Film water safety at London Docklands

Film water safety in Docklands

Safety cover in London's Docklands

Docklands has two kinds of water. The river loops round the Isle of Dogs on a strong tide, while the enclosed docks behind it, West India, Millwall and the Royal Docks, hold still, deep water between high quay walls. Shoots use both, and each needs different cover.

Safety cover for Docklands

Safety boats and qualified crew on the water, a rescue plan for the quay edges, and a written safety plan and risk assessment your production can file. Swims and dock-edge scenes get cover planned for the exact spot.

What Docklands asks of a shoot

Who is in charge. The Port of London Authority on the river, the Canal & River Trust in West India and Millwall Docks, and the Royal Docks Management Authority in the Royal Docks. Each gives its own permission, and we apply to the right one.

The docks. Still water is not safe water: the docks are deep and cold, the quay walls are high and ladders out are far apart, so anyone in the water needs a boat to reach them.

Locks. Boats reach the West India Docks from the river through the entrance lock, booked in advance and worked around the tide.

Drones. West India and Millwall Docks are inside the Isle of Dogs restricted area (R159), West India Docks also inside London City Airport's runway zone, and the Royal Docks inside the airport's flight restriction zone, so every drone shot here needs permission first.

More on filming Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs and water safety on the Thames.

Recent London work

ProductionsSurfers Against Sewage: the Thames swimA camera boat, a safety boat and the permissions for a swim down the Thames from Teddington Lock to Westminster.Read the jobProductionsLondon’s landmarks from the ThamesOur RIB as the drone platform for early-morning aerials of London’s landmarks and red buses.Read the job

Filming somewhere else? See all our film boat hire locations, or tell us where and we will find the right boat.

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