The nine red plastic can buoys (port lateral marks) laid to mark the southern (Surrey) edge of the navigation channel, (in a charted depth of about 1.0 metres) will remain in position until further notice. In addition on or about the 11th and 12th of October six further port lateral marks and four green plastic cone buoys (starboard lateral marks) are to be laid. The complete list of all buoys is as follows (see attached charts):
Syon Reach
"Syon Reach Buoy” (port/red) - Near the driftwood moorings on Syon Reach, lit with a quick flashing red light (QkFlR).
“Lot’s Ait Buoy” (port/red) - Opposite the upstream end of Lot's Ait.
“Hog Hole Buoy” (port/red) - Approx 20m upstream of Hog Hole.
“Brentford Ait Buoy” (port/red) - Approx 30m upstream of downstream end of Lower Brentford Ait.
Mortlake Reach
“Harbour Master’s Buoy” (port/red) - By the Harbour Master's Steps
“Oliver’s Ait Buoy” (port/red) - 10m downstream of the downstream end of Oliver’s Ait
“U.L. Buoy” (port/red) - 25m upstream from the upstream end of the University of London’s slip, lit with a red light flashing every two seconds (QkFl(2)R).
“Barker’s Rails Buoy” (port/red) – 100m downstream of Barker’s Rails, lit with a quick flashing red light (QkFIR).
Corney Reach
“Ship Inn Buoy” (port/red) – 50m upstream of the ship inn, lit with a red light flashing every two seconds (QkFl(2)R).
“Bull’s Alley Buoy” (starboard/green) –150m downstream of the Ship Inn, lit with a quick flashing green light (QkFlG)
“Tradesmen’s Buoy” (starboard/green) –opposite the white hart public house, lit with a green light flashing every four seconds (QkFl(4)G)
“Duke’s Meadows Buoy” (starboard/green) – 200m downstream of Barnes Bridge, lit with a green light flashing every four seconds (QkFl(4)G)
“LEP Buoy” (starboard/green) –200m upstream of Chiswick Pier, lit with a green light flashing every two seconds (QkFl(2)G)
“Chiswick Steps Buoy” (port/red) – opposite the upper end of Chiswick Pier, lit with a quick flashing red light (QkFlR)
“Black Lion Buoy” (port/red) – opposite durham wharf, lit with a red light flashing every two seconds (QkFl(2)R)
Barn Elms Reach
“River View Buoy” (port/red) - Off the Harrods Depository 100m upstream of the headway board, lit with a quick flashing red light (QkFlR).
“Tea Rose Buoy” (port/red) – Opposite Tea Rose Jetty, lit with a red light flashing every four seconds (QkFl(4)R)
“Mile Post Buoy” (port/red) - Off the Queen Elizabeth Walk towpath 100yds downstream of the Mile Post, lit with a red light flashing every four seconds (QkFl(4)R).
“Barn Elms Buoy” (port/red) – 100m upstream of Barn Elms boat house, lit with a red light flashing every two seconds (QkFl(2)R)
The buoys mark the edge of the navigation channel and the inshore zone, separating rowers working against the tide from other river traffic.
Links to Chart Extracts
1. Syon and Mortlake Reaches
2. Mortlake and Corney Reaches
3. Corney and Barn Elms Reaches
Instructions to Rowers
Port of London Authority Notice to Mariners U15 of 2006 (“Rules for Navigation of Vessels under Oars on the Tidal Thames”) remains in force.
When proceeding against the tidal stream (either flood or ebb) rowers are to remain as close to the bank as is safe and practical and are to pass between the red buoys and the Surrey bank, and the green buoys and the Middlesex bank. If rowing boats stray out into the navigation channel, the buoys are an indication of the need to move back inshore as soon as possible.
When proceeding with the tidal stream, the buoys are an indication of the limits of the navigation channel and crews should steer in accordance with the normal navigation rules EG:
When rowing on the ebb tide – leave the red buoys as close to starboard as is safe and practicable.
When rowing on the flood tide – leave the green buoys as close to starboard as is safe and practicable.
Further to this, the buoy opposite the University of London Boathouse, is also to be used to mark the furthest upstream point, at which boats from the University Boat Club can enter the inshore zone, when crossing from the Middlesex to the Surrey side of the river.
Crossing Zones
Also the LEP and Chiswick Steps buoys mark the Chiswick Steps crossing, while the Bull's Alley and Ship Inn buoys mark the Chiswick Bridge crossing. When proceeding against the stream in either direction the first buoy marks the start of the crossing zone, before which rowers should not normally cross the river. The second buoy on the other side of the river marks the end of the crossing zone. The river should be crossed in the gap between the two buoys. If a rowing boat has been unable to cross before reaching the end of the crossing zone, it must stop and wait for the river to clear - not continue along the incorrect side of the river.
The crossing zones are further marked by yellow stripes on the river bank. The Chiswick steps and Chiswick bridge crossing are marked with four stripes, two on either bank. The first mark signifies the start of the crossing zone and the second the end of it. Rowing vessels should endeavour to cross in the zone marked out by the four stripes.
The Putney bridge crossing is marked by two stripes on the river wall of bishop’s park. The mark closest to Putney bridge marks where rowers coming upriver may start to cross. The second mark signifies the point at which rowers coming from behind the moored boats, wishing to proceed upriver on the flood, must have crossed to the starboard side of the channel.
The Syon Reach crossing point is marked by two stripes on the river wall on the Kew Gardens side of the river. Proceeding upriver the first mark indicates where rowers must start to revert to the starboard hand side of the river, with the second mark being where they must stop if they have not been able to switch to that. When proceeding downriver the first mark is where the rowing rules start to apply and the second marks where rowers must stop if they are not on the correct side of the river.
Instructions to all other River Users
All other river users are to treat the buoys as ordinary port and starboard lateral marks. Due to the lack of water at low tide and the number of rowers using the inside channel, other river users should avoid navigating between the buoys and the shore.
This Notice replaces and cancels U19 of 2006.
