Welcome to the City of London MVS Website

The site is subject to ongoing-work-in-progress during 2008 and should be used in conjunction with the National Site : www.mvs.org.uk . Contact the London unit via the CONTACTS page below. London has a temporary [and unofficial ] site running at MVSLONDON

Nationally The Maritime Volunteer Service consists of groups of trained people (in 35 Units) sited in ports all over the United Kingdom. "City of London" unit based near Tower Bridge, serves over 30 miles of river from Teddington to Tilbury and beyond. MVS units nationally support Local Government and Harbour Authorities in emergencies, disasters, major flooding or major pollution occurrences and the City of London reflects this . "City of London" Unit serves social events such as the Great River Race and engages with the Port of London in maritime disaster planning, prevention and containment. The London Unit engages with Greater London Councils with River frontage in monitoring flood risk.

Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 become competent in Seamanship, Marine Engineering and Port Operations Control skills if and as needed to fulfill their roles. Accreditation is given for skills already held and indeed London Unit has within its membership very skilled mariners. instructors and specialists who share their skills across the unit.

From November 2007, MVS London Unit moved towards a developing role as the waterborne "eyes and ears" of Southwark and Tower Hamlets Councils in monitoring and helping prevent major flooding disasters in the centre of London. On at least four days per annum in recent years, the level of water in the River has been above the level of the adjoining streets for periods of up to three hours. The unit is currently planning how to avoid any nuisance posed by this manifestation of climate change.

The London unit is also developing a mobile forward control facility which is expected to be fully operational by mid2008. The facility will be able to provide a bronze control centre in a major incident or emergency. Certain "Back-Up" list members with Navy, ATC, Police experience are already earmarked to provide the initial staff