maximising operability."
Goodchild’s General Manager, Stephen Pierce, said:
“As a family run company, it is a privilege to continue our working relationship with the Port of London Authority. This contract affords us the opportunity to continue to develop our range of pilot boats to meet the operational requirements of UK ports both small and large.”
Seven projects to boost wildlife and nature on the tidal Thames, core to our Thames Vision 2050, are to receive a total of £50,000 from the Port of London Authority. The Thames Environment Fund, in its third year of funding, has been doubled to £50,000, with each maximum grant tripled to £15,000.
Following a comprehensive review and assessment of all the applicants, the successful Thames Environmental Fund projects are:
💠Greenwich Yacht Club for the purchase, installation and testing of three electric outboard boat motors, as well as an outreach initiative to educate members and the community about the benefits of electric outboards.
💠Fulham Reach Boat Club for their plan to engage participants in regular litter-picking sessions and use weekly water quality testing to educate people on river pollution and collect a reliable dataset.
💠South Dock Marina Berth Holders Association for their project that aims to extend the flora introduction in the Greenland Dock Lock Area.
💠University College of London (UCL) for their project to research filtration techniques.
💠London Wildlife Trust for the purchase of essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), tools, equipment and materials for Isleworth Ait volunteering sessions.
💠Medway Swale Estuary Partnership for their project that aims to undertake litter clean-ups on six sites across the Thames and Medway Swale Estuaries.
💠Tidey for their project informing groups of students about pollution, promoting litter-picking, caring for wildlife, and protecting the river.
The PLA’s Director of Sustainability, Grace Rawnsley, said,
“As part of our Thames Vision 2050 strategy, we’re working towards the river between Teddington Lock and the North Sea becoming the cleanest it has been since the Industrial Revolution.
“Our Thames Environment Fund is one of the ways in which we can support different groups along the tidal Thames who share our ambitions to improve the environment and wildlife within it.”
This month, operations at DP World London Gateway have switched to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of fossil diesel.
The change is expected to cut carbon emissions on site by around 8,300 tonnes this year. That’s the equivalent of the amount generated annually by more than 4,700 family cars.
London Gateway’s £350m fourth berth, due to open this summer, will be operated by eight fully-electric straddle carriers.
Chris Livett, a seventh-generation Thames waterman and founder of Livett’s Launches, will be appearing in two episodes of Roux Down the River.
In the series, Chef Michel Roux journeys down the River Thames exploring the delicious food and fascinating people who live and work on its banks. Roux Down the River premieres Thursday 1 Feb at 9pm on the Food Network. The shows featuring Chris will air on 22 and 29 Feb.
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