Masters of all vessels are reminded that an eight knot speed limit applies in certain parts of the River Thames, specifically, upstream of Wandsworth Bridge and in adjoining creeks and areas around Canvey Island.
Byelaw 48 of the Port of London River Byelaws 1978 (as amended) sets out the areas, restrictions and exceptions and is reproduced below.
Speed Limits
48 (1) The master of a power driven vessel navigating in a part of the Thames to which this byelaw applies shall not cause or permit the vessel to exceed a speed of eight knots through, on or over the water:
Provided that this byelaw shall not apply-
(a) where the vessel is being used for a fire brigade, rescue, ambulance, law enforcement or police purpose or for a purpose of the Port Authority’s harbour service, if the observance of the byelaw would be likely to hinder the use of the vessel for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion or
(b) where-
(i) the vessel (having for the purpose of this byelaw been approved by a harbour master as one of which may exceed a speed of eight knots through the water) is engaged in escorting a rowing boat in training;
or
(ii) the vessel is engaged in escorting a boat race or regatta; or © where the vessel is being used in connection with an activity mentioned in byelaw 51 (1) below [Water-skiing, etc] when taking place in an area authorised by the Port Authority under sub-paragraph (b) thereof.
(2) The parts of the Thames to which this byelaw applies are –
(a) the Thames above Wandsworth Bridge;
(b) Deptford Creek
(c) the River Lee or Bow Creek
(d) Barking Creek
(e) Dartford Creek
(f) the creeks to the north and west of Canvey Island and of the island known as Leigh Marsh or Two Tree Island, that is to say –
(i) Holehaven, Vange and Pitsea creeks north of line drawn from Holehaven Point on a bearing 270º reckoned clockwise from the true north point of the compass; and
(ii) Leigh Creek, Hadleigh ray, Benfleet and Easthaven Creeks west of a line drawn from Canvey Point on a bearing 000º reckoned as aforesaid to the Leigh-on-Sea shore and
(g) Yantlet Creek
Masters’ attention is also drawn to Notice to Mariners No 12 of 2006 which refers to vessels’ speed and potential wash damage to berthed vessels and installations and to Rule 6 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, which requires that ‘Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed………’
