In partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich, we have launched an exciting new competition inviting young people aged 11 to 18 to design a “Vessel of the Future.”
Calling all young creatives: design a ‘Vessel of the Future’!
In partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich, we have launched an exciting new competition inviting young people aged 11 to 18 to design a “Vessel of the Future”.
Part of the PLA’s support for the Youth Programme at Royal Museums Greenwich, this competition encourages young minds to imagine what kind of vessel could travel along the Thames in years to come. Whether it’s a river-cleaning robot, a floating classroom, or a wildlife explorer ship, the sky’s the limit; so long as it floats!
The Thames is the UK’s busiest inland waterway, home to everything from cargo ships and electric survey boats to sports craft and passenger ferries. With such variety, there's no better place to imagine what’s next.
Siân Foster, the PLA’s Director of Corporate Affairs, explains,
“The River Thames has always been an inspiration for creativity and a home for innovation. At the PLA, our mission is to pass on this thriving port and iconic waterway to future generations in a better condition than we find it.
“We have a long-term Thames Vision that’s focused on being the UK’s leading Net Zero port. That has a 25 year horizon, so it makes sense for us to ask the brilliant young people who live alongside the tidal Thames to help us understand how the river could be used in 2050. I can’t wait to see the results of the students’ imagination and creativity in designing a vessel fit for the future!”
Royal Museums Greenwich’s Director, Paddy Rogers, added: “The past always informs the future. We’re thrilled to see young people engage creatively with the river’s ongoing story.”
The competition features two age categories (11-14 and 15-18) and welcomes entries in the form of drawings, digital artwork or models. A launch workshop was held at the National Maritime Museum on 31 May, where PLA’s Head of Sustainability inspired teens to think about climate change, clean energy and innovation.
Free family workshops for under-13s will run on Sunday 13 July, from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.
Entries close on 31 July 2025. Winning designs will be showcased at London International Shipping Week and turned into models!
Let’s shape the river’s future - one vessel at a time.
On Thursday 29 May, the QVSR Seafarers Centre in Tilbury played host to a lively day of sport, as teams from the PLA, QVSR, Port of Tilbury, DP World, and DKT Shipping came together in friendly competition.
Football, basketball, table tennis, table football, pool, and a golf-putting challenge brought energy and camaraderie to the event, which was all in support of the Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest (QVSR), a longstanding charity dedicated to the welfare of seafarers and the Thames community.
The day offered a welcome opportunity to shine a light on QVSR’s vital work, which continues to provide essential services and support for those working on and around the river.
Thank you to all who took part, raised awareness, and contributed to a successful celebration of sport and service on the Thames.
Caption: PLA colleagues at the Pride in London parade 2024
Pride in London
June marks Pride Month - a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, reflect on progress, and continue advocating for equality, diversity and inclusion. With just one month to go until the vibrant return of the Pride in London parade, the PLA is proud to show its support once again.
This year, PLA colleagues will be joining thousands of others in the parade through central London, proudly representing the organisation’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. The PLA’s participation is part of a wider internal programme that celebrates difference and champions belonging across our workforce and the river community.
Whether on land or on water, visibility matters. The PLA is proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community - this month and every month. We look forward to joining the celebrations on 5 July 2025, flying the flag for equality and inclusion on behalf of the tidal Thames.
Caption: 'Silt' by the Arbonauts commissioned for Estuary 2021 by Metal Southend.
Credit: Nina Photography
Estuary Festival secures £258,500 from Arts Council England
Estuary Festival has received £258,500 from Arts Council England’s Place Partnership programme to support the third edition of its contemporary arts festival, Estuary 2025. Taking place from 21-29 June 2025, the festival will span six locations across the Thames Estuary and focus on the theme of ‘Vessels’.
Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “We are thrilled to support Estuary 2025. The festival showcases the power of collaboration between communities and cultural organisations, creating rich creative opportunities for people at every stage of life.”
Estuary 2025 will deliver an ambitious programme of participatory contemporary arts, involving 54 partners including schools, youth clubs, artists, and agencies. The Lower Thames Crossing has also contributed funding. Shaun Pidcock, Programme Director, said: “We are pleased to support this bold cultural investment. It will create lasting community impact and celebrate the rich heritage of the region.”
From boats and barges to people and ideas, Estuary 2025 will explore all perspectives of being a vessel, of stories, memories, and change. Large-scale projects will take place across Castle Point, Basildon, Thurrock, Gravesham, Medway and Swale. Highlights include site-specific performances aboard historic vessels, digital sound installations, and interactive storytelling projects.
Featured artists include Damilola Odusote, whose new commission will involve young people in telling local stories, and Breakwater, presenting a climate-focused project rooted in migrant experiences. Other standout commissions include a performance in a tidal pool by Arbonauts, and Sleeping with the Dead by YoHa, inviting participants to reflect on hidden histories.
Estuary 2025 will also feature an open call for independent creatives via the Estuary Anthology project. The full programme will be unveiled in early 2025.
Through its Defra-funded Smarter Greener Logistics Programme, Cross River Partnership (CRP) has been working closely with us to champion the use of the tidal Thames for freight transport.
The Thames offers a fast, traffic-free route into the heart of London and presents a significantly lower-emission alternative to road-based deliveries. Yet, a common barrier to uptake is a lack of understanding about how river freight works in practice.
To help address this, CRP is launching a new series of Pier Information Sheets. Focusing on five key central London piers, these easy-to-use guides will support logistics operators and businesses in exploring the river as a viable freight option.
Each sheet includes practical information on:
Landside access and vessel considerations
Opportunities for consolidation and last-mile deliveries
Local low-emission couriers and logistics hubs
Key stakeholders and suggested next steps
Fiona Coull, CRP Senior Programme Manager said,
“Cross River Partnership’s Pier Information Sheets are a practical tool to support logistics operators to explore river freight as a viable, low-emission alternative. By demystifying operational requirements and highlighting last-mile opportunities, these resources help to reduce barriers and raise awareness of the River Thames’ potential as a sustainable freight corridor”.
The first of the five sheets has been published, and you can download it via the link below. The following four Pier Information Sheets will be published over the next few weeks.
Sail into summer: weekly river trips from Gravesend & Tilbury
This summer, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is making it even easier to explore the Thames by offering special weekly sailings from Gravesend and Tilbury straight into the heart of London.
Departing from Tilbury, the journey to Greenwich Peninsula (North Greenwich Pier) takes only an hour. From there, you can continue upriver and hop off at any pier along the route as far as London Eye (Waterloo) Pier.
Reflecting on the recent tragic incident in the Thames
We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the young girl who died in the Thames last Friday. Our heartfelt sympathies are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We are grateful to PLA staff - afloat and ashore - and the emergency services for their swift and professional response, and their rescue of a second child. This is a heartbreaking reminder of the river’s danger, and the Port of London community holds all those affected in our thoughts.
