the Port of London Authority
🔊/ðə ˌpɔːt əv ˌlʌndən ɔːˈθɒrəti/
🔊/ðə ˌpɔːrt əv ˌlʌndən əˈθɔːrəti/
(also the PLA)
the organization that operates the port of London. It controls all business on the Thames between west London and the sea, but is mainly concerned with the docks (= places for loading ships) at Tilbury, east of London.