London

Size limits

LOA unrestricted (London Gateway Terminal), beam 73m, draught 16.1m, 300,000DWT.

Water density

1025-1020.

Tilbury: 1012.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 6.6m London Bridge. At London Bridge CD is 3.2m below Ordnance Datum, Newlyn; MHWS is 7.1m and MHWN 5.9m above CD. Trinity HW is taken as 3.47m above Ordnance Datum, Newlyn.

Tidal information is available from gauges at Walton-on-the-Naze, Margate, Shivering Sands and Southend.

Tidal heights in the outer approaches to the Thames Estuary are difficult to quantify. Master should allow a minimum UKC of 0.9m on a flood tide and 1.4m on an ebb tide to allow for these uncertainties, the possibility of negative surges and squat. Masters of vessels with a draught greater than 10.0m should allow an UKC of 1.2m on the flood and 1.5m on the ebb.

Tilbury: Current approx 3.5kts. There are no tides within the Tilbury enclosed dock. The tidal range in the River Thames is up to a maximum rise and fall of 7.1m.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The main buoyed channels in the outer estuary are the Barrow Deep, the Edinburgh Channels, the Black Deep and Knock John Channels and the Prince's Channel, which has been dredged to 8.0m to take more southern approach traffic.

The PLA issues a monthly limiting draught bulletin for vessels using the Havens (Coryton, Shellhaven, Oikos and Calor); currently determined by the depth between Sea Reach Nos 2 and 3, plus height of tide, less 0.9m UKC (for rising tide).

Prevailing depths should be obtained from current surveys.

Tilbury: The docks are entered from the Thames through a lock situated close N of Tilbury Ness.

The depth over the entrance lock sill is 7.3m, but dredging is frequent. Dredged depths in the entrance may be less than 7.3m; the latest information should be obtained from the Dockmaster.

Port limits

Seaward limit: Line joining Gunfleet Old Lighthouse to Foulness Point, then S to position 001°25.30'E and W to Warden Point.

Landward Limit: Teddington Lock.

All vessels navigating on the tidal Thames must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea as modified by the Port of London River Bylaws 1978 (as amended).

They must also comply with the General Directions for Navigation in the Port of London 1991 and the latest Notice to Mariners published by the Port of London Authority.

Traffic schemes and VTS

London VTS comprises three VTS sectors, two of which are controlled by the Port Control Centre at Gravesend and the westward section by The Thames Barrier Navigation Centre.

The VTS area for Tilbury is covered the Port Control Centre London (Tel: +44 (0) 1474 562305) based at Gravesend.

All passenger vessels and vessels over 50GT and LOA 40m are Designated Reporting Vessels. Non reporting vessels over LOA 13.7m and those certified to carry more than 12 passengers are required to maintain a continuous VHF listening watch.

Note: Vessels should report to the appropriate shore station at the required reporting points and obtain clearance for continued transit.

AIS: Vessels mandated to carry AIS are to operate it at all times when underway or alongside in the Thames. London VTS is to be informed if it is required to be switched off for safety or security reasons.

AIS: Vessels mandated to carry AIS are to operate it at all times when underway or alongside in the Thames. London VTS is to be informed if it is required to be switched off for safety or security reasons.

For further information on London VTS, see Port of London Authority website http://www.pla.co.uk.

Anchorages

Also available at Southend, Westleigh Middle, Yantlet, Gravesend, St Clements Reach, London Reach, Erith, Belvedere, Halfway Reach, Barking Reach, Gallions Reach.

Vessels should not anchor, except in an emergency or for the purpose of manoeuvring, in the navigable channels of the Thames Estuary or the River Thames.

A report should be made whenever a vessel has anchored in a designated anchorage or, in the case of an emergency, within a fairway.

Restrictions

Wind Farms: The London Array, consisting of 341 wind turbines is between Kent and Essex coast and the Thanet Wind farm, consisting of 100 wind turbines, is 11km off North Foreland. A further wind farm at Greater Gabbard has recently been completed. These wind farms will be radar visible at sufficient range to take avoiding action, however at close quarters they can cause multiple echoes.

