Commercial Boat Operators Association Newsletter issue 6 · Spring 2010 In this issue p2 Wharves in the news p4 Investment by Cory p5 CBOA challenges ‘decline’ p11 BW to be a trust? NEWS p15 Crossrail takes to the water New grants to bridge operating costs gap?
Grants for operating costs for water value relates to each road journey, successful, the grant would be paid freight are now on offer from the which themselves are assessed at in arrears, based on what actually Department for Transport, from 1 different values: a mile of standard happened. April this year. motorway is valued at 7p, compared Grants can be paid to keep existing with non-A roads at £1.43. The grants aim to bridge any gap traffics on water if they are between road and barge costs. Operating grants can be given for up threatened with switching to road. They are spelled out in a new DfT to three years and can be renewed. Both operating grants and FFGs booklet. So for example if road They can be for as little as £10,000. can be paid for the same traffic. costs are £6.50 per tonne and Unlike FFGs where grants are paid However, the environmental benefits barge costs £8 per tonne (including upfront, operating grant applications cannot be used twice and it is up to handling and onward road cost to can be based on some degree of the applicant to decide how the split final destination) the DfT will pay uncertainty. This is because the should be made the barge operator up to £1.50 per grant is paid in arrears, when the “We’ve long pointed out it was tonne to bridge the gap. Government can see the traffic has illogical for the Government to give The grants are subject to a cap on been kept off the road. grants to help traffic off the road and the environmental benefits of not For example, a barge operator onto rail but to deny water freight using lorries. They are assessed in hoping to carry 25,000 tonnes the same help,” says CBOA, “and the same way as Freight Facility for each of three years can apply we welcome the fact we now have Grants for capital expenditure. The for a grant for 75,000 tonnes. If more of a level playing field.”
countryside. They say that since the CBOA is now looking at where the mining will not be far from the Aire coal might be loaded – and which and Calder Navigation barges could barge operator could take it. be the better solution, particularly if CBOA has also spoken to the local the coal is to be sent to Ferrybridge planning authority and to power station. HJ Banks.
In one of its more unusual requests, CBOA is seeing if it can help the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) produce a canal-based transport solution for a proposed open cast coal mine in Yorkshire. CPRE is objecting to the HJ Banks planning application, partly on the grounds it will The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England can be found at www.cpre.org.uk involve lots of lorry journeys in the CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 2
From the chairman We provide a full report later on capital costs grant scheme. but it is amazing that the statistics CBOA is delighted that some indicated a tonnage decline over 16 safeguarded Thames wharves years and ignored the last 5 years’ are being bought from property 16% increase. This – inevitably – led companies by the navigation to the Government asking the wrong authority as part of a partnership question: “What can be done to between the navigation, local and reverse the decline?” They should transport authorities. And we are have asked: “What can be done to very pleased to see Leeds following build on progress to date?” this lead with its proposals not only In our formal reply, CBOA urged that to safeguard wharves but also to DfT take on responsibility for the allocate waterside land for industrial freight waterways – just as it does uses which enhance the prospects for the road and rail freight tracks. of water freight. How else can there be joined up John Dodwell, Chairman Government thinking? CBOA has spent much of the last The new operating costs grant We apologise that in the last issue we did few months on the Government’s scheme from DfT is welcome and not credit “Coastal Shipping” with the photo of the The Pride of Brailia which takes 80 ‘Waterways for Everyone’ gets rid of the anomaly that rail teu containers from Goole to Duisburg on consultation document about the could get operating grants but water the Rhine. We also apologise to The Boating future of the inland waterways. could not. How useful the grants Association for not mentioning their part in the production of “The Skippers Guide” to Many observers feel it looked too will be remains to be seen but a key leisure boaters on the River Trent and the Aire much at the BW waterways. That is factor is that as this grant is made and Calder Navigation. In gently pointing this so in our case, with the great efforts after tonnage is moved, there is no out, their chairman Colin Tuck (who spent made elsewhere by our Members need for those hard to predict future all his working life in road transport) said “I fully support your campaign for the use of and others not getting a mention. movements inherent in the waterborne freight where suitable.” Wharves in the news Leeds leads on waterways resources and interested people B W-owned land in Skelton Grange Leeds City Council’s proposals to and organisations, including CBOA Road and Skelton Grange Wharf safeguard certain canal wharves and its members, were invited to on the Aire and Calder Navigation on the Aire and Calder navigation comment. should be added to the list. for freight use and to earmark These proposals echo what has One of the first to respond was waterside land for industrial happened on the tidal Thames Goole-based RMS Europe, who purposes was warmly welcomed by where 50 wharves downstream for many years have struggled to the CBOA, who want other councils of Wandsworth have been given encourage the use of canal traffic to to follow their lead. protected status. the main Yorkshire/Nottingham cities The council asked: ‘Do you agree In supporting the proposals CBOA that were once served by thriving that railway sidings and canal said having a canal without wharves canal transport. Dredging problems wharves which are, or could be was like having a motorway on the Doncaster/Rotherham stretch used to enable the transportation without access and exit junctions of the South Yorkshire navigation of minerals and/or waste materials - nowhere to get on or off. They have prevented them from moving, by rail and canal, should be said it was particularly pleasing as in the past, 10,000 tonnes a year safeguarded for that purpose?’ that the Leeds proposals did not to Rotherham and in so doing taking 350 lorry journeys off the road. The question formed part of the just cover particular wharves but proposals for the Leeds Natural also proposed the use of waterside Mike Harrison, the Commercial Resources and Waste Local land for waste and other activities, manager, said RMS was in contact Development framework. This providing a water freight option. with major importers of products looked at planning ahead for their They added that the Total Oil wharf suitable for movement by canal to aggregate, waste and other natural at Crosse Green Industrial Park, the the Leeds area. Goole is directly CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 3
Wharves in the news connected to the Aire and Calder Agency project to improve water them to Kingston-on-Thames wharf canal and by the New Junction canal quality on the Lee Navigation some 75,000 tonnes a year would to the South Yorkshire navigation. through to the Olympics site. More be removed from the congested And Goole is some 50 miles from the than 30,000 tones of dredgings streets of south London. sea. If importers and exporters could were removed by barges at the In granting the appeal against bring their products further inland wharf – including five safes with residential moorings the planning they would reduce their carbon holes in the back. inspector said there were concerns footprint, benefiting the people of And last year Thames Gas used it at the loss of a significant portion of Leeds. during maintenance work.. a facility that could be used in the “There is no reason why goods In addition an energy-from-waste future for water-borne freight. cannot be moved around the coast plant by the river at Edmonton PLA to buy Thames wharves by sea to Goole eliminating further is likely to be enlarged and from property companies road miles/lorry journeys,” he consideration given to compacting added. “Surely Leeds does now the refuse and removing it by barge The Port of London Authority has have sufficient waterside housing rather than lorry. Essex wharf would reached an agreement with the and it must be time for commercial be suitable for this. owners of Peruvian wharf that either enterprise to re-emerge from the the current owners or the PLA ‘dark ages’.” bring the wharf back into use. If it’s the PLA they will buy Wharves under threat in Essex… the land at wharf prices. They Strong opposition has been raised are now looking at how to to an application to build 144 flats reactivate Orchard wharf. on the site of Essex wharf, Lea Working with local and Bridge Road on the Lee Navigation regional authorities, the PLA (pictured below). This is one of is building on its success in BW’s seven commercial waterways. safeguarding Peruvian wharf The application counters the through a public inquiry Olympics Legacy ideal of bringing Trials of moving containerised waste to Edmonton (CBOA News Summer 2007). the waterways back to life and During the past 10 years the PLA … and Surrey promoting water freight in the Lea head of Planning and Partnerships valley. CBOA supported the Environment Jim Trimmer has successfully led CBOA committee member Richard Agency in their opposition to the use the way in safeguarding 50 Thames Horne objected on behalf of CBOA of this Kingston-on-Thames wharf wharves. The aim is to bring back because it would remove the for permanent residential moorings. into operation disused wharves opportunity for comprehensive use The wharf is one of the very few on the list, especially where they of the wharf for freight purposes. left in the area that can be used for have become owned by property And unlike some wharves, Essex bringing in and removing material companies seeking a change of wharf has good road links. from the Kingston area. The waste planning use and so destroying the This wharf was key to the successful and recycling division of Peel Ports wharf as a working wharf. and road hauliers H Sivyer have completion of a £2m Environment “The threat of the London won a five year contract to deal with Development Agency using its ‘arisings’ (unreusable earth) from compulsory purchase powers Thames Water mains replacements assisted those negotiations,” says and the wharf is well sited to bring Trimmer. them all the way down the Thames from Kingston. It also helps that the PLA has companies keen to sign leases to At present these ‘arisings’ are taken operate the wharves. by lorry to Greenwich, where they
Flats or wharves? are loaded onto barges. By taking CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 4
Cory to create energy from waste coal and other sales, waterway maintenance and other similar uses (workboats), display/museum boats, passenger /restaurant / trip / waterbus, community boats, hotel boats, ferries; in other words all craft not used for private pleasure So barges carrying aggregate from Besthorpe to Whitwood can claim a rebate agreed by HMRC for the parts of the voyage that are within the Humber port limits. These are: Gainsborough Road Bridge (River Artist’s impression of the centre. Below left: under construction. Trent) and the tail of Bulholme Lock A new waste recovery centre in the Thames, to the energy from (Aire & Calder). south-east London being built waste recovery plant Cory is building by Cory Environmental is to turn at Belvedere in Bexley. He adds that generally speaking, port limits for the four estuaries 500,000 tonnes of refuse a year The containers will be offloaded comprise the tidal waters and from four London boroughs into from the barges at a new, purpose- connected docks, plus certain electricity. It previously went to built jetty. Energy generated from the other waterways. The following landfill. At present waste that cannot combustion process will be enough information is given as a guideline: be recycled is put in containers on to make the plant self-sufficient Cory barges and carried down the and provide electricity for 66,000 Port of London: most of the Medway Thames from wharves in Wands- homes through to the National Grid. plus the tidal Thames as far as worth to the landfill site at Mucking Any ash remaining will be recycled Teddington Lock, and associated in Essex. But from 2011 the waste into road building and construction docks. will be taken, again by barge down aggregates. Port of Liverpool: the River Mersey, Testing starts this year. In addition the Manchester Ship Canal, the to the boroughs of Lambeth, whole of the Bridgewater Canal Wandsworth, Hammersmith and (inc Leigh branch) and the Leeds & Fulham, and Kensington and Liverpool Canal from Liverpool to Chelsea, Cory is forging links with Wigan and the Leigh branch. other councils to use the plant’s Humber estuary: the Humber, River spare capacity. Trent (as far as Gainsborough road bridge), River Ouse* (to tail of Paying too much for your diesel? Naburn Lock), Aire & Calder as far Craft operating within port limits at • private and hire boats (i.e. self as Bulholme Lock tail, and South estuaries can get a rebate of around drive boats used for private Yorkshire Navigation* (as far as 10ppl – and in certain cases buy it pleasure) must pay the higher, Doncaster lock tail). duty free at source. standard rate of duty of around Severn*: River Severn to Sharpness, CBOA secretary David Lowe says: 54p/litre (a proportion can be Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, River “This applies even if the journey allowed for heating and other non- Avon to Bristol Docks. includes waterways outside the propulsion uses) *These limits are believed correct. limits: operators claim a rebate for • owners/operators of boats and Port limits do not appear to be that part of the journey that is within barges used for commercial defined anywhere (other than in the limits,” he says. purposes can buy fuel at the lower legislation) and HMRC could not Two different rates of duty apply in rebated rate of around 10p/litre. supply them when requested. relation to marine diesel (gas oil): Such craft would include those For more information and to reclaim used for freight, cargo, retail duty go to www.hmrc.gov.uk. CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 5
CBOA challenges ‘decline’ Defra’s belief that traffic figures on own firm’s tonnage increase from Select Committees) the waterways are down, not up, zero long term contracts in 2003 to • set up a new Freight Study Group has been challenged by the CBOA. In carrying 1.1m tonnes in 2008 with to update the previous report on their response to the government’s the government’s ‘decline’. what could be done to increase consultation paper ‘Waterways for CBOA wants responsibility for water freight on inland waterways Everyone’ they said Government water freight to be moved to the statistics showing a decline in water • work with the Department Department for Transport from the for Communities and Local freight tonnage between 1991 and Department for the Environment, 2007 ignored the increase between Government and CBOA on planning Food and Rural Affairs, in aspects 2004 and 2008. These show accordance with House of Commons tonnages were up by 16% for the Select Committee recommendations. CBOA also called on DfT to listen country as a whole – and by 42% for DfT should then: to CBOA’s comments on the purely inland traffic. deficiencies of the grant schemes. • provide the freight waterways with They also say the government’s Craft should be eligible for grants the strategic direction which it now and the artificial 33% reduction in question – ‘What can be done to has for rail – targeted at a further reverse the decline?’ is wrong. The the financial value of environmental revival in freight traffic and at track benefits should be abolished. It does right question should have been: enhancement ‘What can be done to build on not apply in Scotland. They said an • ensure a reliable waterway track progress to date?’ “overcoming inertia” scheme was for at least the next 10 years and needed to encourage industry to try And as John Spencer of CBOA so encourage investment modal shift. member GPS Marine said in his • discuss with CBOA whether BW response: “We are not a sunset CBOA’s stance received support from should be relieved of their freight industry.” GPS operates 75 vessels, other organisations including Hull responsibilities - or be incentivised mainly in the Thames and Medway. & Humber Chamber of Commerce, • work with the Department for Freight by Water, the government’s He said the industry’s problems Energy and Climate Change and own Inland Waterways Advisory were not helped by the government’s the Carbon Trust and CBOA to find Committee, the Inland Waterways “complete failure” to understand the ways of motivating carbon footprint Association, Save our Waterways industry and its needs and cited the savings by the greater use of and The Boating Association. eradication of five working wharves water freight (as recommended by in Rochester. He contrasted his
Waterways at Westminster Website enquiries State for Defra, outlined in response to various questions what his Potential customers are using department was doing. the CBOA website www.cboa. org.uk to find suitable suppliers. Saying he welcomed the chance Recent enquiries include one from to restate the government’s a developer wanting to move spoil commitment to the waterways, from a town-centre waterside site, MPs with waterways in their “which offer so much potential to one from a hospital co-ordinator constituencies are keeping up the contribute to our future wellbeing”, asking about taking away stripped- pressure in Parliament for a better the Minister said an additional out materials by barge and erecting deal. In the past few weeks Paul £400,000 would be made available a hut for contractors on pontoons Clark, Minister of State, Department to BW from the aggregates at the back of the hospital and one for Transport was asked about the sustainability fund to modernise from operators wanting to transport level of funding to encourage the and automate the Lees and Old Mill steel trench sheets and other use of inland and coastal waterways locks on the river Lea. However building materials for a new inland for transporting goods and waterways had to show what they marina. CBOA has put them in touch materials and Huw Irranca-Davies, were delivering for the continued with appropriate members. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of investment in them. CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 6
Regional news Drax turns to water freight North East (the navigation authority young skippers experienced aboard Some 1,200 tonnes of pulverised for the River Ouse) said BW “will full sized craft and qualified up to fuel ash (PFA) from Yorkshire’s Drax continue to be supportive of MCA Tier 2 Boat Master. Power Station has been carried for companies looking to explore these Contact details for a motor and its whole journey by water freight in opportunities.” butty deal: Richard Gray, 01543 a trial shipment, expected to be the Peter Emery, production director of 481868 or 07527 727169, www. first of more this year. Drax, added: “Drax produces about bespokeexecutivesolutions.com. Drax had considered using 40 HGVs 1.4million tonnes of PFA per year Bio energy plant at Pollington on the M62 across the Pennines to and has traditionally used road reach a western port before being transport to take it away. Using the Dalkia Bio Energy has submitted loaded onto a ship for Ireland. But waterways to transport our PFA a planning application to build a it chose to load the Torrent at Drax not only means that we utilise a bio energy plant almost alongside jetty on the river Ouse, some 60 lower carbon form of transport and Yorkshire’s Aire and Calder miles (95km) inland from the sea for reduce our movements by road but Navigation. Part of the plans include delivery to Waterford. by reducing transportation costs, a new wharf that would be used we are able to look further afield to handle between 350-500,000 and gain access to new markets. tonnes a year of containerised The more PFA we are able to sell, wood chips brought from London by the less goes to landfill, taking us coastal ship, transhipping to barges closer towards our target of zero ash at Goole. British Waterways, as landfill.” statutory consultee, has indicated its support. Training company wants motor and butty Molasses by water CBOA member Bespoke Executive A partnership led by the Solutions, the narrowboat events, Broads Authority in Norfolk has Torrent loading at Drax training and holiday company commissioned a feasibility study based near Lichfield in Saffordshire from Capita Symonds into moving Commenting on the “welcome recently bought Hawkesbury, the imported molasses from Great choice” CBOA chairman John last ‘big Woolwich’ dating back to Yarmouth to the British Sugar Dodwell said Drax and other power 1937. They are now looking for a Corporation’s Cantley sugar plant stations in Yorkshire and the Trent motorboat and butty in working trim beside the river Yare. Valley have the choice of up to nine that could be made available to the inland wharves and docks in the company to be used for training Black Country boost for canals? area at which ships can load PFA. purposes and put to work with Transporting freight by water has The practical and environmental supervised trainee skippers on trial the potential to cut fuel and labour value of carrying freight on canals runs carrying non perishable cargos. costs with just two men crewing has been highlighted by the West one 600 tonne barge that can move Training is supervised by Midlands Metropolitan Area Canals the equivalent of 24 laden 25te lorry Hawkesbury’s resident skipper Partnership. loads. Richard Gray, a Royal Yachting Responding to the Black Country Association and National Community Specialist bulk handling company Joint Core Strategy consultation, Boats Association instructor and T W Logistics Ltd worked in they said the policy should be regional assessor for skipper partnership with ash sales agent amended to include how canals training for the Inland Waterways Hargreaves Coal Combustion contribute to the sustainable Association. ‘Certificate of Boat Products Ltd to organise the water movement of urban waste and Management’ assessments will be route. hence to reducing carbon emission available in the spring. targets. The policy should also Stuart McKenzie, freight and harbour The long-term plan for BES is to get include reference to the potential supervisor for British Waterways use of the canal network in the CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 7
Regional news transportation of goods and materials.
Mainmast has plans for the Big Ditch Lincoln-based Mainmast Logistics has announced ambitious plans for the company it bought out of administration at the end of last year, the Big Ditch Shipping Company. Mainmast operates one of the country’s largest inland waterway fleets dedicated to food grade products. Last year they carried more than 130,000 tonnes of food grade oil products between the River Hull and Hull’s large dock system. The company now hopes to expand operations on the Manchester Ship Loading on the Lee Canal. Traffic on the Lee As part of the deal they acquired Wood, Hall & Heward moved 800 tonnes of material to upgrade towpaths in two dry cargo barges, Gina D and just two months at the end of last year. Based at Harefield they are one of Calemax Enterprise, the push tug last year’s CBOA Award of Excellence winners. The material was carried in Clifton and hopper barges Sutton Clitheroe, a Leeds and Liverpool short boat, and taken from Rye House on the and Halton. The two motor vessels River Lee five miles downstream to Cheshunt. will continue to carry milling 1461 MTB Workboat 2010 Advert 22/03/2010 13:12 Page 1 wheat from storage facilities at either Liverpool or Garston docks, L across the river Mersey and along N O B S I the Manchester Ship Canal to MTB 01 Mainmast’s wharfage at Trafford WORKBOATS water and sea freight advisory services Lisbon 22nd - 25th September 2010 Park in Manchester. There it is We are one of the leading authorities MTB - 'Meet the Buyer' unloaded onto trucks and delivered on moving goods off the road and A programme of one to one appointments to the Rank Hovis flour mill 200 on to water. Our clients and contacts between Senior Managers/Technical Purchasing metres away in Trafford Wharf Road. include industry, national, regional Managers and Senior Buyers from Workboat and local government. Owners and Operators (these include supply Rank Hovis estimates each cargo boats, pontoons, floating cranes, trawlers, etc) Water freight can be cheaper than together with Supplier Companies from all areas of the Marine Industry. moved by barge saves 30 road truck road, it beats urban congestion and movements. is the most environmentally friendly Book Your Place means of bulk transport. Mainmast director Andrew Sanders said they were looking at the Tel | Fax: 020 7231 6247 TODAY [email protected] Call Copland feasibility of bringing one of the +44 (0)1276 682898 EVENTS former dry docks back into operation Rolandon Water and Sea Freight for the inspection and repair of Advisory Services P O Box 38479 London SE16 4WX www.coplandevents.com vessels, to service its own fleet and offer the facility to other operators in the area. CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 8
Profile: Chris Livett When Concorde was to travel from He was the youngest Master of the Isleworth to the Thames estuary on Company of Watermen and Lighter- Wynn’s Terra Marique, Chris Livett men and is a Waterman to the was the man they turned to for Queen. He operates his empire from guidance. As do owners of some the Commander’s cabins on board of the world’s most expensive and the historic warship HMS Belfast. extravagant super yachts wanting to Chris Livett and his wife Belinda come up river to London. founded Tidy Thames, the recycling He not only sponsored When you sit with a beer on Dixie Dame Ellen MacArthur in Queen’s deck on the Thames you’re her Scarlet Oyster on the unlikely to appreciate the joined-up second leg of her voyage thinking of which this enterprise round Britain but met her is part. But the replica Mississippi at the Thames estuary paddle steamer, the company that mouth and towed and takes the glass and other waste sailed with her craft from away from her and other pleasure Gillingham to London: boat operators, piers, ships and Tower Bridge was lifted residential moorings on the Thames to allow the yacht to sail into the Upper Pool and berth alongside HMS Belfast. and waste He also runs Thames Luxury management business, in 1983 with Charters and the specialist marine one 30ft open workboat, Trio I. Key services company Livetts Launches. to success was its two ton capacity The latter specialises in coordination ‘save-all’ refuse bag. Demand esca- and consultancy for film companies lated and three years later he bought shooting on the Thames. So for Hooligan, capable of handling up to Guy Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ 10 tons in four custom-built bags. they provided action boats, camera By 1987, with demand increasing boats, pontoons, period-style craft further, Chris Livett acquired motor and support vessels. Chris Livett barge Tidy Thames 1. coordinated the helicopter shoot Tidy Thames merged with Bennett’s over Tower Bridge from the water – Barges in January this year to and stepped in at the last minute as become a joint venture with Chris Livett with Dame Ellen MacArthur captain of one of the period vessels. Aggregate Industries. Chris became by barge - and the company that is And he was the marine coordinator managing director when Dave Allen delivering some 35,000 tonnes of for the spectacular opening se- retired. They now operate the long building material by water to rebuild quence on the Thames for the Bond term contract for barging waste and Blackfriars Bridge and taking waste film ‘The World Is Not Enough’ (pic- recyclate from London boroughs for from the Olympics site – is all part of tured right). At the peak of the shoot Veolia Environmental Services. They the waterways empire run by Chris more than 60 boats were involved also have the contract for Olympics Livett. between Lambeth and the O2. waste, with two barges a day “when tide permits” taking waste timber “Any opportunity around and we’re Perhaps water rather than blood from the Olympic Park at Stratford to probably there,” says Chris Livett, runs through his veins. He is a fifth “and generally banging the drum for generation waterman. The Livetts an environmental solution.” family has worked and owned companies on the river since 1710. CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 9
Profile: Chris Livett Rainham in Essex for recycling. A recent contract is to move 120,000 tonnes of aggregate per year from the Isle of Grain to Dagenham. Three barges, the largest of which is 1500 tonnes, are being used for this. They are also working on projects for Crossrail, the Thames and Beckton tunnels and Thames Gateway. One reason why he has survived the recession better than some competitors who have now disappeared is because he believes: “It’s important to have a ‘yes’ culture and to offer a good service to win customers.” Because they offer a bespoke service Chris Livett says the waste and recyling volumes are not huge, at around 5,000 tonnes a year. Much of the waste is recycled: glass for cullet on the roads, cardboard goes to Wandsworth for recycling and waste oil from dredgers and Above and overpage left: loading and unloading waste on the Thames cruise ships is turned into heating fuel. He has seen the heyday, and the decline, of operating on the Thames. “Hopefully it’s on the up again but it’s got to be a level playing field. We’ve got to have not just interest but commitment from govern- Filming on the Thames: left: James Bond, above: ment. We need the continen- Harry Potter tal attitude – they give their waterways priority.” CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 10
Press watch which will be used to supply goods with its new lock, can transport to construction projects at the 12,000 tonnes of cargo a week, Olympic site. taking 1,200 lorry journeys off local Keith Holt, joint managing director roads each week and saving up to of HOPPE (UK), said: “Our 50,000 sq 4,000 te of carbon emissions. ft distribution centre at Standeford Writing in the FT Ed Hammond said News that Leeds City Council is located by the side of the Cemex’s new £50m Tilbury cement wants to safeguard certain canal Staffordshire and Worcestershire mill was a bold statement of intent wharves for freight use and to canal system, and the Olympic in the British construction industry. earmark waterside land for industrial Park can also be accessed using He quoted Gonzalo Galindo, Cemex’s purposes (see Regional News p6) the waterways, so it makes perfect UK president, saying: “Being only led to two CBOA spokesmen being sense to utilise this existing 25 miles from the centre of London invited to appear on BBC local radio resource.” means we can link up with our and regional tv to explain why this A recent column in The Times’ extensive network of wharves and is needed. Sustainable Transport’s Raconteur depots, connected by a system of First to be interviewed was Geoff notes that the freight and logistics river and rail transport, to deliver our Wheat, operations director, Humber industry is embracing carbon-cutting product efficiently.” Barges, on BBC local radio said: measures because they save money The Daily Telegraph’s London “Having a canal without wharves is at the same time as tackling climate editor, Andrew Gilligan, asked if like having a motorway without exit change. Writer Steve Agg, chief we could finally be grasping “this junctions - nowhere to get off.” executive of the Chartered Institute magnificent opportunity” of the river As we went to press Yorkshire-based of Transport and Logistics (UK) Thames in a recent blog. He joined CBOA secretary David Lowe was said the nature of this sector – for London mayor Boris Johnson and waiting to go on BBC Look North to example lorries using common road the Policy Exchange think tank to explain that barges can reduce both space with cars and buses – means bang the drum for the Thames as congestion and pollution: wharves that its work is often conducted a public transport artery. “Almost need to be waterside, not housing. in the full view of public gaze and all the infrastructure is already in A Wolverhampton-based so its impact on the UK’s carbon place, free of charge,” he wrote. manufacturer is taking an innovative footprint and the environment was “We don’t have to dig any holes. green approach to winning contracts readily visible. He highlighted the We don’t have to knock down any and delivering goods to the 2012 government’s Freight Best Practice buildings. We don’t have to pin our Olympics site, according to the programme, funded by the DfT, hopes on signal software that never Birmingham Post. HOPPE (UK), which provides advice and grants works, or contractors who usually which employs around 80 staff, is a to help shift freight from road to cheat us. And because it is a pocket- supplier of door handles along with alternative transport modes where money project, we don’t have to associated door hardware. It has feasible. worry about the Treasury, or the PPP, joined forces with London-based In a feature mapping British or the banks, either.” architectural ironmonger Harbrine to business and the Olympic Games He said the Thames in central and commission a 70ft freight-carrying The Times carried a case study inner London should primarily be narrow boat from Richard Horne, on VolkerStevin upgrading the what it was for in about 950 of the canal network around the site of last 1,000 years – a highway – not the London 2012 Games. Based in a place to live on a houseboat or Gateshead, the company has just paddle a canoe. “Nobody would be celebrated its 75th anniversary. The allowed to park their caravan on the £20m contract helped them through hard shoulder of the M25,” he wrote. the early part of the economic “Proper leadership is needed to downturn, according to managing make clear to these people that the director Jim McNeilly. The dredged interests of tourists and a few dozen A trial load for Harbrine 2.4metre-deep Prescott channel, houseboat residents must come CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 11
Press watch second to the transport needs of the several trade publications including Public Service Review: Transport city and its economy as a whole.” Removals and Storage and local carried an opinion piece by CBOA Freight cargoes could be transported papers including the Goole Howden chairman John Dodwell on how up and down the Caledonian Canal & Thorne Courier. two major international companies by early 2011 if a £4m scheme It also prompted a letter to the Selby reassessed their supply chains to comes to fruition, according to the Times. The writer, Richard Ferrari, reduce their carbon footprints – and Press and Journal. The Aberdeen lives next to a minor road that is found they also made cost savings. paper reported that Lembas clearly unsuitable for the HGVs using One of the main reasons is the Marine says haulage companies it as a route, day and night, to vari- labour efficiency ratio of barges over and community councils along the ous businesses around Pollington lorries. A82 Inverness to Fort William road airfield. PFA is the main ingredient However barge operators are support the scheme. Managing for the building blocks made by the fighting with property developers for director Liam Browning said 1,000 largest business there, H&H Celcon. waterside space for wharves and te barges, the equivalent of 30 – 40 He wrote that Dalkia now wants warehouses. He wrote: “Regional lorry loads, could save more than to build a power station fuelled by developers need to do more than 400,000 road miles a year and waste wood and in the planning play lip service to not putting houses take hundreds of lorries off one of application say the wood will be de- by the water.” the Highlands’ busiest trunk roads. livered by barge via a purpose-built John Dodwell also appeared on ITV Lembas Marine would transport wharf close to H&H Celcon. “Surely London to talk about the poor use of timber from the west coast to this would be the ideal system for the Olympic Lock. The news channel Inverness and the Cromarty Firth moving PFA from Drax power station had discovered that less than three and return with fish feed. to H&H Celcon.” barges a week were using it to carry Freight by Water, the industry lobby Another sheaf of cuttings concerned materials to and from the Olympic group, has published a mission the Leeds initiative and CBOA’s site. He said the issue lay with the positive response to safeguarding ODA, who failed to specify transport wharves for commercial barge terms in the building contract. They operators. They included the were continuing to use rail as the Local Government Chronicle environmentally friendly option. and CBOA secretary David Lowe’s However the lock was more than an comment that waterside needs to be Olympic wonder and would prove statement drawing attention to the waterside, housing doesn’t, on the its worth long after the Games had UK’s underutilised coastal routes BBC news channel. finished. and inland waterways, reported in Lloyds List. FbW chairman Tim Trust status for BW? Lowry said coastal ‘motorways’ were there now, with more than 100 The British Waterways Advisory robust governance structure that ports, whereas new road motorways Forum (BWAF, of which CBOA allows all users, local communities cost millions of pounds per mile to chairman John Dodwell is a and other stakeholders to hold build. Container transfer remained member) has welcomed the the new body to account and put “stubbornly problematical” in the government approving ‘in principle’ the waterways on a long-term UK, where it seemed cheaper and in the latest budget BW’s project to sustainable financial footing.” less time consuming to put the consider moving their waterways CBOA will be part of the consultation cargo on a truck. But that view was into the third sector. This could be a process. “We hope the new changing, supported bya transport charitable trust. arrangements will result in greater and logistics report from PriceWater- “Much detail will need to be worked attention being paid to the public houseCoopers on how supply chains out to ensure waterways assets and benefits from maintaining the freight would evolve in a low-carbon world. the public benefits they bring are waterways properly and planning News of Drax moving pulverised protected now and in the future,” their enhancement,” said Dodwell. fuel ash (see story p6) featured in said Dodwell, “and to develop a CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 12
CBOA for members Look at whole life cycle Assess commercial inland than in water freight and added: says CBOA waterway usage correctly “That itself might be the subject of CBOA has responded to the CBOA has urged the Transport an inquiry by your Committee.” Department for Energy and Select Committee to ensure that the Boatmasters licence Climate Change consultation on its inland waterway modal option is overarching energy policy with two “properly and fully assessed” in the With thanks to those who responded imperatives: government’s National Ports Policy. to the Marine and Coastguard Agency’s appeal for information 1 That the Infrastructure Responding to the committee’s on qualifications for boatmasters’ Planning Commission (IPC) use the inquiry into the proposals, Tim West licences, CBOA has also responded consenting processes to ensure on behalf of CBOA pointed out: on behalf of members. The issue is wharfage is created and used • Department for Transport statistics the onerous qualifying requirements show that 51.9 million metric 2 That the IPC ensure developers for those operating in a restricted tonnes were carried on the show how they have sought to tidal area. maximise their use of commercial waterways in 2008 Following the Thames Safety Inquiry inland waterways for their supply • this is part of the 123 million in 2009, such masters must have chains. metric tonnes on UK domestic a national BML. The MCA is looking waters In its submission CBOA said at introducing a BML that is more waterside infrastructure can be used • that it is 5% of the UK total and suitable for a restricted area and not only through the construction, equal to rail operation and considering whether delivery phases and removal of • in terms of distances moved 20% other certificates or training could spoil phases of a development, but of UK freight moved by water be used instead of, or to help qualify also for decommissioning and other compared with 8% by rail (after for, a BML. purposes. CBOA says this aspect removing figures for North Sea oil is not mentioned in the draft and and sea-dredged aggregates, the Stoppages should be, citing the example of the 20% for water is about 13%) Winter programme Drax jetty on the river Ouse. This • many craft can carry 500 tonnes BW is planning to publish a draft was originally installed to bring in or more, taking the equivalent of programme of 2010/11 winter heavy loads and is now being used 25 20-tonne capacity lorries off stoppages on Waterscape.com this to export ash. the road. Spring. Members can scrutinise “Opportunities have been lost their plans and send comments • water transport emits 75% less previously,” says CBOA’s Tim on proposed scheduling. BW CO2 per tonne kilometre than road West who produced the response, will consider suggestions and haulage and is a far better user of “because the consenting authorities update plans ‘where possible and energy resources (Tyndall Centre have not required the developers appropriate’. for Climate Change) to consider utilisation of inland Stafford • ports planning expansion should waterways. Meanwhile BW’s Dean Davies look at using water freight to bring As power generation requires accepted an invitation from CBOA in and take away cargoes access to water and therefore power vice chairman John Jackson to stations are often sited adjacent to • planning agreements should be accompany him on Roach through commercial waterways, we believe used so that expanding ports pay Stafford to see for himself the that the IPC has a significant role for water freight infrastructure dredging needs. Although at 18 to play to ensure that government improvements, in the same way tonnes and so not fully loaded, policy and guidance, much of which as for rail and road improvements Roach still took an hour and a half supports modal shift and the use of because of expansion to get through Radford Bridge. Other inland waterways for the carriage of • barges should be used to collect problem areas included the sewer freight, is applied when approving waste from ships outfall to the east of Stafford boat new energy infrastructure.” He said it was “noteworthy” that the club which stopped them dead, and DfT invests far more on rail freight all the bridge holes. As a result BW CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 13
CBOA for members said they would programme in some work on the failed 10-metre section she has seen what the Dutch and dredging. of lock island wall and the north Germans can do with water freight. upstream approach wall . Thanks She agreed the Inter Departmental Doncaster dredging to regular consultations with freight Group needed strengthening by Lack of dredging on the Sheffield and leisure users, BW implemented having Ministers attend. and South Yorkshire navigation for a 24-hour working progamme to the past three years compounded minimise disruption. CBOA stickers by summer floods in 2007 meant Meanwhile consultation between Secretary David Lowe now has CBOA member Waddingtons had to BW’s Stuart McKenzie and Rix and stocks of CBOA stickers. These come suspend operations because they Bayfords ensured that work to in two forms: one has the ‘sticky could only take a 75% payload. repair the blown cill at Lemonroyd side’ on the front, and is for car rear Another member, Whitakers, was lock was programmed around their windows, wheelhouse windows and only able to operate because they delivery needs. the like, while the other type has the use the un-modernised section ‘sticky side’ on the back, and is for in Rotherham which has its own CBOA meets the Conservative affixing to boats (eg each side of a depth restriction. CBOA pointed out Shadow minister narrow boat engine room bulkhead) to BW they were breaking the law CBOA chairman John Dodwell and similar. The stickers measure in not maintaining the system and and representatives from other approx 25 x 5cm (9¾ x 2in). a significant amount of dredging organisations with waterways Please help promote CBOA and let has now been completed. CBOA interests met Conservative Shadow David Lowe know how many you is now awaiting the results of a Waterways minister Anne Mcintosh need, by e-mail or telephone (see hydrographic survey that should to brief her on issues. As an MEP contact details back page). lead to this “overlong” restriction on navigable depth being removed.
Heck Bridge The air-room under this Aire and Calder Navigation bridge continues to give concern. The bridge is in area of known coal mining subsidence and a Restriction Note was issued in March, stating that the headroom was now down to 3.6m maximum: in the centre. CBOA is pressing British Waterways to enforce legal rights against UK Coal who have caused the subsidence and get them to ensure the bridge is rebuilt. Mindful that this is one of problem bridges preventing container carrying barges getting to Leeds, CBOA is also pressing for the bridge to be completely rebuilt.
Locks away BW has completed the final phase of a £500,000 three-year plan to repair Castleford Lock on Yorkshire’s Aire The blown cill at Lemonroyd lock with all the sluices and gates fully closed! and Calder Navigation. It included CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 14
Water freight holding its own Crossrail takes to the water The 2008 DfT statistics show water Volumes carried on BW Crossrail is to carry more than 5te freight tonnages holding their own In response to a CBOA request of excavated material down the despite the effects of the recession. BW has supplied the following Thames for use in landscaping These statistics include ships information for the year ending projects, including a new nature coming into inland waters. For the 31 March 2009. reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex. UK as a whole the figures are: By road this would take 500,000 These figures exclude BW dredgings lorry journeys. • 52m tonnes moved (the same as and construction works related in 2007) traffic as well as coal and other fuels The Crossrail project, Europe’s • 1.72billion tonne-kilometres carried on the smaller waterways. largest, is to build a high frequency moved, taking into account They include the one-off S&SYN railway connecting London’s City, distances (2007: 1.74bn) limestone 266,000 tonnes. Canary Wharf, the West End and Heathrow to areas east and west of Compared with 2004, the tonnage • the Thames continued to lead with the capital. It will bring 1.45 million has increased by 65%. Even after 22m tonnes people within a 60-minute commute excluding the limestone journey, the • the Thames is up by 38% from a of the capital. low point in 2004: the navigation increase is 26%. Tonnes More than 4 million cubic metres of authority is keen to protect Gloucester and Sharpness Canal 477,000 the excavated material generated wharves and encourage freight (Sharpness Docks) from construction of the new tunnels The tonne-kilometre figures of Aire and Calder Navigation 392,9001 will be used for the island nature goods moved show water (including Sheffield and South Yorkshire 290,000 reserve. The mud flat and salt marsh Navigation coastal ships) had a 20% share habitats created at Wallasea Island River Severn 269,000 of the whole UK freight transport will act as a carbon sink and soak London (mainly Docklands and Grand 186,000 market. Once North Sea oil and sea- Union aggregate traffics) up 2.2 tonnes of carbon per hectare dredged aggregates are adjusted for, River Ouse (mainly Howdendyke 183,000 each year. on the basis they have to use water, wharves) The mayor and Central Government water still took a 14.6% share. That River Trent (BW cover upstream of 160,0002 have been very clear that Crossrail compares with rail’s 8% and yet rail Gainsborough) Crinan Canal (Ardrishaig Docks) 80,000 must do all they can to limit their gets all the Government’s non-road impact in terms of lorry movements. Sub-total 2,037,900 infrastructure investment. Excavated material from tunneling Less double-counted* (188,900) Excluding ships coming in from the Total 1,849,000 will be removed by rail and water, sea, purely internal trade was 3.7m: Exclude Sharpness, Ardrishaig and 740,000 while construction material from a 42% increase since 2004. Howdendyke stations and station-related work Total along BW waterways 1,109,000 such as permanent access as
*Double counted: 133,900 went onto the S&SYN 2155,000 went onto the Aire & Calder
Carrying limestone, photo courtesy Malcolm Slater Crossrail’s first load from Canary Wharf CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 15
Crossrail takes to the water Foreign news ventilation shafts will initially drop in volumes. Many face acute be removed by road and then difficulties with debt repayments. transferred to the river. According to Lloyds List, “Using the barges rather than the commission official Jean-Eric roads is a supremely brilliant plan,” Paquet produced a report saying said London mayor Boris Johnson, the downturn could not be regarded “and it brings joy to my heart to see as a structural crisis “but rather a them make their way up and down cyclical crisis”. He said a majority the Thames.” of member states did not believe New Dutch road charging law Crossrail is working with the Port of scrapping was the most suitable London Authority and BW to promote The Dutch government has drafted measure for saving the industry: and maximise the use of water a new road charging law. Aim is waterways needed to be better transport. Crossrail chief executive to abolish both vehicle registration connected with other modes of Rob Holden said: and road taxes from 2012 and transport. replace them with a kilometre tax so “Using the river is fundamental The refusal led European Parliament road users pay for vehicle use, not for us. You can move much more transport committee chairman Brian ownership. material on the river in one barge Simpson to accuse the European compared with a single lorry and Each vehicle would have a GPS to Commission of pushing the industry doing so also takes much less check time, distance and speed. to the brink of collapse and of energy and generates far fewer Data would go to a collection facility running the risk in a couple of years environmental emissions.” where invoices were drafted. The of “fiddling while Rome burned”. basic tax of €0.03 per km would Incoming Brussels Industry vary with vehicle type, weight and Commissioner Antonio Tajani said CO2 emissions, ie fuel use. Tax rather than a state-aided scatter gun would rise to €0.067 per km by approach aimed at specific sectors, 2018. he preferred horizontal measures It’s estimated the plan would deliver applicable to all industries. euro 1bn a year in welfare gains – Maritime Journal reports that reduced particulate emissions and Netherlands-based engineering safety – and cut travel by 15%. The consultancy DHV has won a euro cash would go on road, rail and 10 million World Bank contract to other infrastructure. improve navigability on 250km of L to R: Kulveer Ranger Mayor’s transport adviser, the Mekong river in Vietnam. In Richard Everitt PLA CEO, and Rob Holden Crossrail Inertia in Brussels addition to widening and deepening Brussels is currently refusing to the river they will build and restore consider a scrappage scheme 18 bridges, at present too low to for Europe’s inland waterway allow inland water transport, and industry despite operators on the construct a new lock. continent struggling with a 30%
No comment Regional transport improvements, we are told, are a matter for regional government. So how surprising to find that the lowering of the track in one of the Southampton rail tunnels so trains can take high cube containers has been funded nationally by Associated British Ports (who own Southampton Docks), the Department for Transport, Network Rail (that’s DfT again) and the Strategic Freight Network Fund (also DfT).
Crossrail’s first load from Canary Wharf CBOA News | Spring 2010 page 16
CBOA officer contacts Hello/Goodbye the waterways. A combination of We were going to have welcomed lobbying, briefings on radio and tv Chairman the news that BW’s Mark Bensted and a petition that attracted some John Dodwell had been appointed Head of 15,000 signatories persuaded the Email: [email protected] Regeneration and that this included government not to sell the BW Tel: 07802 961485 being head of freight. However, after property portfolio. Vice chairman, stoppages and a few months, he has left BW. But More barges on the Thames maintenance matters he did attend a CBOA committee John Jackson meeting at which he said he saw John Spencer’s GPS Marine (Profile Email: [email protected] no conflict between freight and August 2008) now has five 1,500 Tel 07885 284812 other users of the waterways. So tonne barges working the Thames Secretary now we say hello to Steve Dunlop and Medway and a further three David Lowe who effectively replaces him. The 2,700 tonne barges lying in the Email: [email protected] importance to CBOA of the new BW Medway and about to start work. Tel: 01924 261870 Regeneration department is not River Trent study Treasurer only that there is now a person in Peter Hugman each region dealing with freight but Our last issue reported that the East Email: [email protected] that through their local authority Midlands Development Agency’s Tel: 01286 678571 etc connections, we can engage in report had showed there could be an discussions with planners and so extra 1m tonnes carried on the Trent. Parliamentary, regional and local develop an overall policy. As part of the action plan urged by government matters CBOA, two independent consultants Tim West More spoil down the Thames who are very experienced in barge Email: [email protected] In addition to the 5mte that Crossrail operations have been commissioned Tel: 01785 850411 will send down the Thames, another to talk to prospective customers. North East representative 6.7mte is scheduled to go down the They have found more possible Noel Tomlinson river from two other major projects. traffics and we look forward to Email: [email protected] Starting in May, 1.7mte will come hearing of trials and/or actual Tel : 01482 320727 from the Thames Water Lea tunnel, movements. North West representative for which sending the spoil and Waterways are Multimodal! Mike Carter delivering some of the construction Email : [email protected] materials by water was a planning CBOA is once again taking a stand Tel: 07831 184495 condition, and 5mte of spoil will at the Multimodal exhibition in Birmingham in April and will make Midlands representative be taken from the Thames tideway Bernard Hales sewage tunnels being built. an Award of Excellence. Look for Email : [email protected] details of the winner in the next No to BW property sale petition Tel: 07860 308973 issue. Speculation that the Government Southern representative intended to include the British Keith Mahoney And finally... Waterways’ property portfolio in its Email: [email protected] £16bn asset sale drew a fast and Tel: 07831 829898 effective response from the Inland CBOA news Waterways Association, supported Editor: Pamela Mounter by CBOA and its members. Design: Greendown House At stake was the property rental Printer: Ghost Creations income from the canals. Had this been lost the money for If you would like to advertise in maintenance would have been CBOA News please contact the greatly reduced, affecting not just Who carried this Pharaoh up the chairman John Dodwell for rates. boat owners but all who enjoy Thames? See centre spread profile.