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River News

Companies that want to understand how the Thames can help their logistics chain with cargoes as varied as containers, petroleum products, aggregates, recyclables,

Comment and food. The Port of London Authority The Port of London Authority is helps these prospective river users investing £2 million in five purpose-built patrol boats. in a variety of ways – we provide There’s no doubt that moving freight Sea Search Solves The first of the catamarans, guidance and support in obtaining which will use less fuel and by water makes good economic as necessary permissions and grants ‘Ghost Ship’ Mystery have lower emissions than its well as environmental sense. predecessors, is being from Government, and we ensure With just one kilogram of oil you manufactured by the safety of their vessels once Coastguards scrambled aircraft and earlier that morning, bound for the Northumberland-based can move 127 tonnes of cargo they’re on the Thames. lifeboats after a yacht motored in from Medway – there had been one man on Alnmaritec Limited. through a kilometre of water. That The port authority expects But our biggest battle for them the sea…with no crew aboard. board. The Royal National Lifeboat same fuel would only move 97 to take delivery of the vessel isn’t on the water – it’s on the shore. The ‘ghost’ vessel was near Red Institution launched rescue craft from next spring. tonnes a similar distance by rail, and Wharves on the Thames have been Sands Towers in the Thames Estuary Whitstable and Sheerness, and four PLA marine engineer Alan 50 tonnes by road. when another craft, the El Bravo II, police vessels motored out into the Cartwright said: “We’ll put this safeguarded from alternative uses new boat through its paces, More and more Of all the carbon dioxide emitted went alongside to investigate. Estuary to join what was now a hunt since 1997, and since 2000 we’ve trialling it in all the duties that in the European Union, water firms are asking us been working with the Mayor of The yacht’s radio was on and its for a missing yachtsman. patrol and pilotage craft are transport accounts for 25 grams for expected to carry out. about moving London, the Greater London engine running but, in a scene Nearly an hour after the coastguards each tonne moved a kilometre, rail reminiscent of the legendary Mary were first alerted, helicopter Rescue “Alnmaritec will then build freight by river – Authority, the London Development any modifications into the emits 41 grams and roads are we’ve had the most Agency and Transport for London Celeste, there were no signs of life. 125 cracked the mystery when its crew remaining four vessels, which responsible for up to 160 grams. to strengthen the protection to Rosie Tapping, from the Maritime spotted the man floating in a dinghy. should be delivered in 2009 enquiries in and 2010.” a decade. That’s why, in an age of soaring safeguard wharves and, as and Coastguard Agency, said: “There The grateful casualty told them he’d fuel prices and greater importantly, to reactivate them for was little initial information to suggest been hauling the inflatable boat environmental awareness, more cargo-handling use where they are where the yacht had come from or behind his yacht when the towing line and more companies are looking vacant. what had occurred to leave the vessel started to come loose. He climbed into to the water. unmanned.” the dinghy to secure it but the line We now have 50 between Fulham Thames coastguards scrambled broke and his yacht, carrying all his The economic and environmental and Erith, with 25 of these upstream their search plane Echo November and emergency equipment, sailed off benefits, the lack of traffic jams, and of the Thames Barrier. the RAF’s helicopter Rescue 125, without him. the certainty of arrival times have They range from Brewery Wharf in already made the tidal Thames the hoping to find vital clues at the scene, Coastguard watch officer Steve Editor: Deptford Creek, handling sand while watch officers at Walton-On- Labouchardiere said: “The man was Doug Kempster UK’s busiest inland waterway. quarried in Essex, to Murphy’s Wharf Design: Naze, Essex, began their own detective located extremely quickly by the Department for Transport figures in Charlton, the largest sea-dredged Eureka Marketing Solutions work to trace the yacht’s recent rescue helicopter. By then he had 020 7801 1480 show that the river moved 59 per aggregates terminal in Europe. Some movements. been adrift for two hours. Although Photographers: cent (2 million tonnes) of all UK are family businesses while others – Samuel Ashfield They discovered the vessel had left extremely cold he was otherwise safe inland waterway traffic in 2006. like Ford and Tate & Lyle – are Ferrari Press Agency Pyefleet Channel near Colchester and well.” John Neligan And this took 200,000 lorry multi-national users. Port of London Authority dive Andy Wallace journeys off London and the South Jeremy Smith As demand to use the river and salvage teams featured in Alderney Maritime Trust East’s busy roads. continues to grow, protecting its Flour Power two prime-time BBC2 Mike Wignall Some of the new business infrastructure is crucial, because documentaries in August and John Hargreaves Britain’s only cane sugar refinery will sugar carbon footprint from the field September. The crews, along Thames Water enquiries we’ve had at the Port of there’s little point moving freight by soon be fuelled by wheat. to the supermarket shelf by around with Wessex Archaeology, were Port of London Authority London Authority come from water if there’s nowhere to bring it filmed surveying and moving London River House Bosses at Tate & Lyle’s Thames base 25 per cent. existing Thames operators – those ashore. ship wreckage which Royal Pier Road plan to get 70 per cent of their power Tate & Lyle has spent the last 16 threatened navigational safety. Gravesend who want to increase their tonnage from burning the cereal husks left by months sourcing wheat husks in the Presenter Frank Pope (pictured) DA12 2BG, UK or capacity. flour mills. UK and has also been looking at spent four months shadowing Enquiries: the authority. [email protected] We’ve also had approaches from Their new £20 million boiler system, port-based mills in Europe. Telephone: customers who want to move new due to go on-line next April, will make The company already imports its Jim Trimmer 01474 562 305 types of freight. the 130-year-old Silvertown refinery raw cane sugar through the river For more information But the most surprising enquiries Head of Planning and the world's first to be powered by and hasn’t ruled the Thames out on the Port of London Authority, go to: Partnerships www.pla.co.uk have come from businesses that renewable plant waste. as a supply route for its new high haven’t used the river before. Port of London Authority It will reduce the company’s cane fibre fuel.