Oil and Gas Jetty Exclusion Zones: With the exception of vessels berthing at an adjacent jetty, all vessels, including fishing and recreational boats, must keep a minimum distance of 60m away from oil and gas jetties and the vessels berthed alongside them.

Speed: Care should be taken when passing vessels at a berth closely adjacent to the navigational channel, particular where those vessels are handling dangerous goods and are displaying a red flag by day or a red light by night. VTS will warn shipping when vessels engaged in dangerous cargo operations are berthed alongside and passing vessels should reduce speed to 8.0kt or the minimum speed to maintain adequate steerage way. In Gravesend Reach, and above this area, any speed above 10kt is excessive and potentially dangerous.

Canvey Island Warning Lights: are exhibited from a structure (51°30.55'N 000°33.95'E) on the S side of the island and from the PLA radar tower at Cliffe (51°27.73'N 000°29.43'E). These powerful occasional lights operate day and night and warn shipping that vessels with hazardous cargoes are berthing or unberthing at the oil jetties. The lights are displayed from the time the vessels carrying hazardous cargo arrives off Canvey Island until it is securely berthed, and upon departure of that vessel until it is clear of the berth.

Vertical Clearance: 53m for The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (51°27.90'N 000°15.54'E). VTS should be contacted in advance so that lights marking the Tall Ships Navigation Channel under the bridge, can be switched on.

Tower Bridge: Any vessel with an air draught of more than 9.1m above the waterline wishing to pass through the Bridge, may request a lift.

Entrance to and departure from the Lock may be restricted, subject LOA and/or draught, as determined by the PLA Harbour Master.

Tugs

A variety of tug service providers operate in the Port of London Authority area under Licenses issued by the PLA. Full details can be found on the Port of London Authority website www.pla.co.uk

Mooring

As per berth operator instructions.

Tower Bridge Upper Moorings: Vessels up to LOA 158m are permitted to berth alongside "HMS Belfast" in a depth of 5.3m.

Greenwich Pier; There are mooring buoys for the use of cruise liners between 128m and 220m in length, draught up to 8.0m, located on the S side of Greenwich Reach off Deptford Creek (51°29.00'N 000°01.00'W). There is a jetty to the W of Deptford Creek on the S side of the Reach. Convoy Wharf is located approx 0.5nm NW of the entrance to the Creek.

Charts and publications

BA 1185, 1186, 2151, 3337, 8156. US Publications 192. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Owners/agents are required to provide pre-arrival and pre-departure information at least 24 hours in advance to the Gravesend Centre by telephone or telex.

Communications

VHF: Vessels of LOA 20m or more must carry a VHF radio telephone capable of communication with the Harbour Master and must maintain a continuous listening watch on the channel appropriate to the stretch of Thames in which they are navigating.

Vessels of more than LOA 40m or 50GT and tugs engaged in towing must report their arrival, passage and departure in the Port.

Health

As per port health authority regulations.

Customs and immigration

As per HM Customs and HM Immigration regulations.

Flags

House flag, British Ensign and vessel country flag.

Notices and regulations

Attention is drawn to: River Bylaws, General Directions, Dangerous Goods Bylaws, Pilotage Directions, Vessel Deficiency Notice available at www.pla.co.uk.

LNG vessels: Within Port of London limits, except in Knock John Channel, LNG vessels are to be considered as Specified Vessels as defined in Direction 3 of The General Directions for Navigation and the provisions of Direction 14 in respect of separation, passing and overtaking apply.

In Knock John Channel between Knock John Buoy (51°33.6'N 001°11.4'E) and Knock John No 5 Buoy, 2nm WSW, a one way only traffic flow will be imposed during the transit of a LNG vessel, with a separation of 1nm ahead and 0.5nm astern of other vessels. Opposing and overtaking traffic will only be permitted if the other vessel remains outside the buoy line and has received the prior agreement of the LNG vessel and the approval of London VTS.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.

Repairs

Port of London area: Vessels are advised to contact their Agent.

Tilbury: Repairs afloat of all types can be carried out.

