A drive to maintain tidal River Thames workers’ skills throughout their careers has been hailed by the UK maritime minister as a model for the rest of the country to follow.

Meeting river workers on the Thames in central London (25 January), Robert Courts MP described the Thames CPD (Continuous Professional Development) programme, led by the Thames Skills Academy (TSA), Port of London Authority (PLA), and Company of Watermen & Lightermen as “an exemplar for ensuring that safety is at the heart of greater use of the nation’s inland waterways.”

Boat operations on the tidal Thames, the UK’s busiest inland waterway, are set to accelerate rapidly over the next decade. The boom in online shopping, linked to the pandemic, has generated unprecedented interest in using the river for the transportation of light freight and parcels. The river’s network of passenger piers is also expanding eastwards.

From early 2024, Thames CPD will be mandated by the PLA for all tidal Thames boat masters, from Teddington to the North Sea.

To encourage early-sign up to Thames CPD, by lowering costs, the PLA has launched a five-year investment programme of over £150,000 to roll out a two-day course at HR Wallingford in Oxfordshire, developed by the TSA with employers, to ensure boat masters can contend with a variety of scenarios, at the helm of a virtual vessel.

It mirrors long-established training in the aviation industry and other sectors, putting workers through their paces in a safe setting. The programme was established by Tideway, the company managing the construction of London’s “super sewer”, due for completion in 2025.

Robert Courts said: “I salute all the partners involved in the Thames CPD programme for their drive and determination to make it a reality.

“It is a really significant step forward in ensuring that the nation’s premier waterway is a global beacon of best practice.”

Christopher Rodrigues CBE, whose six-year term as PLA chairman ends this spring, explained:

“I am proud to conclude my time at the PLA with this Thames CPD programme in place. It will help underpin safety on an increasingly busy river and sustain the skills of the Thames’ workforce for years to come.

“Though the river may sometimes appear slow-paced and traditional, the reality is starkly different. Technology, Net Zero and increased opportunities for commercial and leisure use all mean the river is changing faster than ever before, making a robust, long-term approach to CPD absolutely imperative.”

Katherine Riggs, chief executive of the TSA, said: “The pace of change on the river is getting faster all the time, making it essential for mariners to keep skills up to date with all the latest developments through CPD, to help keep the river safe and prosperous.

“The new Thames CPD programme will help workers at the helm of boats to access training on all aspects of river operations and ensure their skills remain relevant, meeting employers’ needs.”

Derek Mann, master of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen, commented: “Thames CPD provides a structure for the training of the Thames’ workforce, enhancing the high standards already in place and firmly underlining the value of the river as a place of work, for current and future generations.“

Employers supporting the programme include City Cruises, Cory, GPS Marine, Walsh, Livett’s Group, Tideway, Transport for London/Woolwich Ferries, and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.