Assessment of Boatyard Facilities on the River Thames - Mayor of ...

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Operators <strong>of</strong> public services
London River Services
3.12 London River Services (LRS) that is a part <strong>of</strong> Transport for London is
responsible for operating the Woolwich Ferries. The ferries are maintained in the
largest boatyard facility in Greater London in terms <strong>of</strong> employees (see para 2.14
above). In addition LRS operates eight <strong>of</strong> the principal piers in Central London. The
piers have their own maintenance requirements that are described in Appendix 3.
The eight pontoons <strong>of</strong> Greenwich pier were last renovated by Interserve at Denton
Ship Repairers, Gravesend. Most <strong>of</strong> the other piers are new and arrangements for
their refit have yet to be established.
London Fire Brigade
3.13 London Fire Brigade operates two fireboats from a pontoon adjoining
Lambeth Fire Station for use on river incidents. The pontoon was towed by tugs to
and from a slipway in Rochester for a 10 year refit in 2002. The fireboats Firedart and
Fireflash have been refitted at Francis H Newman (Shipyards) Ltd, Twickenham.
River Police
3.14 The patrol activities <strong>of</strong> the River Police have been reduced such that the boats
are now operated from a single base at Wapping. There is a purpose built boatyard
for maintaining patrol boats at Wapping. Emergency cover on the River Thames in
London was augmented in January 2002 by the establishment <strong>of</strong> three RNLI stations
at Teddington, Chiswick and Tower Pier.
Port <strong>of</strong> London Authority
3.15 The Port <strong>of</strong> London Authority operates various harbour master patrol boats,
salvage and driftwood vessels in Greater London. The PLA operates its own boatyard
facilities at Denton Wharf Gravesend that has facilities to maintain buoys and small
patrol craft. The PLA has recently installed a new hoist dock and travel that can raise
vessels up to 65 tons and 21/22 metres long by 6.8 metres beam – providing they
are properly balanced. The facilities at Denton Wharf are not sufficient to maintain all
the PLA’s craft. The patrol craft are maintained at Gillingham Marina. The salvage craft
(30 x 10 metres x 300 tonnes) is refitted at ABP Port <strong>of</strong> Lowest<strong>of</strong>t. (See Appendix 4).
Privately owned vessels and houseboats
3.16 The variety <strong>of</strong> different types <strong>of</strong> privately owned vessels is matched by the
range <strong>of</strong> boatyards set out in Table 2.3. A clear fact emerging from consultation with
the boatyards listed in Table 2.2 is that the peak demand for work on passenger boats
is during the winter low season. These boatyards are available for privately owned
boats and houseboats during the rest <strong>of</strong> the year. There is a market for the
restoration and conversion <strong>of</strong> vessels for use as houseboats. The limited source <strong>of</strong>
supply <strong>of</strong> vessels such as Dutch barges is resulting in the construction <strong>of</strong> new barges
by MSO Marine Services at Brentford and also by E & S Powell on the Grand Union
Canal at Bulls Bridge, Hayes. Both sites are owned by British Waterways and were
originally used for tug and barge building.
Boat Safety Scheme
3.17 Most boats registered with the Environment Agency for use on the River
Thames above Teddington Lock or with British Waterways for use on the London
canals need to meet the requirements <strong>of</strong> the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS). A boat
inspection is required every four years. It acts as a ‘MOT’ and the main concerns are
to protect boaters form fire hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning. A boat
inspection can be carried out on the mooring but it may be necessary to have
remedial work done in a boatyard.
<strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boatyard</strong> <strong>Facilities</strong> on the River Thames Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd - April 2007