Inland Waterways

Electric drive narrowboats guide published

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New guide to electric narrowboats published by the Inland Waterways Association
Electric drive narrowboats guide published by the Inland Waterways Association

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has published An Introduction to Electric Drive Narrowboats guide.

IWA believes that it is vital for members of the inland waterways community to make their contribution to a more sustainable environment. IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group has been looking at how inland waterways leisure boating can become more sustainable since 2019 and published its Vision Paper in 2020, covering propulsion, the existing fleet and domestic energy on boats. Continue reading “Electric drive narrowboats guide published”

Fire safety warning issued by RCR

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River Canal Rescue (RCR) is calling upon boaters to be aware of the fire risks on their vessels, after finding more and more cases of poor electrical wiring, including under-sized wiring, overloaded circuits, and sub-standard connections and cable routing, which can rapidly turn into a loom meltdown or a fire.

Managing director Stephanie Horton says with BSS certification failing many boaters, RCR is having to report regularly on boats that are dangerous or at risk.

If you are leaving your vessel for a period of time, it’s important to isolate the batteries and disconnect your shore power if you have it. Continue reading “Fire safety warning issued by RCR”

Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair

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Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government

Britain’s unique and well-loved network of canals and navigable rivers is deteriorating because of inadequate funding. At a time of unprecedented challenges caused by the climate emergency and high inflation, the government is failing to respond. Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways, is campaigning for national and local governments to act now and protect our waterways’ public benefit and natural capital.

Management of Britain’s 5,000 miles of navigable inland waterways is fragmented. The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is responsible for Continue reading “Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair”

Inland waterways users urged to help in battle against invasive water plant

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Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, in partnership with the Environment Agency, has launched its #PennywortAlert scheme for 2023 as it urges the public to report sightings of the harmful aquatic weed, floating pennywort, on waterways. Floating pennywort can grow up to an astonishing 20cm per day in late summer. It forms dense mats of kidney-shaped leaves on the water’s surface, depleting oxygen levels, blocking out vital sunlight for our native aquatic plants and, ultimately, threatening fish, invertebrates, insects and our wider native ecosystems. Continue reading “Inland waterways users urged to help in battle against invasive water plant”

The Inland Waterways Association appoints CEO

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The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is an independent, national charity campaigning for Britain’s canals and rivers, and Niblock will have primary responsibility for the organisation’s long-term strategy.

She is an experienced narrowboater and a qualified helmsman and joins IWA from the UK Council for Psychotherapy, where she was chief executive.

“Supporting and regenerating our inland waterways is one of the top talking points in the UK,” she says. “It’s no wonder, given the well-documented role that our rivers, estuaries and canals play in our economy, ecology and wellbeing. Continue reading “The Inland Waterways Association appoints CEO”

Get involved with Invasive Species Week

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Do you know the three simple actions that can help reduce the spread of non-native invasive species? Check, Clean, Dry. Some non-native species are completely harmless but others, known as invasive or species, have the ability to cause damage to the environment, the economy and our health.

Invasive Species Week runs from 15 to 21 May 2023 and is an annual national event organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) to raise awareness of the impacts of invasive non-native species. Providing advice and guidance on the simple things everyone can do to help prevent the spread as well as sharing stories on some of the fantastic work taking place across the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man to protect the environment and reduce their impacts. Continue reading “Get involved with Invasive Species Week”

UK boaters could be priced out as above inflation licence fees bite

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Above inflation price increases to the licence fees will risk pricing boaters off the system or result in them being unable to pay. That’s the warning from the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) regarding the Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) proposals to its boat licence fee.

The IWA says that bearing in mind the CRT is dependent on a government grant that is not inflation linked for a good part of its income and needs to raise more from other sources to compensate, increasing the licence fee beyond inflation could result in a net loss.

Proposals have been made to raise licence fees for continuous cruisers above those with home moorings, Continue reading “UK boaters could be priced out as above inflation licence fees bite”

New safety films to benefit first-time boaters on UK inland waterways

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A new series of animated films designed to help first-time boaters navigate the UK’s inland waterways safely has been jointly launched by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency.

The five short, animated videos, available on YouTube, are designed primarily for those who are new to the waterways, including hire boaters. They give straightforward guidance on staying safe when boating, mooring, and using locks. There is also information about bridges, tunnels, weirs and sluices, and advice to help boaters protect the waterway network’s unique heritage and wildlife. Continue reading “New safety films to benefit first-time boaters on UK inland waterways”

Canal & River Trust launches consultation on boat licence fees

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The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is carrying out a consultation with boaters to gather feedback on boat licence pricing over the next ten years to help support the long-term future of the 2,000 miles of waterways that they manage across England and Wales.

Faced with the growing pressures of maintaining ageing waterways and the increased threat of climate change, the CRT is raising money for vital maintenance from a number of sources to help protect and preserve the network. This includes income from boat licences, government funding, investments, donations, and other income streams. Continue reading “Canal & River Trust launches consultation on boat licence fees”

International safety guide for inland navigation tank-barges and terminals revised

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Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the inland navigation sector, with the support of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR), have collaborated with other European organisations to produce the second edition of the International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-barges and Terminals (ISGINTT).

The purpose of ISGINTT is to improve the safe transport of dangerous goods at the interface between inland tank barges and other vessels or shore facilities (terminals). The safety guide is compatible with other international maritime guidance for seagoing vessels Continue reading “International safety guide for inland navigation tank-barges and terminals revised”

Boat owners beware of sticky fuel

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Image courtesy RCR
Image courtesy RCR

Over the past year, River Canal Rescue, says it’s witnessed an uncharacteristic peak in fuel-related component breakdowns due to a new problem callled ‘sticky fuel’. RCR said its marine engineers now respond to two-three cases per week on the inland waterways and managing director, Stephanie Horton, is keen to alert the wider marine community to the issue.

“We first became aware of sticky fuel when we had two identical jobs where fuel injectors were diagnosed as needing an overhaul, yet their replacements stopped working within a week, and the injection pumps were found to have failed even though the diesel was clear and bright,” she said. Continue reading “Boat owners beware of sticky fuel”

Frazer Tintern return line fuel leak causes fire is report finding

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Report on ferry fire aboard "Frazer Tintern" released
Report on ferry fire aboard “Frazer Tintern” released

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), the Irish government agency for investigating maritime accidents and incidents, has released its report on the ferry fire that broke out onboard the “Frazer Tintern” midway between Ballyhack, Co. Wexford and Passage East, Co. Waterford.

On the morning of 5 August 2021 a deck crewmember of the ferry “Frazer Tintern” reported to the Master that he smelled diesel fumes coming from the No.1/No.4 engine compartment. Upon further visual investigation, a diesel fuel leak was discovered where a fuel return line had become disconnected on the No.1 engine. Continue reading “Frazer Tintern return line fuel leak causes fire is report finding”

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