St Katharine DocksTower BridgeWapping Old StairsThe police. Wapping is home to the Met’s Marine Policing Unit, so police boats are a regular sight here. A clear plan, agreed in advance, keeps everyone relaxed.
The docks. St Katharine Docks is entered through a lock, so getting a boat in or out depends on the tide and the lock’s times. Inside, the water is calm and enclosed.
Speed. Below St Saviour’s Dock, on the opposite bank, boats with a PLA Certificate of Compliance can go above 12 knots, so fast tracking along Wapping works.
The light. Wapping’s warehouses face south across the river, so they are in sun for most of the day, and Tower Bridge is backlit at sunset from here.
On the water. Commercial filming on the tidal Thames needs permission from the Port of London Authority, and we apply for it as part of the job.
In the air. St Katharine Docks sits just outside the City of London restricted area (R158), which starts at Tower Bridge, so we check each drone position against it and apply wherever it is needed.
On land. St Katharine Docks is a private estate, and the riverside paths and stairs belong to different owners, so filming on land needs their permission, separate from the river.
Marine businessesMMS Marine Tow: Ex-PLA Yacht ST KatherineCinematic drone filming and high-end aerial photography capturing the historic transit of the ST Katherine for MMS Marine Services.Read the job
Marine businessesEnd of Tideway Tow: FPV + Cinematic FilmingHigh-speed FPV and cinematic tracking of a historic final tow operation along the River Thames for CPBS Marine Services.Read the jobYes, with the docks’ permission. Boats come and go through the lock at set times around the tide, so we plan the shoot around them.
Yes. From the water off Wapping, Tower Bridge sits upriver at the end of the reach, and at sunset it is backlit.
Only with approvals. We check the exact position against central London’s restrictions and apply in good time.
At a point that suits the tide and the shoot, which we confirm with the call sheet.
