Policy | Procedure Incidents on the River Thames New policy number: 260 Old instruction number: Issue date: 17 November 1993 Reviewed as current: 11 November 2019 Owner: Assistant Commissioner, Operational Policy Assurance Responsible work team: Rescue and ISAR Team Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3 2 Legislation ............................................................................................................. 4 3 Hazards ................................................................................................................. 4 4 Planning ................................................................................................................. 5 5 Mobilising .............................................................................................................. 8 6 En-route ................................................................................................................. 9 7 On arrival .............................................................................................................. 10 8 Operational procedures ......................................................................................... 11 9 Associated policies ................................................................................................ 16 Appendix 1 - Key point summary – incidents on the River Thames ........................................... 17 Appendix 2 - River Thames grid mobilising scheme ............................................................... 18 Appendix 3 - River Thames operational reconnaissance points (RP) .......................................... 19 Appendix 4 - River Thames operational access points (AP) ...................................................... 23 Appendix 5 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 1 ........................................ 25 Appendix 6 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 2 ........................................ 27 Appendix 7 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 3 ........................................ 29 Appendix 8 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 4 ........................................ 31 Appendix 9 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 5 ........................................ 33 Review date: 11 November 2022 Last amended date: 3 February 2021 260 Issue date: 17 November 1993 1 of 42 Appendix 10 - Hazards when operating on the River Thames Sector 6 ...................................... 35 Appendix 11 - Towing methods ......................................................................................... 37 Appendix 12 - Search methodology diagrams ....................................................................... 38 Appendix 13 - Types of vessel ........................................................................................... 40 Document history ........................................................................................................... 41 260 Issue date: 17 November 1993 2 of 42 1 Introduction 1.1 This policy provides guidance for personnel attending operational incidents on the River Thames and its tributaries. 1.2 The tidal Thames is a commercial highway, with the Port of London being one of the busiest ports in the UK, handling over 50 million tonnes of cargo a year. 1.3 The Thames is also the busiest waterway in the UK with 8.5 million passenger journeys being made yearly, with the Transport for London’s (TfL) River Action Plan looking to increase the number of river passengers to 12 million by 2020. 1.4 Use of river services has increased over the past 10 years. This has been driven by a growing number of attractions and developments along the river, as well as substantial investment in services by Transport for London (TfL) and other operators. Organisational roles and responsibilities on the River Thames Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) 1.5 Whereas LFB has the responsibility for rescue in all other inland waterways in London, the MCA are the coordinating authority for Search and Rescue (SAR) on the tidal section of the River Thames. 1.6 However, dependent on the type, size, and complexity of an incident the MCA may delegate the function of On Scene Coordinator (OSC) to the most appropriate agency and this includes the LFB. 1.7 The MCA’s area of responsibility stretches from Teddington Lock to Shell Haven Point on the north bank and from Egypt Bay to the Essex Coast on the south bank. 1.8 The MCA’s Thames coordination centre is based at Thames Barrier Navigation Centre in Woolwich, within the PLA London Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) control room. Port of London Authority (PLA) 1.9 Under the Port of London Act 1968 the PLA is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames and has responsibility for navigational safety, information, environment and development. Environmental Agency (EA) 1.10 The EA is the navigational authority for the non-Tidal River Thames from Teddington Lock to St John's Lock, Gloucestershire but has no responsibility for the co-ordination of SAR, which sits with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). 1.11 Due to respective LFB and MPS capabilities, the responsibility to coordinate initial SAR is likely to be delegated to the LFB on the non-tidal reaches of the River. London Emergency Services Liaison Panel (LESLP) 1.12 The LFB has a designated role on the Thames within the London Emergency Services Liaison Panel (LESLP) response framework. The LFB Fireboat is named as a resource in the LESLP Major Incident Procedural Manual and provides an essential component of a multi-agency response to a declared major incident on, or adjacent to, the River Thames. 260 Issue date: 17 November 1993 3 of 42 2 Legislation 2.1 LFB have core statutory responsibilities, included in legislation, to respond to fires and other emergencies on the River Thames. These can be grouped into two areas: Fires/HAZMAT 2.2 The LFB have a statutory responsibility to respond to fires and other emergencies in accordance with the Fire Rescue Services Act 2004 (FRSA). For further information on fires on the River Thames refer to Policy number 890 – Firefighting in ships and vessels. 2.3 The Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) (England) Order 2007 also includes duties for dealing with HAZMAT incidents and rescues from and involving methods of transport, structure and collapsed buildings. Special services 2.4 The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 includes provisions within Section 2 that impose a duty on the Authority from time to time to "assess the risk of an emergency making it necessary or expedient for the [Authority] to perform any of its functions". 2.5 The MCA is the lead authority for maritime incidents under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, and will coordinate the response of other emergency services which may include the LFB. 3 Hazards 3.1 The River Thames presents a range of hazards for personnel attending incidents on or near it. At its lower reaches, the River Thames presents operating conditions that are in a sea environment. These stretches of the river include major shipping, container ports and heavy industry. In the middle reaches there are major commercial and passenger services, focused on tourism and commuter traffic, with the upper reaches being typically associated with residential and leisure use. 3.2 It is essential that personnel understand the generic hazards associated with the marine environment and in particular the River Thames and its tributaries. 3.3 For further information see Policy number 581 - Water rescue and safety when working near, on or in water and for a detailed reference of hazards for specific sectors of the River Thames see appendices 5 -10. 3.4 To assist in identifying specific hazards associated with the River Thames they can be grouped under four headings: (a) Working environment (b) River structures (c) Types of river traffic (d) Fire Working environment • Weather. • Tidal flow. • Undertow. • Depth and clarity of water. 260 Issue date: 17 November 1993 4 of 42 • Pollution/contamination/biological risks. • Mud, silt, roots, weeds and rocks. • Entrapment and/or crush injuries between ships hull and dockside. • Quay-side and river bank conditions (slips, trips, and falls). • Accidental immersion/hypothermia/drowning/fatigue. • Waterborne debris. • Sprains and strains caused by over-reaching, pulling and lifting from unnatural positions. • Sub surface obstructions – anchor chains, electrical cables. • Electrical hazards - overhead power lines, quayside installations. • Inadequate lighting. River structures (bridges/pontoons/piers/weirs/locks) 3.5 Manmade structures can disrupt the flow of water which can cause unpredictable tidal movement, can be dangerous to the personnel and resources on the river and make vessel control more difficult. 3.6 Hazards associated with locks and weirs include fast flowing water, dangerous undercurrents, the lock mechanism, falls from height and access/egress issues. Types of river traffic 3.7 Due to the growing levels and variety of river traffic the risk of collision has increased, The Thames is a busy waterway, used by a variety of vessels, details of which are set out in Appendix 13. Fire Midstream/alongside (defined in Section 7 below) 3.8 For general hazards associated with firefighting operations refer to Policy number 793 - Compartment firefighting. 3.9 Firefighting in ships and vessels introduces a range of additional hazards, for guidance