The Royal Docks

The Royal Docks Management Authority Limited holds a 225 year lease of the entire water areas of the Royal Docks, including locks, bridges, impounding equipment and some limited land areas. Owned and funded by the owners of the land surrounding the water, the Authority provides the certainty of sound long term water management, combining the interests of adjacent landowners, applying the responsibilities and resources for effective management, and protecting permanent public access to quaysides and water areas.

The 250 acres of the Royal Docks are unique in their scale and location. Reputed to be the largest area of impounded water in the World, they comprise the main Royal Victoria, Royal Albert and King George V docks, the smaller Pontoon Dock and Albert Basin, and King George V and Gallions locks, these giving direct access to the River Thames.

RoDMA's core responsibility is to maintain the dock water areas, to impound and maintain water quality, dredge, maintain the marine infrastructure, including the two locks and gates, a large pumping station, the Bascule Bridge on the Woolwich Manor Way, the Connaught road and footbridges and plaza area, the Royal Victoria Dock footbridge, the Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge, to maintain necessary security, emergency and safety systems, enforce harbour regulations, and operate all equipment.

The Authority encourages the use of the water areas for leisure and events, issues licences for short and long term authorised use of the water, is responsible for making and upholding Byelaws, prohibiting unauthorised swimming and fishing, determining levels of behaviour around the docks, and providing regulations for the movement of vessels.

The water areas are used principally for recreational activities, including sailing, canoeing, rowing, dragon boating and jet-skiing. Water based events have included the London Triathlon swim section and the Great London Swim, and visiting vessels regularly attend various shows at the adjacent ExCeL London Exhibition Centre, including the London International Boat Show and the World Travel Market.

A marina operates in the Albert Basin and increasing use is being made of the Royal Docks as a location for television and wide screen films.