EA 11059 Thames User Guide.Qxd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Would you like to find out more about the River Thames? Then call us on 0845 601 5336 A user’s guide to the or visit our website River Thames www.visitthames.co.uk Would you like to find out more about us, or about your environment? Then call us on 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6) getting to know email enquiries@environment- your river agency.gov.uk or visit our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24hrs) floodline 0845 988 1188 Environment first: This publication is printed on paper made from 100 per cent previously used waste. By-products from making the pulp and paper are used for composting and fertiliser, for making cement and for generating energy. GETH0408BNTF_E_P Welcome to the River Thames safe for the millions of people who use it, We are the Environment Agency, from anglers and naturalists to boaters, navigation authority for the River Thames walkers and cyclists. This leaflet is an from Lechlade to Teddington. We care for essential guide to helping the wide variety the river, keeping it clean, healthy and of users enjoy their activities in harmony. To help us maintain this harmony, please To encourage better understanding amongst river users, there are nine River User Groups (RUGs) read about activities other than your own covering the length of the river from Cricklade to to help you appreciate the needs of others. Tower Bridge. Members represent various river users, from clubs and sporting associations to commercial businesses. If you belong to a club that uses the river, encourage it to join the appropriate group. Contact your local waterway office for details. Find out more about the River Thames at www.visitthames.co.uk Before you go... • Be aware of potential health risks associated with water recreation. Please take note of the following reminders to make In the event of an accident or emergency, call 999. sure you have a safe and enjoyable time on the River Thames. Respect the environment Respect others • Do not damage riverbanks, vegetation and wildlife, especially during the breeding season. • Learn about other people’s activities so you can appreciate their needs and intentions, especially • Shut gates, keep to footpaths, guard against fire when in competition. and take your litter home. • If planning an event on the river, contact your • Avoid making wash, it can cause erosion to local waterway office to ensure it is co-ordinated riverbanks. with the needs of others. • Avoid pollution. • Keep a lookout for anglers on the bank. Do not Report pollution incidents to the Environment disturb them, keep your distance and avoid their Agency Emergency Hotline 0800 087060. tackle. • Always steer on the right hand side where Contents possible to avoid collision. • Give way to boats coming downstream near Part 1 bridges and sharp bends. Navigation and recreation advice 1 • Watch your speed and take care when passing Regulations 1 others. Be safe on the water 4 • Leave the lock gates shut when the lock is empty. Navigation 6 • Remember excessive noise can disturb others. Safety at locks 11 Water sports and recreation advice 12 Respect safety Motorised boats 18 Take account of river conditions. All activities can be enjoyed with minimum risk if you follow some Part 2 simple safety guidelines (see page 12). Structures, facilities and services 23 • Always take note of warning signs. Lock facilities and dimensions 23 • Wear non-slip footwear and use grab rails when Lock staff hours of duty 28 moving around on deck. 24-hour moorings 29 • Boats should carry a fire extinguisher, bilge Public slipways and launching sites 30 pump and enough life jackets for all on board. Commercial sewage pump-outs 31 • Keep a close eye on children. Connecting waterways 32 • Children and non-swimmers should wear Table of distances and headways 35 life jackets. Useful contacts 43 • Swimming in rivers is dangerous. Regulations Regulations Part 1 declaration of conformity when applying for a licence. For further Navigation and recreation advice details call 01923 201278 or go to www.boatsafetyscheme.com. Regulations • As the registered owner, you must notify us of Our navigation jurisdiction extends over the River any change of ownership during the registration Thames between Town Bridge, Cricklade and the period. Failure to do so is an offence. boundary obelisk about 210 metres (230 yards) • Licences are not transferable and the licence downstream of Teddington Lock. It also covers the plate must be clearly displayed on your boat at River Kennet from its mouth, upstream to 64 all times. metres (70 yards) east of the High Bridge in • If you lose or damage your licence plate, you can Reading. get a