Statutory guidance

Appendix A: Additional Thames legislation

Updated 25 August 2023

For ease of reference, this appendix contains links to and sections from other Thames related legislation.

It does not include national legislation, such as the Merchant Shipping Acts, which can be found on Legislation.gov.uk.

Thames Conservancy Act 1932

Available in full online: Thames Conservancy Act 1932.

Sections 60 to 71

You must not build works on or in the Thames without a licence. The Navigation Authority can charge a rent for such works. The Navigation Authority can remove unlicensed works.

See also byelaw 69.

Sections 81 to 85

These sections describe the powers of harbour masters and the penalties for not complying with the directions of harbour masters.

See also byelaws 58 and 64.

Section 92

1) Every launch registered under this act shall when in course of navigation under mechanical power after sunset and before sunrise on any part of the Thames carry and exhibit the following lights (namely):

• (a) on or before the foremast or if there be no foremast on the funnel or on a staff at the bow in either case at a height above the hull of not less than four feet a bright white light.
• (b) on the starboard side a green light; and
• (c) on the port side a red light;

and every such light shall be of such a character as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least one mile.

2) Where any launch is in course of navigation under mechanical power after sunset and before sunrise without carrying and exhibiting such lights in manner aforesaid the master of such launch shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds.

See also byelaw 5 (f) and Appendix B.

Section 95

Every pleasure boat used on the Thames above Teddington Lock shall be deemed to be in charge of one person who shall be in every case the registered owner of such boat or in the absence of such owner the person duly appointed or permitted by him to be in charge or the person hiring such a boat and in the absence of any such person then any person having control or being in command of such a boat.

Section 96

Every person for the time being in charge of any pleasure boat on the Thames shall be responsible for the conduct of all persons on board such boat and upon proof that an offence under this act or under any byelaw made by the Conservators and for the time being in force has been committed by any person on board such boat on the Thames and that the person in charge has refused to give the name and address of the offender or by his own negligence or in default has been unable to give such information the person in charge shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds.

Section 97

1) Every vessel navigating the Thames shall be navigated with care and caution and at such a speed and in such a manner as not to endanger the lives of or cause injury to persons or to endanger the safety of or cause damage to other vessels or any moorings or to the banks of the Thames or other property.

2) Special care and caution shall be used in navigating vessels when passing vessels of all kinds especially those of the smaller classes and such as are employed in dredging or removing sunken vessels or other obstructions.

3) If the life of any person or the safety of any vessel mooring bank or other property is endangered or injury or damage is caused to any person vessel mooring bank or other property by a passing vessel the onus shall lie upon the person in charge of such passing vessel to show that she was navigated with care and caution and at such a speed and in such a manner as directed by this section.

4) The person in charge of any vessel who in navigating such vessel contravenes or fails to observe the provisions of this section shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds.

5) If any person holding any launch certificate under this act be twice convicted of any offence against this section such certificate shall forthwith thereafter cease to be of any force and it shall be in the discretion of the Conservators whether or not they will grant a fresh certificate to such person And if there be two convictions of offences against this section arising out of the navigation of any one and the same launch in respect of which there is a launch certificate for the time being in force such certificate shall forthwith cease to be of any force and it shall be in the discretion of the Conservators whether or not they will grant a fresh certificate in respect of such a launch.

6) For the purpose of enforcing this section the clerk to the justices before whom any conviction under it shall take place shall notify such conviction by letter to the secretary in all cases where the Conservators are not themselves the prosecutors.

See also byelaws 24 to 42.

Section 102

If any person wilfully does any of the following things (namely):

• 1) opens or causes to be opened any lock gate paddle valve clough or sluice belonging to any lock or weir on the Thames;
• 2) flushes or draws down or causes to be flushed or drawn down water from any lock or lock cut on the Thames;
• 3) cut breaks or injures or causes to be cut broken or injured any tree hedge fence embankment bridge post rail or other work upon any lands belonging to the Conservators or used for any purposes of this act;
• 4) injures any towpath of the Thames

he shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding one thousand pounds.

See also byelaw 49.

Section 108

You must not obstruct the towpath.

Section 109

The owner of a boat is liable for damage caused by that boat to any Navigation Authority banks or works.

Sections 123 and 129

You must not cause or allow sewage or vegetation to enter the river.

See also byelaw 66.

Thames Conservancy Act 1950

Available in full online: Thames Conservancy Act 1950.

Section 12

Officers of the authority can enter and inspect boats on the Thames.

See also byelaw 80.

Section 13

You must clearly display the name of your boat.

Section 15

The Navigation Authority can ask who was in charge of a boat at a specific time. The owner of a boat must provide this information.

Section 16

The Navigation Authority can remove sunk or abandoned boats.

See also byelaw 75.

Thames Conservancy Act 1966

Available in full online: Thames Conservancy Act 1966.

Section 9

All boats must be registered unless they are exempted.

Section 10

The Navigation Authority can refuse or cancel the registration of a boat.

Thames Conservancy Act 1972

Available in full online: Thames Conservancy Act 1972.

Section 23

You must not use fireworks or explode bombs on or near the Thames.