PHOTO: Thames Barrier Dredging Works

Opened on this day, 8 May 1984, the famous Thames Barrier continues to play a vital role in the country’s flood defenses.

This image, released by long reach specialist WM Plant Hire Ltd, shows a flashback to some emergency works carried out by Van Oord to remove silt from the gate underwater.

In order to ensure the gate would always be in operation, the maintenance works used a long reach excavator with a dredge pump attachment.

“We have worked on the River Thames for over 20 years now and are currently involved in the construction and dredging works for the new cofferdam at Chambers Wharf on the massive Thames Tideway project,” said Damian McGettrick, WM Plant Hire Managing Director.

The Thames Barrier, a movable flood barrier in the River Thames east of Central London, prevents the floodplain of all but the easternmost boroughs of Greater London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the North Sea.