Boat spotting

Images from a misty morning’s hour by the riverside a few days ago. Surrounding buildings lost or blurred by grey haze, the only colour came from passing boats busily benefitting from the flood tide.

Livett’s ROMEO LIMA in action

Livett’s ROMEO LIMA is a neat, multi-purpose vessel which I’ve seen used for filming on the River Thames, as well serving as a camera boat, drone platform and safety boat. I have also seen her at work surveying the foreshore and river walls.

SWS tug ESSEX pushing barge California

SWS tug ESSEX is one of the distinctive fleet of tugs with yellow painted wheelhouses, operating for the S.Walsh & Sons/ GRS Group. Often to be seen heading along Lambeth Reach, their tugs and barges transport aggregates to construction projects along the Thames and remove excavated or unwanted material from building sites.

SWS tug ESSEX
GPS tug VINCIA

GPS Marine Tug VINCIA is an inland tug, one of the GPS Marine fleet, transporting spoil, aggregates and all kind of construction equipment along the Rivers Thames, Medway and their tributaries, and is often passing along Lambeth Reach.

GPS tug VINCIA side towing
PLA vessel CHELSEA

Port of London Authority vessel CHELSEA is a Harbour Service Launch used for patrols in the PLA’s Upper District but occasionally makes an appearance on Lambeth Reach. She is 10 metres long, has a large open platform and a “spacious island wheelhouse from which the river patrol can provide ready assistance and guidance to rowers, canoeists and other small boat operators.”

Police launch TIM RUPRECHT

Police vessel TIM RUPRECHT is one of boats operated by the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) Marine Policing Unit, based at Wapping, patrolling the tidal Thames and attending to all kinds of emergencies. Named after “a much-respected friend and colleague” who died after battling against prostate cancer, she was launched on March 10, 2023. It’s rare for me not to see one of their fleet of launches cruising along Lambeth Reach, or speeding by on a shout.

Mooring barge IRON DUKE being manoeuvred into position by tug PROSPER

It was interesting to watch Marine Support Thames (MST Ltd) workboat PROSPER guiding mooring barge IRON DUKE, after a refit, into position on Lambeth Reach.
The company operates a variety of services on the River Thames, its tributaries and the River Medway, providing towage, the hire of crew, workboats, tugs, barges and hopper barges as well as project management and consultation. This is the first time for PROGRESS but I have seen PREFECT, PROTECTOR, PROWLER and PROVOKER, (Now under new ownership and called by her original name STELLA) many times along this stretch of Lambeth Reach.

IRON DUKE and PROSPER

Harnessing the flow of the flood tide PROSPER begins to turn IRON DUKE to face upstream. There followed skilled manoeuvring of this heavy craft, an old crane barge, until it was set in its final position.

IRON DUKE firmly attached to tug PROSPER
Tug PROSPER changing position
Tug PROSPER of MST Workboats
IRON DUKE mooring barge about to be re-attached to PROSPER
IRON DUKE attached to PROSPER now facing upstream
IRON DUKE two days later in her final position next to M.V. VALULLA
Net Zero boat ALB-E

The Net Zero Marine boat ALB-E, funded by the UK Government, was a first for me. Cruising along the River Thames, she was publicising initiatives to operate “renewable energy and shore power systems specifically designed for the marine sector.”

ALMERE 4

ALMERE 4 is a busy, general purpose waste barge often shifting skips and and rubbish with her crane.

NEW Cory tug RESOLUTE

RESOLUTE, One of two new Cory tugs built at the Damen Shipyard in Hardinxweld.

PLA vessel BARNES

The PLA’s harbour patrol vessel BARNES is one of four purpose-built vessels designed to patrol the lower districts of the tidal Thames from Putney Bridge to the North Sea.

Familiar sights along the central London Thames, you are likely to see at least some of these boats as you walk by the river.

Further Information
Discover Livett’s Services by clicking here
See: S.Walsh & Sons/GRS Group
See: GPS Marine Contrators Ltd
Port of London Authority Harbour Service Vessels
Marine Support Thames MST Ltd – mstworkboats. Their new website will be online soon.
See: Cory Waste Management Company
With thanks to Ben of The Liquid Highway