PLA Galleries

The Port of London Authority marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day. These historic photos from the PLA archive are housed the Museum of London Docklands.

The Venture Cup Powerboat Race started on the Thames at Tower Bridge on 8 June 2013. The boats, which had gathered at West India Dock over the preceding days, mustered at Greenwich Yacht Club, after locking out of West India Dock, before heading up to Tower Bridge. They were shadowed to the race start ‘proper’ off Southend Pier by PLA launch, Gunfleet.

Braemar, the second large cruise ship bound for the Royals arrived on the Thames on 13th July. Braemar is sister ship to Gemini, which arrived on 11th July 2012, but 30 metres longer. She is believed to be the largest vessel to enter the Royals in 30, some say 50, years. PLA river pilot John Reid piloted the vessel from Gravesend to the Royals; she was piloted by Bernardo Obando from the North East Spit.

Early on the morning of 24 July 2012, the cruise ship Deutschland travelled along the Thames to West India Dock lock entrance. Piloted by PLA pilots Dave Hocking and Richard Irwin, working with the team at the Canal & River Trust the vessel was slowly reversed into the lock and finally to her berth at South Quay.

Cruise ship Gemini Yesterday arrived on the Thames for the Olympics on 11th July 2012, the inward bound for the Royals.

PLA pilot, Richard Irwin, saw Royal Navy warship HMS Bulwark safely from Gravesend Reach, through the Thames Barrier to her midstream mooring off Greenwich. The ship is on a five day visit to the capital. This photo gallery follows the progress of the ship up river.

On Friday, 13 July 2012, the Royal Navy helicopter carrier, HM Ocean, navigated up the Thames to mooring midstream at Greenwich.