The Port of London is situated at the heart of one of Europe's key population centres and most prosperous markets.
With over 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities along the Thames, the Port provides a strong combination of location, transport connections, facilities, and services. 50 million tonnes of cargo is handled each year – with riverside terminals handling a wide range of cargoes. The Port of London is a key part of the regional economy and of the transport and logistics sectors.
London also has a busy and growing passenger boat trade for tourists and commuters and is a popular destination for international passenger cruise ships. The tidal Thames is also used widely by those with recreational craft of many types.
Overseeing this busy and diverse River – with both commercial vessels and leisure traffic - is the Port of London Authority. The PLA is a self-funding public trust and is responsible for navigational safety and related matters on 150km (95 miles) of the tidal Thames from Teddington in west London, through central London, and all the way out to the sea. The PLA provides navigational, pilotage and other services for river and port users.
