Locks on the River Severn

[Theo]

Do you need to phone or can you just turn up and wait for the traffic lights and lock gates?

 

N

[Rob-M]

Just turn up and wait for the lights other than Gloucester.  However, if after waiting for a while there appears to be nothing happening you may need to call as sometimes the lockie seems to miss seeing boats arrive.  I'm sure you should get a flashing light to acknowledge you are there.

[Tonka]

1 minute ago, Rob-M said:

Just turn up and wait for the lights other than Gloucester.  However, if after waiting for a while there appears to be nothing happening you may need to call as sometimes the lockie seems to miss seeing boats arrive.  I'm sure you should get a flashing light to acknowledge you are there.

oh that is what the flashing light means, where is that advertised

[Rob-M]

10 minutes ago, Tonka said:

oh that is what the flashing light means, where is that advertised

I'm not sure where I learnt that from, I know I explained it to my assessor when doing my skipper assessment as his answer to the question for the Severn lights only had solid red or solid green.

[john6767]

Just turn up and wait for the lights.  However if you are hovering for a long time you will want to call them on VHF or phone as sometimes they are doing stuff like grass cutting and don’t see you on the camera.  As Rob has said if you are going to Gloucester it is a bit more serious, you need to contact Gloucester lock by VHF or phone at upper parting to let them know you are coming, and then again when you go under the 3 bridges on the approach to Gloucester.  You do not want to see a red light when you come round the corner at Gloucester!

 

A flashing red means they have seen you and are preparing the lock, same with the bridges on the G&S, ie they have seen you.

[gatekrash]

Just as an fyi, last time we came up through Holt Fleet lock (about 3 weeks ago) the red light wasn't working, but the green was. Lockie said it had been out for a while.

[Steve56]

6 hours ago, Rob-M said:

I'm not sure where I learnt that from, I know I explained it to my assessor when doing my skipper assessment as his answer to the question for the Severn lights only had solid red or solid green.

Officially when you approach a lock on the Severn, or a Bridge on the G&S canal you should be given a flashing light to show that the lock or bridge keeper has spotted you. Although in saying that the way things are now it probably doesn't happen that often. 

[Ken X]

We got a flashing red a month ago at Diglis lock so it still happens.  Bobbed about happily whilst a boat came down.  Very cheerful lockie on duty operated the lock with us on a single running stern line, using the paddle flow to hold our boat against the wall.  Made it very easy.

[Sea Dog]

15 hours ago, Theo said:

Do you need to phone or can you just turn up and wait for the traffic lights and lock gates?

 

N

All as above, but note that the opening times and days are restricted in the winter months when the same lock keeper will travel to see you through multiple locks. Ring Gloucester Lock for bookings and info.

[Theo]

Thanks all.  All worked as it should and we have arrived in Stourport from Worcester.

 

[Deep]

With reference to the GS bridges, if the bridge opens and the red light is still flashing it means that there is someone coming from the other direction and they are coming through first.

[Rob-M]

1 hour ago, Deep said:

With reference to the GS bridges, if the bridge opens and the red light is still flashing it means that there is someone coming from the other direction and they are coming through first.

Or the bridge keeper has forgotten to press the button to switch the light to green which I've had on more than one occasion but fortunately at bridges where I could see nothing was approaching.

[Chewbacka]

On 05/08/2024 at 20:20, john6767 said:

Just turn up and wait for the lights.  However if you are hovering for a long time you will want to call them on VHF or phone as sometimes they are doing stuff like grass cutting and don’t see you on the camera.  As Rob has said if you are going to Gloucester it is a bit more serious, you need to contact Gloucester lock by VHF or phone at upper parting to let them know you are coming, and then again when you go under the 3 bridges on the approach to Gloucester.  You do not want to see a red light when you come round the corner at Gloucester!

 

A flashing red means they have seen you and are preparing the lock, same with the bridges on the G&S, ie they have seen you.

Not sure if he was correct, but one of the lock keepers told me that they can hear you when you call on VHF but he wasn’t allowed to answer as he didn’t have a vhf licence.

[Steve56]

4 hours ago, Chewbacka said:

Not sure if he was correct, but one of the lock keepers told me that they can hear you when you call on VHF but he wasn’t allowed to answer as he didn’t have a vhf licence.

Sounds correct. Years ago all bridge and lock keepers would have done the VHF course, and have a licence. I guess now that CRT are trying to save money, and also with the reliance on volunteer's they don't bother doing this anymore. So what they are saying is correct. If you don't have a licence you can listen to the radio, but are committing an offence if you transmit over it.

[Just Heaven]

On 05/08/2024 at 22:24, gatekrash said:

Just as an fyi, last time we came up through Holt Fleet lock (about 3 weeks ago) the red light wasn't working, but the green was. Lockie said it had been out for a while.

It was working OK last week.

 

Steve

 

[john6767]

16 hours ago, Chewbacka said:

Not sure if he was correct, but one of the lock keepers told me that they can hear you when you call on VHF but he wasn’t allowed to answer as he didn’t have a vhf licence.

I agree, although this year I think I got a reply from every lock on the Severn.  A couple of years ago I think they had a lot of new lock keepers ( volunteers?), that had not yet done the VHF course.  I did start bending the protocols a bit and blindly announcing my intentions on the initial contact; the lock being ready does tend to indicate they are listening even if they can’t reply.

 

 

 

 

 

[LadyG]

2 hours ago, john6767 said:

I agree, although this year I think I got a reply from every lock on the Severn.  A couple of years ago I think they had a lot of new lock keepers ( volunteers?), that had not yet done the VHF course.  I did start bending the protocols a bit and blindly announcing my intentions on the initial contact; the lock being ready does tend to indicate they are listening even if they can’t reply.

 

 

 

 

 

I do have vhf training, and passed a test many moons ago, so fairly confident with phraseology.

Last time I was on the river,  I did not get a response to my calls, which could have been for any number of reasons, ( he knew I was en route, but I had gunned it a bit, so early).

What I did was announce my intention, and  "out" as by that time I was not in a position to negotiate, due to handlng the boat.

Gave a good blast on the horn.

As I came alongside the lock landing there was a response on the radio, and the lock opened.

I managed to get my bows inside without scraping the paint, but it involved full throttle, full astern, a bit of an arrival.

I was then given a leaflet showing best practice! 

I did have the lock keepers phone number, and had spoken to him earlier in the day, I think its a good idea to do that as the phone numbers are very similar for each lock keeper, and they will always have their mobile with them.

Edited August 8 by LadyG