Believed to be the first for a UK port, the draft Air Quality Strategy covers the tidal Thames from Teddington Lock to Southend and aims to reduce emissions from vessels and other marine sources.
Proposals include trialling new emissions reducing technology with MBNA Thames Clippers, sharing best practice between Thames operators and exploring the use of shore-side power for vessels.
Robin Mortimer, the PLA’s chief executive, said: “The aim with this strategy is clear: we want to reduce emissions to air from marine sources on the Thames.
“By achieving this we will also be able to meet the growing demand to use the river as an essential part of our transport network, whether it be passenger travel or moving freight.
“The Thames Vision sets out how use of the river will grow over the next 20 years. Our commitment in the Vision is that this growth will happen in tandem with an improving environment.
“We took an important first step towards this with the ‘green ships’ discount. The Air Quality Strategy is another important part of delivering on that commitment – cementing the river’s place as part of the low emission city of the future.”
The draft strategy is available for consultation until 23 January 2018.
