Harbour Masters

Our navigational safety team is headed by our chief harbour master who has overall responsible for defining and enforcing the regulations needed to ensure safety of navigation on the 95 miles of the tidal River Thames.  Given the extensive length of river we cover, and the very diverse uses it is home to, day to day management of the river is by two district harbour masters who cover the river between Teddington Lock and Crossness (just down river of the Thames Barrier) and Crossness and the estuary, respectively.  To find out more about the chief harbour master’s team, click on the links below.

Chief Harbour Master - David Phillips

The PLA's Harbour Masters oversee navigational safety on the River. The Chief Harbour Master has overall responsibility for navigational safety on the tidal Thames. Working for him are a group of harbour masters and deputy harbour masters, all of whom are experienced mariners. To better handle the different activities on the River, they are divided into three teams:

Harbour Master Upper - Terry Lawrence

Terry and his team look after river safety from Crossness upstream to Teddington.

Click here for more information about work of the Harbour Master (Upper)

Harbour Master Lower - Chris McQueen

Chris and his team look after river safety from Crossness dowstream to the estuary.

Click here for more information about work of the Harbour Master (Lower)

Harbour Master (Safety Management System) - Julian Parkes

Julian and his team are responsible for the Safety Management System (SMS), Port Security, Vessel Licensing and Emergency Planning.

Click here for more information about work of the Harbour Master (SMS)