KNOWING only too well of the worries and possible problems of newcomers cruising the Thames tidal waters, a number of experienced boaters have devised a website to inform and advise about cruising the tidal Thames.
My friends Richard and Sue (Indigo Dream) met recently to talk about the challenges Canal & River Trust seems to face with its IT Estate following the move from British Waterway, writes Kathryn Dodington.
Difficult
The tidal Thames information is spread over a number of websites (Port of London Authority, CaRT, Environment Agency—there are at least two Port of London Authority websites) and for those of us who use the tidal Thames frequently it is often quite difficult to bring all the important boating, contact and safety information together in one place.
We set about designing something that hopefully acts as a portal onto the data, owned and held by the various agencies who look after us, when we boat on the tidal Thames. We've also added some bits and pieces based on our experience of using the river. The documents we found particularly useful are the excellent Downstream, Upstream and Estuary guides put together by Jeremy Batch of Limehouse Lock fame.
Website
We have put together a Thames Cruising website which is specifically aimed at the tidal Thames but we've added information about Thames Lock (101), Limehouse Lock and also a little about the Wey and Godalming navigations, and the Basingstoke because they ought, in our view, to be enjoyed by anyone using the tidal Thames whilst they are down this way!
The Port of London Authority have given us some positive feedback as have St Pancras Cruising Club whose members have vast experience of cruising the tidal Thames.
Not trying to replace
It is important to note that we are not in any way trying to replace the information held by the various agencies but providing a single point from where that information can be accessed rather than using search engines to try and find it across disparate websites.
It is also important to note that each individual skipper is wholly responsible for their own preparation and safety.
http://www.thamescruising.co.uk/wordpress/