4th June 2019 Group Meeting Report
Resplendent in his smart uniform, Captain Jon Stafford held everyone’s attention during his lively and humorous presentation on the role of a pilot working for The Port of London Authority. We were treated to photographs, films, items of equipment and even poetry.
Many of us take the traffic on The River Thames for granted, not thinking how all the various types of river craft – which include cruise ships, tankers, Royal Navy vessels and car ferries as well as boats of various types - are able to go up, down and across in safety. The organisation that makes this possible today is the Port of London Authority and its’ pilots are the highly trained and qualified experts who board and guide marine vessels to their destinations. They work alongside harbour masters and river patrol crews with assistance from the Vessel Traffic Control centre in Gravesend as well as police and other services.
Pilots of ships and boats have been mentioned in the bible and the writings of Homer but, said Capt. Stafford, they were probably not licensed! King Henry V111 has many detractors but Capt. Stafford is an admirer because Henry was responsible for the setting up of an organisation to make travel on the Thames safer. In the sixteenth century there was only one bridge in London and travel by river was very dangerous because the watermen and lightermen, who ferried people and goods on the river, were unregulated - until Henry made it compulsory for them to take up membership of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen and undergo formal training.
Captain Stafford has worked as a Sea Pilot for the PLA for 22 years and in various different marine based roles before that and also holds Ship Master Qualifications. He explained that Sea Pilots cover the sea to Gravesend which includes Tilbury Dock. River pilots work from Gravesend to Putney. It can be dangerous work. In the film we saw how pilots have to board vessels mid channel by climbing up rope ladders as in Nelson’s day – and being crushed between two vessels in rough conditions is always hazardous.
Services covered by safety and navigation include what Capt. Stafford called ‘The Dirty Fingernail Brigade’ who are responsible for repairing buoys, beacons and bridge lights. The PLA has its own marine services team, including divers and salvage specialists who keep the channels marked and clear for ships and clearing driftwood and rubbish from the river is also the responsibility of the PLA. It also provides an underwater surveying and mapping service and looks after the marine environment. In the 1950’s there were no fish – today fish are plentiful – recent sightings include a beluga whale!
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
Resplendent in his smart uniform, Captain Jon Stafford held everyone’s attention during his lively and humorous presentation on the role of a pilot working for The Port of London Authority. We were treated to photographs, films, items of equipment and even poetry.
Many of us take the traffic on The River Thames for granted, not thinking how all the various types of river craft – which include cruise ships, tankers, Royal Navy vessels and car ferries as well as boats of various types - are able to go up, down and across in safety. The organisation that makes this possible today is the Port of London Authority and its’ pilots are the highly trained and qualified experts who board and guide marine vessels to their destinations. They work alongside harbour masters and river patrol crews with assistance from the Vessel Traffic Control centre in Gravesend as well as police and other services.
Pilots of ships and boats have been mentioned in the bible and the writings of Homer but, said Capt. Stafford, they were probably not licensed! King Henry V111 has many detractors but Capt. Stafford is an admirer because Henry was responsible for the setting up of an organisation to make travel on the Thames safer. In the sixteenth century there was only one bridge in London and travel by river was very dangerous because the watermen and lightermen, who ferried people and goods on the river, were unregulated - until Henry made it compulsory for them to take up membership of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen and undergo formal training.
Captain Stafford has worked as a Sea Pilot for the PLA for 22 years and in various different marine based roles before that and also holds Ship Master Qualifications. He explained that Sea Pilots cover the sea to Gravesend which includes Tilbury Dock. River pilots work from Gravesend to Putney. It can be dangerous work. In the film we saw how pilots have to board vessels mid channel by climbing up rope ladders as in Nelson’s day – and being crushed between two vessels in rough conditions is always hazardous.
Services covered by safety and navigation include what Capt. Stafford called ‘The Dirty Fingernail Brigade’ who are responsible for repairing buoys, beacons and bridge lights. The PLA has its own marine services team, including divers and salvage specialists who keep the channels marked and clear for ships and clearing driftwood and rubbish from the river is also the responsibility of the PLA. It also provides an underwater surveying and mapping service and looks after the marine environment. In the 1950’s there were no fish – today fish are plentiful – recent sightings include a beluga whale!
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser