The Impact and Responsibility area deals with Royal Docks Waterways approach to balancing commercial activity, public use, and environmental stewardship.
At the centre of this is Royal Docks Waterways as the designated statutory harbour authority for the docks. Its responsibilities include overseeing vessel movements, maintaining safe navigation, regulation and ensuring that all marine activities are conducted in a controlled and compliant manner.
A key framework guiding these responsibilities is the Port Marine Safety Code, which sets the national standard for safe port and harbour operations across the UK. Adherence to this code ensures that risks are properly assessed, safety management systems are robust, and accountability is clearly defined at all operational levels. Compliance is set out on our Health & Safety Management Plan
Health & Safety
Health and safety is fundamental to dock operations, encompassing the protection of employees, contractors, stakeholders, and the public. This includes managing operational hazards, maintaining safe infrastructure, and embedding a proactive safety culture.
Water safety is equally critical within the Royal Docks environment, where a diverse mix of commercial, recreational, and event-based activities take place. Effective controls, education, and emergency preparedness are essential to minimise risks such as collisions, capsizing, or persons entering the water.
Operating the docks safely is not just a legal obligation. It is the foundation of everything else we do here.
Water Safety
The Royal Docks are a working waterway, and water safety is something we take seriously every single day. We manage a complex mix of commercial vessels, recreational craft, event traffic and public access across the docks, and our responsibility is to ensure that everyone on or near the water understands the risks and stays safe. From clear signage and access controls to emergency response planning and public awareness, water safety runs through everything we do.
We manage one of London’s most significant stretches of urban open water, and our responsibility to the natural environment shapes how we operate at every level. From water quality and wildlife habitats to energy use and waste reduction, we are committed to protecting and improving the ecological value of the docks.
Community
As a developer on the water, we take our role in the Royal Docks seriously. We engage directly with the local community to get our projects right, making sure people are seen and heard throughout the development process. From early conversations to ongoing dialogue, community engagement runs through everything we do, helping us deliver the best possible impact for the local area.
Environmental safety and management form another core pillar of responsibility. Operators must ensure that activities within the docks do not adversely impact water quality, wildlife, or the surrounding urban environment. This involves pollution prevention, sustainable resource management, and compliance with environmental regulations, supporting the long-term resilience and ecological health of the Royal Docks.
Key Figures
Popular Documents
Key policies, procedures and operational documents are available to download below. For the full document library, visit our Documents page.
FAQs
Have a question about our health and safety approach, water safety, or environmental responsibilities? We have answered some of the most common questions below.
Royal Docks Waterways, as the statutory harbour authority, is responsible for health and safety across the docks. This covers our own staff and contractors, as well as the safety of everyone who uses the water and the surrounding infrastructure.
All events on or near the water require prior approval from our operations team. We work with event organisers to assess risks, establish safe access arrangements and ensure appropriate emergency procedures are in place before any activity can go ahead.
Any safety incident should be reported to us immediately. You can use our Report an Incident form, or contact our operations team directly by phone. In an emergency, always call 999 first.
Open water swimming takes place at designated locations within the docks under managed conditions. Swimming outside of these designated areas and organised sessions is not permitted, as the docks contain active vessel traffic and other hazards.
The primary risks include cold water shock, strong underwater currents from vessel movements, limited visibility beneath the surface, and the presence of commercial and recreational craft. We ask everyone near the water to stay behind safety barriers and follow all posted signage.
Do not enter the water yourself. Call 999 immediately, alert any nearby dockside staff, and use any throwable rescue equipment that is available at rescue points along the dock edge.
We carry out regular water quality monitoring across the docks as part of our environmental management responsibilities. Results inform our operational decisions and are used to protect both the ecological health of the water and the safety of those using it.
The Royal Docks support a range of urban wildlife including fish species, waterfowl, and various invertebrates. We work to protect and enhance these habitats as part of our broader environmental commitments.
We set operational requirements for vessels using the docks that cover emissions, waste management and fuel handling. Our team monitors compliance and works with vessel operators to minimise their environmental footprint.
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