12 facts about the tidal Thames

95 miles of river and estuary, from Teddington to the North Sea

The UK's second biggest port, handling some 50 million tonnes of cargo each year, employing more than 40,000 people and contributing over £3 billion to the economy annually

Britain's busiest inland waterway, handling over 2 million tonnes of goods and materials

A growing commuter and tourist route used by over 6 million people a year

The crucible of British rowing talent and host of the annual University Boat Race

The PLA runs Britain's biggest, most modern Port Control Service which oversees the safe movement of 230,000 commercial and leisure vessels within the Port of London each year

The PLA runs the 90 Thames pilots who board and guide more than 10,000 ships through the port annually

The PLA operates river patrols between Southend and Teddington, keeping people safe 365 days a year

The PLA has the most sophisticated in-house underwater survey capability of any port; mapping the depths of 400 square miles of shifting, changing riverbed

The PLA has its own team of divers and salvage specialists whose expertise is regularly used by other ports and shipping companies

The PLA clears more than 400 tonnes of driftwood and rubbish from the river in central London each year

The PLA recreates more than 1,000 ship journeys on its bridge simulator to train pilots to handle more than 70 different types of vessel. The facility is so realistic it's also used by the Royal Navy