Clifton Lock closed

Old Crusty

Old Crusty

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Per the river conditions website:

Clifton Lock will be closed to all boats due to the sinking of a vessel in the chamber.
No public mooring will be allowed in the lock laybys, up and downstream of Clifton lock.
The main navigation channel will remain open throughout the incident up and downstream of the lock.
There is no passage through Clifton Lock at this time.
 
We are moored at Abingdon lock and due to leave tomorrow as booked into Bensons marina for Friday and Saturday, but looks like that won’t happen.
lock keeper at Abingdon has booked us in for another night just in case as he thinks it might take a day or two to clear the sunken boat.
 
thamesS23 said:
We are moored at Abingdon lock and due to leave tomorrow as booked into Bensons marina for Friday and Saturday, but looks like that won’t happen.
lock keeper at Abingdon has booked us in for another night just in case as he thinks it might take a day or two to clear the sunken boat.
Click to expand...

The navigation notice states from 12:00 today (Thursday) until 12:00 on Friday (tomorrow) - they're usually reasonably accurate aren't they?
 
Latest from Barry Russell:

CLIFTON LOCK UPDATE - We are working with the owners of the boat that has sunk in the lock chamber, advising their contractors on a safe method of operation for removing the vessel by crane. We hope this will be done this evening or as early as possible tomorrow. Thank you.
 
Old Crusty said:
Latest from Barry Russell:

CLIFTON LOCK UPDATE - We are working with the owners of the boat that has sunk in the lock chamber, advising their contractors on a safe method of operation for removing the vessel by crane. We hope this will be done this evening or as early as possible tomorrow. Thank you.
Click to expand...


Coo - that's a fair reach from the access lane - needs a big crane
 
Old Crusty said:
Per the river conditions website:

Clifton Lock will be closed to all boats due to the sinking of a vessel in the chamber.
No public mooring will be allowed in the lock laybys, up and downstream of Clifton lock.
The main navigation channel will remain open throughout the incident up and downstream of the lock.
There is no passage through Clifton Lock at this time.
Click to expand...

But fear not Bazzer and team are having their photo taken for twitter at HRR.
 
A GRP boat on its own would be bad enough, but this must be steel plus rubble, nightmare!

I'm sorry to hear your trip's has been held up, ThamesS23, but at least you've got the weather on your side. Plus a few decent Abingdon pubs and a first class curry house:D
 
Crane Wot Crane.

For Gawds Sake........
Shut both gates.
Pump out lock and empty, mebbe 2-3 hours with couple half decent salvage pumps
Pump out barge/boat, pump max 60 mins.
Seal hull breach/ unload excess cargo.
Fill lock.
Open gate.....
On the Medway we would have all been back in the pub by lunchtime rubbing our hands with glee and working out who gets the outrageously inflated bill . :)

Thames S23, should have come to Medway !
 
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Re: Crane Wot Crane.

oldgit said:
For Gawds Sake........
Shut both gates.
Pump out lock and empty, mebbe 2-3 hours with couple half decent salvage pumps
Pump out barge/boat, pump max 60 mins.
Seal hull breach/ unload excess cargo.
Fill lock.
Open gate.....
On the Medway we would have all been back in the pub by lunchtime rubbing our hands with glee and working out who gets the outrageously inflated bill . :)

Thames S23, should have come to Medway !
Click to expand...

Lots of fencing,Lots of notices,hard hats,hi viz,schedule of works,method statements.....that’s your morning gone :)
 
Re: Crane Wot Crane.

Latest update is the first crane never turned up!
They are now saying it could be Sunday before they sort it. We are luckier then others I suppose, as at least we are on the lock mooring, and therefore are hooked up to electricity and have access to water without losing our spot. The public moorings look full and still more boats coming down stream. All boats being advised to moor up at Abingdon and not to head any further.

still, no doubt the EA having fun at the Henley regatta whilst all this going on.
 
Last edited:
Latest EA notice:
“Clifton LockMidday Friday 6 July 2018 to Midday Sunday 8 July 2018
Sunken work boat in Lock chamber
Directions for navigation and general information during this incident:
 Clifton Lock will be closed to all boats due to the sinking of a vessel in the chamber.
 No public mooring will be allowed in the lock laybys, up and downstream of Clifton Lock.
 The main navigation channel will remain open throughout the incident up and downstream of the lock.
 There is no passage through Clifton Lock at the present time.
This closure is for the safety of river users, pollution prevention and to recover the sunken craft.
We apologise for any inconvenience it may cause.”
 
Dare one ask if the professional skipper of the barge moored the boat before the sluices were opened, or was it moved forward by the turbulence into the incoming water area ? In which case....
 
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Some interesting discussions and pictures at https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1015019178660361&id=100004568655543

I'm sure there are standards for these things and this may well comply but the picture taken 15 mins before it happened showing only 9" or so of freeboard on an open vessel are quite alarming.
Capture.jpg.

Apparently it went down in 1 minute once caught on the gate. Given there was no hull breach OG's step 4 can be skipped making a pump and float operation even simpler.
 
og's approach to salvage is spot on. Sadly the EA / Operators solution is flawed - hence the delay , so far, to Sunday - and beyond?

Getting close to CRT's record (so far) of 4 navigation closures - until further notice - what a disappointment on the Royal River.

Still HRR is unaffected!
 
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