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River News

Companies that want to understand how the Thames can help their logistics chain with cargoes as varied as containers, petroleum products, aggregates, recyclables,

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Pump Action Port authority crewmen hauled a Bob got the patrol launch through the buoys, easing the woman from the racing currents underway and fellow crewman vessel towards the casualty until of the Thames – while they were Steve Potter, along with off-duty she was in striking distance. waiting to refuel their patrol boat. vessel traffic services officer Paul Steve and Paul then snatched her The harbour service vessel de Witt, went out on deck to begin arms and dragged her to safety Westbourne was about to top-up at the search. over the side. pumps downstream of Tower They found the woman among Steve said: “It was quite an River Rescues Bridge when helmsman Bob yellow buoys just above the naval effort to get her out of the water. Bradley got radio reports of a pier at HMS President. She was little, couldn’t have been casualty in the water. Bob said: “The tide was really more than eight or nine stone, but The Thames sailing barge racing there. She was in between she was in no position to help In The Drink May had seen the 26-year-old some buoys and lying on her herself and her waterlogged being swept along near back, trying to stay afloat. But, clothes added to the weight.” Left to right: Gary Eve, John Dillon-Leetch, A port surveyor leapt into the ever enter the water as a last Paul Cowderoy St Katharine’s Pier, a short by the look on her face, she Westbourne motored on towards Thames to drag a drowning man resort. This man was behaving distance from where the port was exhausted.” Tower Bridge while Paul, who’s from the water. strangely and there was no way vessel was sitting. Bob manoeuvred the Westbourne usually based at the port control’s casualty was reluctant to have it Deputy hydrographer John of knowing how he would react Thames Barrier Navigation Centre, fitted, so Paul and John had to Dillon-Leetch was working aboard to me if I got in the river with tried to comfort the casualty. struggle to get him into it. the survey vessel Yantlet when he him – but I was in no doubt that He said: “She was very tearful. Then, with the man secure, and colleagues Gary Eve and Paul he’d have died if something Yet, despite everything she’d been Gary held the Yantlet on station Cowderoy spotted a commotion wasn’t done. So I inflated my through, her biggest concern was 200 yards from Kew Bridge. lifejacket and went in.” until the RNLI lifeboat arrived. what her boss would say if he Initially they thought the man John’s lifesaving training Witness Ruby Almeida, who found out!” had gone for a swim but, as they meant he knew how to approach watched the drama unfold from The PLA crew took the woman got closer, they realised he was the casualty and defend himself the Bell and Crown pub at Strand to emergency services who were making no attempt to stay afloat. if the man lashed out. on the Green, said: “The river waiting on Tower Pier, then John said: “After the initial John said: “I swam up behind survey boat happened to be in headed back downriver to finish splashing he just stopped him and supported him in the the area and bravely and ably refuelling. moving. He didn’t try to save water so he could breathe. He prevented something awful How the casualty came to be in himself, I’m not sure why, didn’t put up a fight; he just from happening. the river remains a mystery. perhaps he was in shock. didn’t seem able or willing to “When the river rescue team “We tried reaching him with a help in his own rescue. He’d also arrived they took over and were boat hook and threw him a life been drinking.” able to get the man to the pier Left to right: Bob ring, but he just didn’t respond. The Yantlet carries a special near Kew Bridge where police Bradley, Steve Potter, “As a rescuer, you should only man-overboard sling, but the and paramedics were waiting.” Paul de Witt Bank Savers A lock foreman, passers-by and a Jim said: “They’d seen her Jim called PLA duty officer John for it. canoeist get the woman ashore. canoeist staged a dramatic rescue further up the Thames and when Hogan in Port Control and asked “A canoeist, who was paddling She appeared to be unconscious after a woman was swept down we got out to the river she was him to alert the emergency up the river towards us saw this but came round when Jim tried to the Thames. about 100 metres upstream of services. Then the lock foreman happening and came across. get a response from her, and she The casualty, who hasn’t been the lock. left one of the passers-by with the “He was able to stop in her path was talking when the police and named by police, was saved from “She was easy to spot because phone and took the other down to and wait for the current to sweep ambulance crews arrived. certain death when two members the water was like a mill pond the PLA workboat. her down on to him. Jim said: “The whole incident of the public spotted her above even though the current was “We grabbed a life ring, got the “He grabbed her with one hand happened very quickly and Richmond Lock and Weir. running at about two or three boat started and were casting off and let the river carry him until he everyone just got stuck in and did The pair raced to the lock knots. the mooring lines when the was in the lee or shelter of the what was necessary. The members office and warned Port of London “She was laying face up, making woman drifted by, about five lock where the current isn’t as of the public did a fantastic job. Authority duty foreman Jim strange movements with her arms metres out,” said Jim. strong. Then he manoeuvred the They didn’t think twice about Deeney that the river was as if she was dazed. She certainly “She was too far off to reach canoe to the side.” getting involved.” carrying the woman in his wasn’t swimming, but she wasn’t but we did get the life ring to her Jim and the two passers-by ran The woman was taken away direction. panicking either.” – unfortunately she didn’t grab along the bank and helped the by ambulance. Lock Foreman Jim Deeney