Bunkers, water and stores

Port of London area:

Fresh water: Contact agent.

Bunkering: Contact agent.

Tilbury: Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Fuel and diesel oil bunkers can be delivered by bunker barge, arranged through ship's agent. Permission must be obtained beforehand from the Duty Harbour Master (Port of Tilbury).

Stores: Available.

Medical

Medical facilities available at most terminals. Several major hospitals in the Port of London area.

Tilbury: Medical Centre in the port, staffed by an Occupational Health nurse. In emergency, Port of Tilbury Police should be contacted along with the Ambulance Service, if required.

Transport

Nearest airport: The port area extends 195km. Several International Airports are located in the area, including:

London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Southend, Biggin Hill and, for helicopter flights, London Westland Heliport.

Nearest railway: Rail facilities available at some maritime terminals.

Working hours

Port of London area, other than Tilbury, Contact agent.

Tilbury: Forest Products Terminals and General Cargo Berths: Mon-Fri 0600-2200hrs.

Grain Terminal: Mon-Fri 0700-2100hrs.

Overtime available in accordance with customer's requirements.

Container Terminal: Ship working throughout 24 hours, no Christmas Day work. Landside working 1700hrs Sunday to 1400hrs Saturday.

Where it is

London is the capital and principal port of the United Kingdom, on the River Thames, situated in SE England.

The port

London is the UK’s busiest inland waterway, stretching approximately 150km from the North Sea up to Teddington Lock, in a combination of wet docks and riverside terminals. Cargo includes break bulk, liquid and dry bulks, containers, refrigerated cargo and new vehicles (Ro-Ro). The area also caters for project and heavy lift cargoes (used for the many property development sites in the City of London and along the banks of the river).

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is a self-funding public Trust which governs the Port of London area and is based at Denton Wharf, Gravesend.

There are 11 Dock Basins in the Port of London area. Throughout the 20th century the PLA owned and operated the majority of these docks and wharfs but they have now mostly been either closed or privatised. Today the PLA acts mainly as a managing authority for the tidal stretch of the River Thames, ensuring safe navigation, and the well-being of the port and its activities.

Riverside berths can be found at Barking, Battersea, Canning Town, Canvey Island, Charlton, Cliffe, Coryton, Dagenham, Dartford, Erith, Fulham, Gravesend, Grays, Greenhithe, Greenwich, Northfleet, Purfleet, Silvertown, Stanford-le-Hope, Thurrock, Tilbury and Wandsworth.

Major facilities are also located at the Port of Tilbury, operated by Forth Ports with the PLA managing the tidal waters on the N bank of the Thames, approx. 40km E of London Bridge. Tilbury has 56 operational berths, 31 independent operating terminals and a total of 10.2km of quayside including deepwater berths outside its locks.

London Gateway, at Stanford-le-Hope, is a major container facility, also on the N bank of River Thames approx. 7.5nm NE of the Tilbury and operated by DP World, again with the PLA managing the tidal waters. Following expansion, the Terminal will shortly have six operational berths. Nov 2024, DP World launched the world's first all-electric berth at London Gateway. The fourth berth of the expansion project is able to service vessels with an all-electric fleet, setting a global standard in low-carbon shipping infrastructure. As of 2024, two further berths (No 5 & 6) are still under construction and once operational will be able to advance DP World's goal to be net-zero by 2050.

Traffic

Approx 56,000,000t of cargo, 2,000,000TEUs, 6,000 vessels and 4,500,000 passengers are handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at London?

The London Pilotage District comprises River Pilot Station at Gravesend (the Port Control Centre) with three other Pilot Stations at NE Spit (Ramsgate), Warp (Sheerness) and Sunk which handle pilotage for the Thames Estuary and approaches.

What time zone is London in?

Local time at London is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at London?

The deepest berth listed is at London Gateway Container Terminal (Stanford-Le-Hope): 16.10 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at London?

1025-1020.

Which load line zone is London in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at London?

Port State Control at London: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of London?

The UN/LOCODE of London is GBLON.

What crews who called at London say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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