25.08.2009

See New PLA Boat at Thames Festival

Lambeth at Westminster (click on image to enlarge)

The Port of London Authority's new patrol boat, Lambeth, will be one of the main river attractions at this year's Thames Festival.

The catamaran - the product of considerable planning, research, design and construction - will be taking part in the PLA-sponsored annual river pageant, which showcases Thames vessels.

Lambeth is the first of four new port authority patrol boats being built as part of a £2 million PLA investment. Each will be named after London Bridges.

The river's chief harbour master, David Snelson, said: "We've been putting Lambeth through her paces in recent weeks, trialling her for harbour safety patrols and pilot duties.

"People living or working by the Thames may have glimpsed this catamaran while we've been doing this work but, for most Londoners, this will be their first opportunity to get a good look at the vessel. She is already showing considerable savings in fuel and thus carbon emissions, and produces a much lower wash than traditional launches."

The Thames Festival takes place between Westminster and Tower Bridge on September 12 and 13. Attractions include stalls, street performances, interactive activities, and rowing displays.

PLA staff will be manning a shore-based mobile unit to showcase the authority's work, which ranges from guiding ocean liners into central London, to diving and salvage operations.

Click here for more information about the Thames Festival.

Notes to editors

Launch details:

• Lambeth is currently being trialled so that any necessary improvements can be introduced into her four sister vessels, which are scheduled for service over the next three years
• Vessel type: aluminium catamaran design
• Dimensions: 13.5m long, overall and 4.7m wide
• Weight: 10 tonnes
• Patrol speed: 18 knots (20.5 mph)
• Engines: two 200 horsepower engines - installed power of 400 HP

About the PLA

• The Port of London Authority (PLA) is responsible for navigational safety and related matters on 95 miles of the tidal Thames from the sea to Teddington in west London
• The PLA provides navigational, pilotage and other services for users of the Thames
• London is the UK's second largest port, handling over 50 million tonnes of cargo each year
• London also has a busy 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 small recreational craft of many types