Sailing and Boating news

Thames gets new patrol boats

News » Inland Waterways
Article Date: 2007-10-23
View Count: 888

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has officially named two new award-winning harbour patrol boats which will serve the Thames between Putney and Teddington. The specially-designed catamarans, Richmond and Chelsea, were named by local MPs, Susan Kramer and Justine Greening, and it is hoped that they will to help build on the area's reputation as a centre for rowing and sailing. Improvements on the boats' design include super-slim, twin hulls which generate very little wash that could affect other river users and which are designed to cope with shallower waters, as well as changes to make the boats more environmentally-friendly and fuel efficient.

Richard Everitt, PLA chief executive, said: "The official naming of these two launches marks another stage in the transformation of our operation on this part of Thames. "We started this change four years ago, in every case going back to basics and seeing what was best for river users' safety before seeing how it could delivered. "As a result today we have a set-up which enables staff to be more approachable 'on the ground', more relevant rules, purpose-built patrol boats and improved environmental performance."


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