Clean Air Thames was a three-year project funded by the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund (Round 3). The £500,000 project aimed to demonstrate air quality improvements along the Tidal Thames by retrofitting inland commercial vessels with a post-exhaust treatment using selective catalytic reduction to reduce levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other dangerous air pollutants.  

The Tidal Thames carries more passengers and freight than any other inland UK waterway. Vessels using the river currently account for approximately one per cent of emissions across the Capital. However, this figure is projected to increase as road vehicle standards become stricter and river use expands. River operators must reduce emissions to keep the Thames a healthy and pleasant space for river workers, passengers, and visitors alike.  

CRP partnered with the Greater London Authority, the Port of London Authority (PLA), and the City of London Corporation to support operators in making their vessels cleaner. The project, which ran from July 2019 to March 2022, provided match funding to commercial freight and passenger boats to install Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCRs) on their vessels and reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx) by up to 90 percent. It also shared lessons and best practices over the project’s lifetime.

Operators benefitted from the programme by:  

• Saving up to 50% on the cost of the retrofit  

• Preparing for future policy restrictions on emissions  

• Boosting their environmental commitments and targets   

• Supporting requirements for the Thames Green Scheme  

• Contributing to the aims of the PLA Air Quality Strategy 

• Enhancing their public image  

• Joining an international community of operators tackling poor air quality  

Clean Air Thames vessels successfully demonstrated significant air quality improvements following their retrofit. The collaboration among various stakeholders enhanced the environmental commitments of river operators. It also helped establish a framework for future emissions reduction projects, paving the way for a lasting positive impact on the health of the Thames and its community.

For more information, please contact Clean Air Thames project manager, Sefinat Otaru.