PLA Galleries

Three Royal Navy warships sailed up the River Thames in May 2013 for the start of a six-day visit to London. All three vessels are in the capital to support events surrounding the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest military campaign of the Second World War.

PLA's Marine Service team has been busy getting the river ready for the University Boat Race on Sunday, 31 March 2013. They have been getting the start boats in place, helping the teams with practice starts and checking the course for driftwood.

Sunday 31 March 2013 saw two major events on the tidal Thames, with the first finishers in the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon crossing the line on the ebb tide on Sunday morning. This was the 65th Devizes to Westminster canoe race since 1948. It covers 125 miles by kayak or canoe from Devizes along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the River Thames and down to Westminster in the heart of London.

The Boat Race is the main Thames sporting event of the year. The PLA's Harbour Masters and Marine Service team has been busy supporting the event, providing, placing and manning start boats and running a rolling river closure as the event takes place. Here are some of our shots of the day.