Testing kayak lights for the Thames Tideway in 2013

On 2010-03-23 representatives from SBOAC, THCC, the PLA, Canoe England, Battersea Canoe Club and Chelsea Kayak Club met at Shadwell Basin to test different navigation light set-ups for kayaks paddling on the Thames Tideway during hours of darkness.

The meeting was part of an ongoing dialogue between the PLA and the Tideway kayaking community to improve the safety of kayakers which has become a priority due to the increasing numbers of kayaks on the Tideway and, in particular, as a response to a previous incident:

Near miss, December 2008

On 2008-12-02 a near miss between a Thames Clipper and a group of five kayaks from THCC was reported to the Harbourmaster. Below is an extract from the paddlers' debrief with the THCC committee.

X and Y say that the group stopped at Rotherhithe to cross the river and that it was clear as they started crossing. They say they crossed at right angles. When they were approximately a quarter of the way across the river, a Thames Clipper came around the corner from Canary Wharf travelling towards them at speed.

They initially thought they had time to get across and kept paddling. It became clear they did not have time to cross and X shouted to stop. X estimates that Y was 20 to 30 metres ahead of the rest of the group at this point.

The Clipper did not appear to see them until the last minute and did not slow down even though they shone their headlights at its bridge. The Clipper passed River Left of the group and Y estimates that it was about 30 metres in front of him.

All the paddlers in the group had head torches but they had no all round white lights.

Thames Clippers

• Below Cherry Garden Pier the Clippers travel at up to 30 Knots (150m every 10 seconds)
• Below Cherry Garden Pier the Clippers must have an additional look out on the bridge as well as the master
• From our normal crossing point opposite Shadwell Basin at Rotherhithe, a Clipper coming from Canary Wharf is first visible when it is about 600m, or 40 seconds away (LS estimate from Google Maps).
• How long does it take us to cross the river?
• The PLA said the Clippers can stop within their own length (38m), however, this may only be true in theory. Their operational procedures allegedly don't allow them to make emergency stops (they carry up to 220 passengers without seatbelts) and their control systems are said to impose a 10 second delay between going from full ahead to full astern

The test

Observers stood on the Thames Path above the beach and watched as seven boats with varying illuminations crossed to Rotherhithe, re-grouped for a few minutes under bank-side street lights and then returned to Shadwell. All the kayaks then proceeded 150m up river past The Prospect of Whitby close to lights on the bank and returned. Finally, two groups of three and four paddled separately down river close to the bank past Free Trade wharf, crossed to Rotherhithe, paddling back up river until opposite Shadwell and returned across the river.

Conditions were slightly misty/rainy with good to moderate visibility.

General observations

• Headlights are barely visible from beyond 50 to 100m and then only if pointing directly at the observer
• Only boats with lights for and aft had all round visibility
• A tightly spaced group of lit kayaks is very much more visible than a spread out group
• Flashing lights had good visibility from a distance (according to the PLA flashing lights are OK and not a recognised distress signal)
• Visibility of kayak lights is reduced close to the banks in pools of ambient light
• At close range the brightness of most lights seem similar but when viewed from a distance it varies greatly

Lights tested

The different light types tested last night are shown below with scores out of 10 based on the post test discussion.

Light	Notes	Source	Cost	Score
4 LED dive torch with diffuser	Waterproof with diffuser made from translucent plastic bottle	Maplins	£7.99	8
Tektite 4 LED stern/marker light		US web suppliers, hard to find in UK	£40.00	6
Flashing LED bike light/strobe	Bike lights not usually waterproof	Widely available	£10.00-£40.00	6
Tektite 2 LED stern/marker light		US web suppliers, hard to find in UK	£20.00	5
LED head torch	Not usually waterproof	Widely available	£10-£40	2