• Navigational Safety
  
• Marine Safety
• Navigational Safety Management System
• PMSC Healthcheck Report - July 2007
• Public consultations
• Feedback from Public Consultations
• Safety Management System Manual
• Safety Management System Information Notes
• Navigational Risk Assessment
• Rowing Risk Assessment
• River Users Incident Report Form
• Berth Deficiency Report Form
• Guidance on Mooring Maintenance
• River User Consultative Forums
• PLA Harbourmaster's Recreational Navigational Group
• Harbourmaster Navigational Incident Investigation

You are here >> Navigational Safety >> Marine Safety >> Navigational Risk Assessment >> Navigational Risk Assessments Introductory Note

Print this page

Navigational Risk Assessments Introductory Note

Back to Main Document

Introductory Note

In meeting its responsibilities under the Port Marine Safety Code, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has identified, through formal risk assessment, hazards to navigation relevant to the current trade and working environment of the port.

These hazards to navigation – grounding, collision, contact, near miss etc are mitigated to acceptable levels by identified risk control measures, e.g. compulsory pilotage for certain vessels, the promulgation of navigational information, charts, tidal data and other advice, and the provision of a vessel traffic service. The PLA maintains a navigational safety management system (SMS) to ensure such hazards to navigation are managed effectively in order to facilitate safe navigation in the port.

On occasions, new vessels or services may wish to trade to or within the port, which by their nature introduce new hazards to navigation not yet identified in the port’s SMS. In such cases, the relevant Harbour Master will require an appropriate risk assessment to be undertaken by the vessel owner/operator.

The advice contained in this section is intended to provide vessel owners, operators and masters with an overview of the risk assessment process and examples of how such risk assessments can be undertaken.

In addition the PLA, through the District Harbour Master or the Harbour Master (SMS), is able to provide guidance and advice in respect of the risk assessment process.

Contact Details:

District Harbour Master Lower - 01474 562212
District Harbour Master Upper – 020 7743 7917
Harbour Master (SMS) - 01474 562269
Email: sms@pla.co.uk