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Sails of the Centuries A 106-year-old has taken back, and this year’s event first place in a traditional lasted a gruelling seven Plumbing the Depths river race. hours. Barges are sailing into a The sailing barge (SB) SB Marjorie (built 1902) reopened berth following extensive work by Marjorie beat 11 ageing was first in the Champion environmental regulators River News rivals to take the Bowsprit Class, SB Repertor and industry. champion’s title in the (1924) in the Staysail Class, Lower Wharf, which serves Pitsea landfill site in Thames Sailing Barge Match and SB Thistle (1895) in the Essex, opened during the in July. Coasting Class. summer after it was The event – organised in SB Wyvenhoe (1898) – dredged to remove 12,000 association with the Port of crewed by the Port of cubic metres of silt. The berth, run by waste London Authority – dates London Authority – was first company Veolia, is already back to 1863 and is the in the Staysail Class to round handling around two 350 world’s longest running, the Outer Mark; second in tonne barges a day – each taking up to 18 lorry loads regularly organised, class overall; and its master, off the road with every national racing event for traditional sail. Richard Titchener, received an additional sailing. It covers 43 nautical miles from trophy for seamanship. The non-hazardous Port chief Richard material they’re carrying is Everitt has become the Gravesend to the North Oaze Buoy and Full results at www.thamesmatch.co.uk being used to cover the first chairman of a landfill in preparation for group tasked with its closure in 2017. promoting shipping. Katherine Harris, ‘One Voice’, supported environmental advisor at by trade and the Port of London professional bodies in Authority, said: “As the maritime sector, dredging and barge will represent the operations go, they’re not Thames Water has calculated that 32 river that was biologically dead, would industry at the largest on the river, but Government and million tonnes of diluted sewage are have been unacceptable today. Now the the whole process has taken European level. swept into the tidal river every year. overflows are increasing in frequency a lot of assessment because Richard takes on the The effluent pours from London’s and impact, and we have to act. it increases traffic through new role, a six month four environmentally- posting, in addition to Victorian sewers every time heavy and “The Government has given us the sensitive kilometres of his work as chief sudden rain overwhelms the system. go-ahead to build the Thames Tideway Holehaven Creek. executive of the Port of The company says the discharges Tunnel, a massive intercepting sewer, “Holehaven is a Site of London Authority. Special Scientific Interest The new body has the will only stop if a new sewer, known as running from Hammersmith in west with rich, inter-tidal backing of the Baltic the Tideway Tunnel, is built deep within London, to Beckton in the east. mudflats. It’s also home to Exchange, British Ports the river bed to increase the capital’s “Together with our £400 million 8,000 waterfowl during the Association, Chamber winter including black- sewage capacity. programme of investment to improve of Shipping, Institute of tailed godwit and curlew. Chartered Shipbrokers, The 32 kilometre construction our major sewage treatment works, this “We’ve had to work very Maritime London, and would intercept the sewer outfalls marks the final step in the Victorian’s closely with Veolia, Natural UK Major Ports Group. and carry spilt waste to a treatment grand plan and will help us deliver a England, and the Royal Richard says the Society for the Protection of Marine Bill, skills plant downstream. sewage system for London that’s fit for Birds, to ensure the shortages and port Key Events Autumn 2008 Speaking this summer, exactly 150 the 21st Century and beyond.” dredging work and new infrastructure are 13 Sept Great River Race Richmond to Greenwich www.greatriverrace.co.uk years after a stinking and disease-ridden The sewer would be the capital’s barge traffic don’t damage among the group’s top the area.” 13 & 14 Thames Festival Central London www.thamesfestival.org priorities. Thames forced Victorians to build the deepest tunnel, starting at 40 metres Sept To protect the capital’s current sewer network, Thames below the river bed in the west and environment, the port 21 Sept London Open House Richmond Lock and Weir www.pla.co.uk Water chief executive David Owens dropping to around 80 metres towards authority has drawn up a 11 Oct Pairs Head of the Chiswick – Hammersmith www.pairshead.co.uk set of detailed rules – an said: “London’s sewers are one of the the east. River Race operational management 16 Oct Thames Estuary Royal Geographical www.thamesweb.com great engineering wonders of the Thames Water would use tunnel boring plan – for tug and barge Partnership Annual Society, Kensington Victorian age, and have served us well for machines and a series of strategically operators using the creek. Forum 150 years. placed access shafts to complete the Among them are speed 30 Oct Wingfield Sculls Mortlake – Putney www.pla.co.uk restrictions – four knots 8 Nov Fuller’s Head of the Mortlake – Putney www.hor4s.org.uk “They were designed to overflow into engineering feat, while contractors would within 300 metres of the River Fours the Thames during occasional heavy use the river to transport excavated wharf, and six knots in the 9 Nov Veteran Fours Head Mortlake – Putney www.vetfourshead.com storms and, although this had an material by barge. rest of the creek – to stop of the River Race traffic eroding the environmental impact on the river, the Despite the sewage overflows, the 6 Dec Scullers Head of the Mortlake – Putney www.vrc.org.uk/scullers.head surrounding mudflats. River Race alternative of letting sewage overflow Thames remains one of the cleanest 11 to 14 Bankside Frost Fair Bankside www.southwark.gov.uk into homes and streets, was unthinkable. metropolitan rivers in the world, and is Dec “The design, perfectly acceptable for a home to more than 120 species of fish.

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Mensun Bound and London Pilot John Freestone aboard Fourcault Unloading cannon at the Tower

udor cannon sailed vessel’s down. But the reason the vessel capability at such a crucial into the Thames this excavation sank remains a mystery. historical time.” summer – more than for the Experts claim the cannon – cast- The restored cannon were 400 years after they Alderney iron, smooth-bore muzzle-loaders moved to York at the end of were shipped overseas Maritime – are among the most important August where the Alderney to stop a Spanish Trust, said: naval guns in the world. They Maritime Trust and the Royal invasion. bladed weapons, were “We haven’t heralded the start of broadside Armouries plan to use them as a The guns, sent by the Tower of issued from here by us, so it was just brought warfare which made England, blueprint for a working replica. London to bolster an English army good to get them back – even if up cannon, and later Britain, a major fighting on the continent, left the just for a while.” there are also maritime power. Port in 1592 but never got further Recovering the weapons was eight knots, the team muskets, The Duke of York, patron of the CDT Fourcault on the Thames than the Channel Islands. a major operation because could only dive at grenades, swords, Alderney Maritime The ship carrying them sank off they’d been sitting in some of slack water, which gave them rapiers, body armour, Trust, said: “The Alderney and its weapons, the most treacherous seas in a tiny window of just 40 minutes and helmets. importance of the including swords and muskets, northern Europe. a time.” “This ship was supplying an Alderney wreck were lost to the deep. The flow around the ship’s Archaeologists believe the English army fighting in France to shouldn’t be But, earlier this year, divers wreckage is so fast that ship was supplying Sir John prevent a second Armada-style underestimated. plunged into the island’s fierce archaeologists were restricted to Norreys, an Elizabethan military invasion by Spain.” This is the first currents and dragged the diving on slack water – the point commander. Centuries on the sea bed had English ship of the weaponry to the surface. when the tide turns and the Sir John and 3,000 English left the Tower guns encased in a period in British And in June, the dive ship current stalls. soldiers were campaigning in concrete-like sediment. waters to be fully Commandant Fourcault brought Sir Norman Browse, Alderney’s Brittany following the Spanish Archaeologists examining one investigated. two cannon back to the river to be president, said: “The wreck is Armada’s defeat in 1588; they of them found a helmet and “Already it has renovated at the Tower of London. sitting in soft sand in 30 metres of feared that Spain would try ceramic hand grenade embedded done more than Major General Keith Cima, the water in an area we call the Swinge a second invasion if it could in the material. any other maritime Tower’s governor, said: “It is likely – it’s possibly the most notorious get a foothold on the north They also discovered that both archaeological site that the ship’s heavy ordnance, stretch in the entire Channel. French coast. guns were loaded and had been to illuminate not to mention the small arms and “With water flowing by at up to Mensun Bound, leading the ready for action when they went England’s naval

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Mensun Bound and London Pilot John Freestone aboard Fourcault Unloading cannon at the Tower

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ort bosses retire, it needs to start and have been either a have enlisting recruits today pilot at another port or a launched a to meet tomorrow’s senior officer aboard ship. major demands. The Port of London recruitment Richard Flynn, the PLA’s Authority will put drive for pilotage resources successful applicants pilots on manager, said: “All our through an intensive the tidal recruits have a wealth of training scheme to Thames. sea-going experience enhance the skills they’ve The Port of London behind them. brought to the Thames. Authority is looking to “Port of London Richard, himself a pilot, reinforce its ranks as Authority pilots have to said: “There’s an major expansion plans get feel equally comfortable outstanding career path underway for the river. on the bridge of warships, for our pilots – they might More than 90 of the cruise liners, tall ships, become berthing or river elite seafarers, who keep container vessels, bulk pilots; duty port London’s shipping lanes carriers or oil tankers. controllers; pilot trainers open by guiding vessels “They have to be who operate our vessel through its waters, are competent manoeuvring simulator; specialists in operational today. in shallow waters, in handling fuel carriers; or Their skills are so cross-currents, or in close managers in the pilotage specialised that master vicinity to other ships and department itself. mariners and ship river users.” “Currently we have a captains undergo five The port authority, pilot who’s acting deputy years’ additional training which starts its drive this harbour master for the to become a Class One month (September), is upper reaches of Thames pilot on the Thames. hoping to recruit more in London.” As a result the port than 20 pilots in the next Prospective pilots can authority says that, with a four years. find out more by new deep sea terminal on Each candidate must contacting Richard at the horizon and some of hold a Class One Masters [email protected] or its current pilots due to (Foreign Going) Certificate calling 01474 562520.

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yellow and orange flash bounces along the river’s surface. Waves explode in clouds of spray beneath it, and a low, Spitfire-like growl rumbles up and is wearing a 16 fast for him to recognise all on the same stretch of they spot a major fact, Micky learns, whole previous hour craning problem’s sorted.” Gravesend Reach in point harness and individual markers. water at the same time,” headache for the sections of the course race boats into the water. Support craft are its wake. crash helmet. Gravesend Reach is says river inspector organisers – and are on the move. Now he’s going out onto spilling onto the water It’s a boat, a V24 to be The extreme kit is just 500 metres wide and Micky Scarce who’s it doesn’t involve Some of the race the river to help the along the length of the precise, but it looks understandable – this what makes today’s aboard the harbour river users. buoys, usually tough organisers reposition circuit, rounding up the more Gotham than V24 is capable of speeds unique event even patrol boat Gunfleet. At first sight, it’s just enough to withstand and secure their buoys. errant two-metre-high Gravesham – a craft in excess of 69 knots more remarkable is that “This event would be a marker buoy wedged the tides at sea, aren’t “These races are orange markers and straight from the pages (80mph) and it’s only half the river – the impossible to stage any up against a moored doing too well in the normally staged on the repositioning them. of a Batman comic. operating in unfamiliar Kent side – is closed further up the Thames, barge near the Thames currents. coast,” he says. “So the As the safety crews It’s sleek, nearly eight waters. to shipping. but here all river users Shornmead Light, but Until they’re secure, guys behind them are bend to their work, it metres long, with ‘gull The craft is one of 16 While onlookers thrill can pass each other Paul’s not happy “There’s the race can’t start used to dealing with becomes evident that the wings’ sprouting from powerboats that will at the racing spectacle, safely – provided they no way that’s supposed because navigators like tides. But the Thames is course isn’t the only either side. pound the river this July the Port of London stick to the rules. to be there,” he says as Paul Barham will be very deceptive. thing moving on the Aboard, its driver Cliff afternoon for the first- Authority will mount a “Unfortunately he swings the Gunfleet in blind to the moving “It’s tidal like the river right now. Duty Smith and navigator Paul ever Thames Grand Prix. major operation to keep we can’t guarantee to take a closer look. markers. open sea, but the force port controller Paul Barham are strapped into Navigator Paul is using the rest of the river that everyone will – Each buoy is At the PLA’s Denton of the flow is magnified Clarke has cleared the a safety cell, shielded the 5.4 nautical mile pre- running safely. that’s why we’re staying numbered, so Micky boat yard, moorings and as the water squeezes container ship Monte from the onslaught of match lap to check the “We’ve got ships vigilant.” takes a satellite fix on its wharf supervisor Steve up the river. Olivia to slip its mooring water by the 12mm positions of race buoys arriving and departing, Micky and Gunfleet’s position and radios its Rushbrook is already “The buoys don’t and head out to the sea. polycarbonate windows against GPS satellite pleasure craft making the coxswains Paul Dixon details back to the untying the port seem to be tough enough The red-hulled Monte’s of a reinforced cabin. readings because, once most of the weather, and and Jason Durkin, have organisers. authority’s harbour to stay put in this a monster – 276 metres Each has his own the Grand Prix starts, the a variety of high only completed a couple The news isn’t good – service vessel Ebbsfleet. current, so the event’s long, 40 metres wide, scuba-style air supply V24 will be going too performance race boats of initial sweeps when the marker’s drifted. In He’s spent the on hold until the and 69,132 gross tonnes.

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On her bridge, port “Gravesend Reach is a Patrol. Its driver Andy On their current course, Yacht Club for months clear of the circuit. But themselves in difficulty authority pilot Mark crucial point in the river. Twemlow and navigator the craft will sail straight to ensure a safe summer the patrol boat’s blue as a result.” Duhig nudges this It’s here that sea pilots Neil Jackson, who will into the middle of the event on the Reach. lights stay on. It As Gunfleet thunders floating giant past the hand the vessels over to take first place by the Grand Prix. So Gunfleet’s “It’s excellent for accelerates back down past Gordon Promenade, race circuit and the river pilots. We use this end of the weekend, are been sent to stop them. the Thames,” he says. river to join Steve the Grand Prix – the frantic activity around straight stretch of water manoeuvring into a “We issue advice to “And well worth the Rushbrook and sixth round of the the drifting buoys. to get alongside the ship starting position. The river users weeks before extra work. Gravesend lifeboat Royal Yachting In his shadow the PLA and put the river pilots yellow flag’s gone up, events like these through “We all want to see a crews who are chasing Association’s National pilot cutter Patrol weaves on before taking the sea the markers are secure, our Notices to Mariners,” vibrant, popular and horses out of the Championship – is in around the edge of the pilots off. and the support boats says river inspector safe river, and I think Thames at the eastern full swing. course. Its crew, Mick “The ships can’t stop, are moving clear. The Micky Scarce. “But we the Grand Prix shows end of the course. For two days, it will Gladwell and Andy and if they leave the V24 heat’s about to can’t assume that just what we can “The horses live on hold Gravesend’s Scrace, will run sorties Reach before we’ve begin. everyone has read them, achieve. the marshes,” says attention along the V24 Provisional throughout the race completed the The bat boats roar into so we’ll head these two “Today we’ve got a Micky. “And they often river front. Results to take pilots to and changeover, things get action, and the larger but boats off before they get major industrial port get into the river. And even now, as from ships. very difficult. slower Gunfleet is also too close to the circuit.” operating alongside a They’re not a threat to Micky, Paul and Jason 1. V8 Andy Twemlow Mick says “The Grand “It’s great to see accelerating. In port control, great event in the the event but, with so are talking tactics for Prix circuit cuts right the Grand Prix on the Vessel traffic services harbour master Roy boating calendar. I many spectators around catching ponies, the 2. V24 Lance Selby across the front of our river, but it does mean officers Graham Negus Stanbrook watches hope it will be the first on the banks, there’s cheering crowds outside 3. V2 Cliff Smith berth on Royal Terrace a lot more planning on and Kelvin Arterton in Gunfleet intercept the of many.” always a danger that have their minds fixed Pier, so it’s taking us a our part.” port control are tracking yachts. He’s worked with Outside, the yachts members of the public on a very different type 4. V3 Terry Mills little longer to get to A purring V24 in Union two yachts heading into Gravesham Borough follow Gunfleet’s might try to get them of horse power. the ships. Jack colours crawls past the Reach from the west. Council and Allhallows directions and swing out – and find

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The Port of London Authority barge Blackwall has taken top Ten vessels tackled slot in a major river Its the seven mile course event for the third crew Michael between Greenwich and year running. Russell, Mark Towens, Westminster for an annual event Darren Knight, Craig which showcases the skills of Thames Restrick and Tony Handley watermen and lightermen. rowed the 18-tonne craft Following July’s match, Blackwall was to victory during the named overall event winner; the barge 34th Transport Spirit of Mountbatten took the on Water Barge Almshouse Benevolent Fund Trophy; Driving Match. Jake E Buoy the Haywood Award: and The Grace came top in class.