In meeting its responsibilities under the Port Marine Safety Code, the Port of London Authority (PLA) maintains a navigational safety management system (SMS) to ensure 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 PLA has now published advice and information for owners and operators on the risk assessment process. This can be found on the PLA website:
portoflondon.co.uk/Navigational Ssafety/Marine Safety/Navigational Risk Assessment Guidance
Alternatively hard copy versions of this guidance can be obtained from Mrs Andrea Chell at the address below.
In addition, the PLA, through the Harbour Master, or the SMS Administrator (the Marine Administrative Support Department) are always available to provide assistance and/or advice in respect of the risk assessment process.
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 risk assessments can be undertaken.
