Statutory Responsibilities - Other PLA responsibilities and services1. Licensing of River Works and Dredging 1 Licensing of River Works and DredgingThe PLA is responsible for licensing all river works. A “river work” is any work which includes a structure, mooring or other object placed in, under or over the river below the line of mean high water, or which involves cutting its banks. When considering an application for a river works licence the PLA will consider whether the work will have an unacceptably detrimental effect on general navigation, the regime of the river or its environment. Terms and conditions of PLA licences are designed to give effect to these statutory responsibilities. Licence applications are carefully evaluated by the PLA's Chief Harbourmaster and Civil and River Engineers. Applications are then submitted for decision to the PLA's Licensing Committee which has powers delegated to it for this purpose by the PLA Board. A decision to refuse or revoke a licence can only be taken by the Board. The PLA is also responsible for licensing all dredging on the tidal River Thames, as this can also substantially affect navigation and the river regime. Dredging of the main navigable channels is undertaken by the PLA as appropriate, depending upon conservancy and operational considerations. For more information about Licensing of River Works or Dredging click on the links. 2 Hydrographic SurveyingIn discharging its responsibility to facilitate the safety of navigation, the PLA operates a Hydrographic Service which conducts a rolling programme of surveys of the bed of the Thames and its estuary within port limits (an area of some 400 square miles) at various scales and frequencies according to known stability and sensitivity of the area in question. Surveying is undertaken by a team of chartered surveyors, using from a fleet of purpose - built vessels and a well equipped support facility at Gravesend. The results of surveys are passed without delay to the PLA Pilotage Service and the port’s regular users for use in planning safe passages. Data is made available in a variety of electronic and hard copy formats to users, which include the Port’s VTS Centres at Gravesend and Woolwich. The Tidal Monitoring Unit is an integral part of the Service. It maintains and logs data from 14 tide gauges between Walton-on-the Naze and Richmond. The PLA has an agreement with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and is sole provider of hydrographic data for the Admiralty charts of the Thames. For further information about the hydrographic service click on the link. 3 Licensing of Commercial VesselsAll barges, tugs, motor barges, workboats, motor tank barges, passenger boats (carrying up to 12 passengers) crane barges, other engineering plant and specified vessels, which operate within the Thames, must be licensed by the PLA as a prerequisite of working within the port. These vessels are inspected by the PLA to establish that they are "fit for purpose", and to ensure that adequate safety equipment is carried, prior to the appropriate licence being issued. 4 Provision of Lighthouses, Buoys and BeaconsThe PLA is responsible for the provision of navigational aids including lighthouses, buoys and beacons upstream of and including Sea Reach No 1 Buoy. The Corporation of Trinity House is responsible for navigational aids to the east of Sea Reach No 1 Buoy.
5 Raising and Removal of Obstructions and Sunken VesselsIf the Harbourmaster believes a vessel sunk, stranded or abandoned in the Thames is, or is likely to become, an obstruction, impediment or danger to the safe and convenient navigation or use of the Thames, the PLA can have the vessel raised, removed or destroyed. The PLA is empowered to recover the costs for such removal service from the owner. The PLA maintains the capacity to deal effectively with the removal of small boats and obstructions and can provide assistance with the salvage of larger craft which may be sunk or stranded. Similar powers exist for the removal of obstructions other than vessels. As in the execution of any of its statutory duties, the PLA can use agents to carry out this function. 6 Diving ServicesThe PLA provides a range of diving services including clearing of fouled propellers and bow thrusters, underwater inspection, survey and recovery of lost cargo and anchors. “Thames Oil Spill Clearance Association (TOSCA) paid for by the oil companies in the Port and managed by PLA, 7 Driftwood Collection ServiceThe presence of driftwood and rubbish in the river is a hazard to navigation, especially to small vessels. The problem has been exacerbated by the many building works on the river banks and the profusion of non-degradable plastic materials which find their way into the river. Together with the Tidy Britain Group, Environment Agency, Corporation of the City of London and Thames Water, the PLA co-operates in a programme called Thames21 with the aim of significantly reducing the amount of litter and driftwood in the River Thames. The PLA’s driftwood collection service forms part of this programme, as the PLA’s contribution to local environmental enhancement of the River Thames and its tributaries. Oil PollutionThe PLA has responsibilities for enforcing the oil pollution provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 within the Thames. This involves assistance in the inspection of landing places for the handling of oil based products in conjunction with Health and Safety Executive Inspectors, the initiation of proceedings in respect of offences against the Merchant Shipping Act and co-ordination of clearance procedures in the event of a spillage of oil into the river. In addition, the PLA operates the Thames Oil Spill Clearance Association (TOSCA), on behalf of the oil interests using the Thames. TOSCA provides the manpower and equipment that ensures a rapid response to oil spills of up to 50 tonnes. “The PLA is responsible for managing safety of navigation, licensing of structures and moorings placed in the River, 9 MooringsThe PLA provides and maintains a range of moorings throughout the river capable of accommodating a variety of vessels from small yachts to large ocean-going cargo ships. Some of these moorings are available for hire on a temporary or long term basis. 10 Maintenance of Richmond Lock and WeirThe PLA is responsible for the maintenance and operation of Richmond Lock and Weir. “There are 33 piers between the Thames Barrier and Richmond, 37 launching sites between Canvey Island
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