Emergency Water Rescue Exercise 2022: river closure notice
Updated 24 January 2022
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When
Saturday 5 March 2022, from 2pm to 5pm.
Where
Teddington reach, The Albany Public House to Hampton Court Bridge.
Details
On Saturday 5 March 2022 between 2pm and 5pm the River Thames will be closed to all navigation (except authorised vessels) from Thames Ditton Island to Hampton Court Bridge.
Surrey Fire and Rescue will be holding a multi-agency exercise. During the exercise, a passenger vessel will be simulated to be in distress with multiple casualties and the emergency services will be in attendance.
Closure of the river is necessary to ensure the safety of both the exercise participants and other River Thames users.
We apologise for any inconvenience this closure causes and thank you for your patience during this time.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.
And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:
The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.
The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.
Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993