Inland Waterways

The fuel is being seen as a greener alternative for boats and boating businesses with the Trust pointing out the adoption of fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) will reduce carbon emissions from the boat engines while not requiring changes in either engines or supply infrastructure.

“On the waterways, we hope that hydrotreated vegetable oil will provide a ‘quick win,’ a more sustainable, cost-friendly swap that will enable boaters and boating businesses to easily reduce their emissions,” said Matthew Symonds, Trust national boating manager. “The trial of the fuel in our workboat fleet will provide valuable information on practicalities and performance.” Continue reading “The Canal & River Trust has begun a trial of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel in its workboats”

Throughout the summer and early autumn, a combination of warm weather, sunshine and extra nitrates from agricultural run-off create perfect growing conditions for duckweed, water fern, common reeds and Canadian waterweed. These fast-growing plants are spread by passing boats, canoeists, paddle boarders, anglers’ nets and walkers’ muddy boots and, left undisturbed, can form a thick green carpet on the water. This can then cause problems for boat engines, and its solid appearance makes it a potential danger for children and animals. Hotspots for the invasive weeds are low flow areas around the Lancaster Canal, Garstang, Cabus Nook, north Preston, Radcliffe Wharf and Woodplumpton.

Continue reading “Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal”

The UK Waterways Ombudsman and the Waterways Ombudsman Committee have seen a substantial rise in the number of complaints over the last 12 months. The UK Waterways Ombudsman scheme deals with complaints about the Canal & River Trust and the Avon Navigation Trust once its own complaints processes have been exhausted.

During the year 2020/21, the UK Waterways Ombudsman received 77 enquiries, up from 41 the previous year. Ten new investigations were opened and the number of complaints resolved was eight. As before there was a very diverse range of complaints, and again the majority were about boating issues with a lack of communication being a common cause of conflict. Continue reading “Sharp increase in the number of complaints to the UK Waterways Ombudsman”

New research from the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has revealed a total of 7,000 miles of waterways in Great Britain; 5,000 of the miles identified are navigable today, with the other 2,000 miles either derelict or under restoration.

An additional 500 miles have been uncovered which come, in the main, from including more significant branches of the Grand Union Canal in the London area and further research in Scotland. IWA’s Waterways Directory is a waterways resource that details all the inland waterways ever brought into navigation and has been updated with detailed research by IWA experts and local volunteers. The research informs the charity’s local campaigning and sprung out of the need to know who was responsible for what waterway. The directory lists Continue reading “500 miles of UK inland waterways uncovered”

The Inland Waterways Association has appointed Phil Hornsey as its new chief executive. Hornsey is an experienced leader with a strong strategic, development and marketing background. He has a 20-year career across corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

As director of membership and community at British Rowing, Hornsey led the national delivery of programmes to engage, support and grow the sport, achieving record levels of participation, paying members, and unrestricted income for the organisation. Prior to joining British Rowing, Hornsey held senior management positions at O2, EE and Betfair. Continue reading “New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association”

The installation of 300 shore power mains connection charging sites is just one recommendation for the UK Government from the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) to make boating more sustainability plan. The infrastructure investment would improve air quality by reducing the emissions from stoves for heating and engines run for charging batteries, as well as enabling a move towards more boats with electric propulsion, says the IWA’s Sustainable Propulsion Group.

Other recommendations in inland waterways sustainability plan include a national dredging programme across Britain’s inland waterways, working with navigation authorities, to make propulsion more efficient.

Continue reading “UK inland waterways sustainability requires investment”