Professionals from across the River Thames community gathered at RNLI Tower Pier on Tuesday 20 October 2026 for the latest Thames CPD (Continuing Professional Development) event, hosted by the Thames Skills Academy. The session offered valuable and highly relevant insights from organisations at the forefront of safety, security and operations on the River Thames about their roles and their expectations of river professionals on the Thames.
The session brought together 30 river professionals, including Masters, crew and other river users, for a morning of valuable insights from organisations working to keep the Thames safe, secure and operational.
The TSA’s event, hosted once again at the RNLI’s impressive Tower Pier facility, highlighted the continued importance of collaboration and information-sharing between emergency services and those working on the river every day.
Attendees benefited from a series of engaging presentations from representatives of the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit, RNLI, and the Port of London Authority (PLA). Unfortunately, the London Fire Brigade was unable to attend due to unforeseen operational commitments.
Nicky Prince, Police Constable from the Marine Policing Unit, provided attendees with an update on policing activity and safety priorities on the river, while Billy Sergeant, Wapping Police Pier & Engagement Manager, shared the latest guidance on security and preparedness, including developments relating to counter-terrorism measures and industry responsibilities.
Attendees also heard from Kevin Maynard, RNLI Tower Pier Station Manager, about the RNLI’s lifesaving work. They also heard from Gareth Humphreys, Emergency Planning Officer at the Port of London Authority, whose presentation explored current priorities, challenges and developments on the tidal Thames. His insights into the safe management of one of the UK’s busiest waterways resonated strongly with those working on the river and prompted lively discussion among attendees.
Beyond the presentations themselves, the event provided an opportunity for networking and knowledge-sharing between river users and the organisations that provide emergency support on the Thames.
Dr Katherine Riggs, CEO of Thames Skills Academy, said:
“We created this event as part of the Thames CPD Programme because there simply wasn’t a place where emergency services and the wider river community could come together to share information and have meaningful conversations about safety.
“River users told us they wanted a better understanding of how the emergency services operate on the Thames, while the emergency services themselves were keen to reach the people who don’t always have access to these kinds of discussions, particularly those working in smaller businesses.
“That’s what makes this event so valuable. Not only do attendees gain Thames CPD points and hear directly from the organisations helping to keep the river safe, but they also have the opportunity to build relationships, share experiences and strengthen the connections that make the Thames such a unique and collaborative community.”
As the river continues to evolve, events such as these play an important role in ensuring those who work on, by and alongside the Thames remain informed, connected and up to date with the latest operational, safety and security developments.
Useful links shared at the event: