PLA EBB TIDE FLAG WARNING ADVICE River Thames Recreational Users Guide The PLA has established a warning system to indicate potential fast ebb tide flows created by land water from the non-tidal Thames (fluvial flow). The advice is updated daily at 06:00 - NOT FOR NAVIGATION - and is readily available as a widget on both homepages of: www.boatingonthethames.co.uk and www.pla.co.uk. The PLA’s ‘Tidal Thames Navigators’ Club’ gives all recreational boaters access to information tailored to their navigation on the river. It’s FREE to join, its main aim is to further improve There are three main levels of advice, which are: communication with recreational boaters. Members will receive: • RED FLAG – Extreme Caution – EBB TIDE Very Strong Fluvial Flows Hermitage Moorings • YELLOW FLAG – Caution – EBB TIDE Strong Fluvial Flows Regularly updated river safety information tailored to their type of boating • GREEN FLAG – Average Fluvial Flow Conditions two visitor berths for up to 2 weeks in 4 Tide Tables and Port Information Handbook on river near Tower Bridge & St Katharine Docks The PLA Recreational Users Guide In addition there is a fourth level (BLACK FLAG) of advice for all river users to note; when Mariners Guide to Bridges on the Tidal Thames and A2 Colour Folio Charts at a reduced price there are low fluvial flows and the Richmond Lock low water reads below 0m. This usually available to all vessels but best suited to barges occurs when the fluvial flow rate is less than usual at Teddington Weir and the upper reaches +44(0)20 74812122 [email protected] As a boat owner it will give you increased security, knowing that the Harbour Master can easily of the tideway can expect lower than predicted tidal levels. ST. KATHARINE DOCKS get in touch with you should anything happen to your boat. Teddington to Broadness For information and restrictions (eg draft limits) see: Join the PLA’s dedicated recreational users’ website www.boatingonthethames.co.uk www.hermitagemoorings.org/hermitage-river-projects/visitor-berths • Over 20 restaurants, cafes & bars on site Port of London Authority, London River House, Royal Pier Road, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BG I T: 01474 562200 I E: [email protected] I www.pla.co.uk • Visitor & annual berths in the centre of London NAVIGATION ABOVE PUTNEY BRIDGE Reduced Upriver Depths • Family friendly events all the year round Three Mills Lock Rowing Navigation Buoys In prolonged dry weather periods, water rates flowing over Teddington Weir are often significantly reduced. This means that depths at low water in the upper reaches of the RMC Dagenham VISITOR MOORINGS There is a 1m deep channel on the side of the river, the edge of which is marked by red tidal Thames may be much lower than predicted or charted. All river users must take and green buoys between Putney and Brentford. the potential of reduced depths into account at such times and to check on the latest [email protected] Bow There are a number of visitor moorings available on the tidal Thames, all are owned and managed by various stakeholders, these include; yacht clubs, cruising Lock These ensure the segregation of rowing craft that are rowing against the tide from other PLA advice published on: www.boatingonthethames.co.uk and note the status of the VHF Ch80 | 020 7264 5312 Knot clubs, marinas and the PLA. In all circumstances, you must obtain permission from the berth or mooring owner/provider before using any facility. Barrier river users and motor vessels should treat these buoys as ordinary port and starboard PLA Ebb Tide Flag Warning Advice. It is also very important to keep well clear of larger Tidal Speed Limit Notice Barrier No. 4 Jetty All moorings available to hire can be found on the PLA interactive map: www.boatingonthethames.co.uk/leisuremap.cfm or on the PLA Moorings page: lateral marks, avoid navigating between the buoys and the shore (the “inshore zone”). vessels that have limited space to manoeuvre. in Barking Creek Board www.pla.co.uk/leisure/moorings-and-other-services Blackfriars Recreational Craft Mortlake and Syon Reach - Navigation in the vicinity of Swan Lane h Fords Jetty eac Ha RNLI Lifeboat Rail V g R lfw Pier rkin ay THAMES MARINAS Kew Road Bridge and Pier Bridge Tower Thames Barrier Control Zone Ba 1 Station St.Katharine's Crossness 2 Rea There may be a lot of recreational boats on the move above Putney Bridge, particularly Pier 13 Limehouse 10 V ch Blackfriars Millennium Pier Light Due to the tidal nature of the River Thames, the majority of marinas can only be accessed between 2 hours before and 2 hours after High Water. The exception at weekends. Regardless of the 8 knot speed limit vessels must pay attention to their Embankment Marina The river can be very busy around Kew Bridge with rowers, leisure boats, Stand-Up Bridge Cannon St. 8 wash. All users of paddle powered craft must be familiar with the relevant code of Waterloo Bridge Gallions Point Southern to this is Limehouse Marina, which may be accessed between 4 hours before and 4 hours after High Water at London Bridge. You should contact marinas Paddleboarding and larger passenger boats manoeuvring on and off Kew Pier. Visibility Pier 21 St.Katharine Knot Margaretness Bridge Rail Bridge Royal Docks Marina Ltd Outfall practice, available on our website www.boatingonthethames.co.uk Docks Canary Blackwall direct to confirm appropriate lock in times. is also greatly restricted by Kew Bridge which is on a bend in the river. s Reach 2 h ing Speed Limit c Middleton Wharf K Wharf Point a in Bow Creek e 10 Hermitage London City Airport R Jenningtree River Events Charing Cross l Pier West India 6 s Jenningtree Drivers of motor vessels must sound one prolonged blast when approaching the Southwark o B n Moorings o o P Nelson u i Rail Bridge Festival London 25 Dock l Point Bridge r g Barrier l bridge from either direction and when leaving Kew Pier. Whichever vessel you are in, U e s p w b a p Dock L Pier Bridge e o y G The area of river between Putney Bridge and Eel Pie Island is home to regattas and r L i Notice Board h m s you should keep a good lookout, navigate with extreme caution and listen carefully for Westminster Tower P E c o o Pier R r e North l i a Waterloo e V processional rowing events including the Boat Race and the Great River Race. These t h a e sound signals. Pier London Bridge c Hookness h o R B Greenwich h Pier R events can lead to navigational restrictions and full river closures. You should check u l a Westminster Bridge e VHF CHANNEL 68 Butler's s 3 c Pier a Cherry Garden e the PLA’s Online Events Calendar www.pla.co.uk/Events/Annual-Events-Calendar or City Pier k c Bridge R Erith Oil Works CALL SIGN LONDON VTS Knot h h Wharf w oolwich Reach Coldharbour Jetty t W Pier e 8 a e listen to London VTS on VHF Channel 14 for further information. a l b Speed Restriction c l Lambeth h R 9 Greenwich Headway m Woolwich upstream of this point Greenland Isle of Dogs e Barrier 27 (East of Crayfordness) a HMS a Gauges for L N Pier Pier c Yacht Club Thames Woolwich Arsenal Pier Lambeth Belfast h Gardens Coldharbour Westminster Ferry Conway’s Jetty Barrier 1 Point Bridge Bridge Pier 4 2 Knot Millbank Masthouse 14 London Corinthian Pier Speed Restriction 20 South Dock Terrace 22 Dove downstream of this point Erith ds W E Sailing Club Marina th Ran Pier Cadogan Pier Causeway Eri Harrisons Wharf 26 Westminster h V Hammersmith Pier ac Kew Chelsea Boating Base Re Crayfordness h DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE 16 Chiswick ch Bridge Vauxhall 1 Ahoy wic Bridge a Bridge h 4 reen Esso 1 e 8 c G R a Centre Ait k Headway Albert e Bridge ic s R V The owner of a vessel licensed under section 124 of the Port of London Act or a houseboat must, S Kew Rail w lm 7 Purfleet Deep Grays Terminals 1 & 2 V is Gauges for Bridge ne E Greenwich Erith Ferry h ch Ni Water - Lower Kew Bridge C Hammersmith Rea ensure that no sewage is discharged into the Thames. Please see Thames Byelaw 49. Details Tidal lsea Knot Pier Yacht Club 14 Thurrock Wharves Che Barrier Pier Bridge 4 Victoria of current operational sewage pump out facilities providing a service to recreational boaters are Jurgens Jetty 5 B 4 Black Yacht Chiswick Pier a Chelsea Speed Limit White r Rail Bridge available on the Boating on the Thames website. L M o Shelf Club n in Deptford Creek Knot 2 Brentford Dock RNLI Lifeboat Harbour h n Civil & Hart o c g E Knot a r l Marine Marina t Station m Marina e Battersea R Speed Limit when l The R V e 2 a 20 s a 1 k Speed Limit c specified vessels are West a h R Road e 6 Chiswick Quay Wetland e in Dartford Creek h berthed as broadcast Thurrock h Broadness V e R s c c r a a Bridge by London VTS Jetty e Broadness e a Centre e c Buoy a Marina Battersea R e h Wind Surfing t c t s Buoy R Navigator 1, 2 & 3 t h h permitted only to the a c y Rail Bridge n Broadness a west of Putney Bridge B e e e 19 South Bank V n m R r VHF CHANNEL 14 Stone Ness Point Lt.