The Edwardian transported delegates from the River Thames in Central London up the River Lee to Three Mills Lock in the heart of East London last week. The MCA (Marine Coast Guard Agency) hosted the delegates from a meeting of the Rhine Commission. The boat took them to the nearest point for viewing the progress of the development for the games. They were particularly interested in the development of the waterways which has allowed barges and boats reliable access to the site for the first time in over a decade.
Chris Livett, MD of Livett’s Launches, is on the advisory panel as a representative of the Passenger Boat Association. “The cruise was very successful and the Edwardian’s second up to the development site in as many months. The Edwardian’s unique design means she is probably the biggest Thames Passenger Boat to be able to navigate up the waterway,” commented Chris.
The waterways were previously un-navigable, but since dredged and an increase in the water level boats can again travel from the River Thames upstream to the Bow Back Rivers, right into the heart of East London. The work has been primarily completed to allow barges access to the development sites in East London, moving plant, materials and waste by water. Utilising the waterways is preferred to increasing road traffic and is far more environmentally friendly.
The low bridges have created a restriction to the size and type of boat that can use the waterways. Unfortunately almost all of the Thames Passenger boats are too high to pass under the bridges. The exception is the elegant and luxurious Edwardian; her collapsible wheel house means she can transport up to 100 passengers right into the heart of East London. She is the largest capacity Thames passenger boat to be able to navigate from Central London all the way up to the Prescott Channel and Three Mills Lock. As a result she has been up to the lock twice over the past month, once to celebrate the lock’s grand opening and a second time for the newly refurbished waterways to be viewed and discussed from a mobile floating venue.
The Motor Vessel Edwardian Approaching the first railway bridge on the Bow Back River
Wheel box down 100 people cruise upstream The new Three Mills Lock in Prescott Channel