Thames & South East Marine Support Built to Lead.
MMS Marine Services Ltd is the leading marine contractor for major and minor commercial projects across the River Thames, Estuary, and South East coast. We deliver high-capacity towage, safety boat standby, engineering, and specialist metal fabrication.
Professional Marine Operations
We maintain a modern, coded fleet and employ highly experienced, fully qualified BML and MCA crew to execute demanding projects safely.
Felaura working the tidal ThamesProven on the Tideway
Our multi-role workboat tug Felaura is the workhorse behind our daily operations — towage, barge handling, mooring refits, film support, and standby safety cover from the Upper Thames through to the Medway estuary. Crewed by BML and MCA-qualified skippers with full local Thames knowledge.
We are actively expanding our coded fleet to meet growing commercial demand across London and the South East. More vessels are joining the line-up soon.
The Thames & South East Marine Partner for Serious Work
Civil contractors, local authorities, and fleet operators trust MMS Marine Services Ltd because of our operational integrity, prompt mobilisations, and technical expertise.
Local Knowledge & Licensing
All skippers hold local Thames endorsements and coordinate movements directly with Port Control channels.
Coded Mobile Crews
Our welders, engineers, and deckhands carry full certifications to work under Lloyd's Register and MCA parameters.
Specialist Shallow-Draught Fleet
Able to operate in drying intertidal channels, lock docks, and tight reaches where larger craft cannot manoeuvre.
Safety-First Marine Compliance System
MMS operates under an active Safety Management System (SMS) audited continuously. We ensure full adherence to the Port of London Authority Code of Practice for Craft and the MCA Workboat Code.
Risk Mitigation & Insurance
Every operation is backed by comprehensive RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements) tailored to the specific reach or harbour structure. We carry £10M Public Liability and specialised Employers and Towage Liability insurance.
Accredited Services Include:
- ✔ Standby rescue for high-risk riverside scaffolding & bridge repairs.
- ✔ Coded metal fabrication & hull plating repairs certified alongside.
- ✔ Heavy materials towage & vessel navigation support across Thames reaches.
River Thames, South East & East Coast Coverage
MMS Marine Services Ltd operates across the entire tidal Thames river reaches and has expanded support capabilities along the coastlines of Kent, Essex, Sussex, and Hampshire, with East Coast operations at Lowestoft and on the Humber.
Thames Reaches Navigation Zones
Select a reach below to read specific navigational parameters, bridge shooting instructions, and local services provided by our duty crew:
Upper District (Putney to Teddington)
Middle District (Putney Bridge to Crayford Ness)
Lower District (Crayford Ness to the sea)
South East Coastal & Port Infrastructure
Explore our comprehensive location network. We support key ports, harbours, slipways, and marinas across Kent, Essex, Sussex, and Hampshire:
East Coast Operations
Workboat charter, safety standby, crew supply, and mobile engineering north of the South East:
Featured Marine Operations
A brief showcase of bridge inspections, complex towage tasks, and civil support works completed on schedule.
On the Water Across London's River
Genuine photography from live towage, barge movements, and marine support tasks beneath the Thames' most iconic landmarks.
Industry Endorsements
Read testimonials from commercial site managers, harbour operators, and marine engineering contractors.
"MMS provided immediate standby safety boat cover when our regular supplier let us down. Their skipper had excellent Thames VTS knowledge, which made our bridge scoping work hassle-free."
"We chartered a landing craft from MMS for intertidal cabling on Canvey Island. The shallow-draught hull handled the flats perfectly, and the crew worked tirelessly through extreme tides."
"Our tug suffered a propulsion failure near Gravesend. MMS dispatched a mobile diesel engineer who diagnosed the fuel issue and had us moving within three hours. Superb response."