River freight trial offers Central London roads alternative

Cross River Partnership (CRP) has launched a river freight pilot along the River Thames as part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Villages 4 project. The non-profit claims that transporting goods via the river into central London emits less than half of the carbon of road transport, reducing the impact on local air quality.

CRP will be collaborating with the Port of London Authority, The Northbank BID, GPS Marine, Complete, iRecycle, Mayflower, Antalis and London’s pier owners..

With deliveries into the capital set to hit one billion per year by 2030, river freight offers a more sustainable alternative, says CRP.

Through the pilot it will analyse how goods delivered by river to Woods Quay, which is located on the north bank near Waterloo Bridge, can be implemented into the capital’s delivery logistics. Businesses from the surrounding area have been asked to order supplies via river freight as part of the six-week trial.

Kate Fenton, project manager at CRP, said, “The Thames provides a direct route into London and therefore an alternative to using our congested and polluted roads. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Air Quality Grant has enabled this exciting collaboration and the opportunity to showcase river freight to businesses.

“Understanding and sharing how to setup such operations will help other businesses navigate river freight more easily. An increase in use of the river for freight will improve local air quality in London.”

The pilot is intended to consolidate deliveries through collaboration, support London’s economy and freight industry and collect waste. The intention is the last-mile deliveries from Wood Quay will be completed using zero-emission transport.