New technology and containerisation meant that London Docklands couldn't keep up with its competitors and by the early 1970's most of the docks had closed - West India Dock closed in 1980.
In 1971 the PLA employed 6,000 people and only 3,000 by 1981.
Between 1966 and 1976 the five London Docklands boroughs lost 150,000 jobs. This represented 20% of all jobs in the area. This can be compared to 2% for the whole of Great Britain.
The Port of London Authority closed the East India Dock in 1967 and St. Katharine and London Docks in 1968.
During the 1970's there was massive disinvestment in Docklands as businesses closed or moved away with the progressive closure of the dock system.
Between 1978 and 1980 the PLA closed the West India and Millwall Docks.