duplicate licence from our Craft Various regulations and byelaws govern the use of Registration Department, call 0118 953 5650. the river and its banks for boaters, anglers, river- • The boat name, shown exactly as it side owners, walkers etc. Whether you want to appears on the registration erect a landing stage, hold a regatta or a certificate, must be clearly marked sponsored walk, please check with the local on either side of the bow and on waterway office and read the ‘Water sports and the stern in plain letters in the recreation advice’ on page 12. following minimum sizes: Registration and licensing 5.1 cm (2”) for a boat no more than All boats (motor launches, canoes, sailing 6.09 m (20’) in length dinghies, sailboards, rowing boats etc.) must be 7.6 cm (3”) for a boat between currently registered and licensed with the 6.09 m (20’) and 9.14 m (30’) in length Environment Agency. Registration certificates usually expire on 31 December, although short 10.2 cm (4”) for a boat between period registration certificates may be obtained for 9.14 m (30’) and 15.23 m (50’) in length boats visiting the Thames. 15.2 cm (6”) for a boat exceeding • Your boat must be river worthy, and should not 15.23 m (50’) in length carry more people than it is designed for or the • The name of your boat must be easily law permits. It is an offence to carry more than distinguishable from any trade name. No other 12 passengers without a passenger-carrying advertising sign or notice may be displayed certificate issued by the Maritime and unless it is in relation to the owner’s river related Coastguard Agency. business. • Your boat must comply with construction and equipment specifications. You are required to produce a valid boat safety certificate or 1 Environment Agency A user’s guide to the River Thames Environment Agency A user’s guide to the River Thames 2 Regulations Be safe on the water Speed limits Be safe on the water The maximum speed for power driven boats Every year there are accidents on the river, many of upstream of Teddington is 8 kilometres per hour which are serious – some fatal. We recommend you (approx. 5 miles per hour) over the bed of the river. have some basic first aid knowledge and learn how To help you check that you are not travelling too to cope in an emergency. See www.rospa.com for fast, there are transit marks at: more advice. Oxford, Port Meadow – upstream of Medley Boat Weirs are dangerous station • Warning signs should be respected. It is both Day’s Lock – upstream of the lock dangerous and illegal to interfere with weir gates Reading, Dreadnought Reach – downstream of the and sluices. In an emergency, always seek entrance to the Thames and Kennet Marina advice and help from the lock keeper. Bourne End, towpath at Cockmarsh – downstream • Any river activity poses a greater risk when there of Bourne End railway bridge are strong currents, higher river levels or cold Shepperton – the Desborough Channel weather conditions. Kingston – towpath downstream of Ravens’ Ait DO NOT take risks and never underestimate the Each site has power of the river. two pairs of • When large yellow CAUTION STREAM markers. These INCREASING/DECREASING are black and warning boards are displayed at white poles locks, all unpowered boats are with a red advised to moor up until the triangle topmark, they are set exactly so when stream abates. When INCREASING is indicated, navigating at 8 kilometres per hour you will take powered boats are advised to seek safe 60 seconds to travel from one pair to the other. mooring. When DECREASING stream is indicated, If you have taken less than 60 seconds you are powered boats may proceed with caution. travelling too fast. Please slow down. • When large red CAUTION STRONG Exemptions from this speed limit include: STREAM warning boards are – Any boat taking action to avoid danger to person displayed at locks, all boats are or property. advised not to navigate until the stream abates. – Boats engaged in training, • For recorded information on river conditions and coaching or umpiring strong stream warnings, call our floodline on rowers and which display 0845 988 1188 and select option 1, followed a pennant or mark issued by quick dial number 011131. by us. In strong stream conditions you are advised to keep off the river 3 Environment Agency A user’s guide to the River Thames Environment Agency A user’s guide to the River Thames 4 Be safe on the water Navigation Maintenance work on the river Navigation • When maintenance work is carried out on the Rules of navigation for all boats river, it may be necessary to moor plant and barges where they might present a hazard; • Obey the rules of navigation and byelaws. always try to anticipate the unexpected. Copies are available from our waterway offices.