ICSMBC Safety Presentation

1. ICSMBC Safety Presentation Laura Wynn-Lawrence

2. The Basics • Bow side is starboard, stroke side is port side. • The boathouse is on the Middlesex side of the river. • The river is tidal, so it comes in (flooding) and goes out (ebbing).

3. Tides • Going out (or ebbing) • Coming in (or flooding)

4. The river

5. Navigation • Either: • Stream and inshore zones • Right hand rule • Stream and inshore zones • Demarcated by red and green buoys • Change with the turn of the tide • Right hand rule (starboard side) • Only at Richmond and Putney • Does not change with the turn of the tide

6. Crossing points • Syon crossing (Richmond) • Chiswick bridge crossing • Chiswick steps crossing • Putney bridge • Red and green buoys

7. Syon crossing • Go to ‘right-hand’ rule • Demarcated by a red buoy • Landmarks: The barges

8. Chiswick bridge crossing • Move from Surrey side (red buoys) • To Middlesex side (green buoys) • Landmarks: crossing opposite ‘The Ship Inn’ pub

9. Chiswick steps crossing • Cross from Middlesex side (green buoys) • To Surrey side (red buoys) • Landmarks: if you don’t cross, you will hit Chiswick Pier…

10. Putney bridge crossing • Go from fairway and inshore zone to RHR • Landmarks: Putney pier • Depends on the tide

11. Putney bridge – high tide • On the ebb • Getting from the fairway into the inshore zone

12. Putney bridge – low tide • On the ebb • From the fairway into the inshore zone

13. Restricted Zones • Crossing points • Bridges • Between Kew rail and road bridges • Rules • No stopping • No turning • No fast overtaking

14. Bridges • DANGEROUS • 2 white or orange lights side by side mean that a bridge is open to navigation. • 3 lights in a triangle means that it’s closed. • Be wary of getting caught on the arches

15. Overtaking • Being overtaken • Maintain speed and course • Stay close to the bank in the inshore zone • Move to one side/maintain positioning in the stream • Overtaking • In the inshore zone: one with a second overtaking • In the stream: two abreast with a third overtaking • Launches • Go slowly and wait patiently • Wait for boat to go ahead and go wide and quickly

16. Stopping and turning • Prohibited in restricted zones • Same rules as for a car • There is a small gap between restricted zone in Kew Rail and Kew Road

17. Collision • Take a look: risk of collision • Ahead: collision more likely • Hold it up: collision imminent

18. Landing • Bowman need to get their wellies on; ready to land. • Ask them to look out for shallow sections • Good as a lookout when it’s dark • Land at 30-45 degrees to prevent scraping the whole boat • Strokeman can hold it up • If in doubt, land super slowly

19. Power-driven vessels • Pass port to port when going past PDV. • If it is very shallow, may have to let the boat go past or pass on starboard side

20. Capsize • If shallow enough to wade ashore, try to do so • Stay with the boat, holding onto the riggers (overturn boat if necessary) • Try to get as much of your body out of the water and ‘buddy-up’ to keep warm • Wait for launch to collect rowers from the water or attract attention of surrounding boats. • Launch: drive up to crew members and cut engine, collecting one or two at a time and drop off on the bank.

21. Safety procedure

22. Staying safe

23. Weather conditions • Factors to consider • How fast is the tide? • What are other river users doing? • What is the weather doing? • How good is the visibility on the river? • How strong at the rowers (able to deal with waves and strong stream)? • How your rowers got appropriate clothing

24. Rowing in the dark • When majority of our incidences happen • Lights on the boat 30 minutes either side of dusk and dawn • Launches and coxes both need to look out for obstacles • Watch out for flashing buoys

25. Turning of the tide • Avoid going out at the turn of the tide • Stick on the right hand-side of the fairway • Tide turns at Putney before Richmond • Tide turns in the slacks before the fairway • Rowing back from Putney, you may beat the turn of the tide.

26. Emergency action plan • Roles and action to be taken in the event of an emergency: • Safety emergency plan- to be written • Call 999 and ask for coastguard

27. Hazardous areas

28. Putney to Hammersmith Bridge • Steep walls on Middlesex side- landing or rescue very difficult • The Black Buoy (don’t hit this) • Fulham football ground- very shallow on the inside of the bend at low tide

29. Hammersmith Bridge to Chiswick Pier • Surrey arch of Hammersmith Bridge • Dove Pier- do not go further right than the ‘Hammersmith’ of the bridge

30. Chiswick Pier to Kew Rail Bridge • Surrey side of Barnes is shallower than it looks. • Crossing points

31. Kew Rail to The Dock • Surrey arch of Kew Rail • Current pushing craft onto Kew Midstream mooring • Approach to Kew Road Bridge is a blind corner • Kew Road- centre arch against the stream is forbidden • Vessels coming out of Brentford Dock • Shoal at entrance to Brentford Dock

32. Brentford Dock to Richmond Lock • Lack of inshore zone at low water • Vertical banks on the Middlesex side

33. Any questions?