Can a large superyacht reach the Pool of London?

The limit in the Upper Pool is the berth, not the bridge. Tower Bridge lifts for any yacht bound upriver, so the question for a large yacht is which tier suits her length, and how the pilot, the lift and the tide fit together on the day.

Which berths are there in and near the Pool?

Tower Bridge Upper, in the Upper Pool 300 metres above the bridge and shared with HMS Belfast, takes yachts of up to 158 metres and needs a bridge lift. George Stairs Tier, 1.5 cables below the bridge, takes yachts of up to 120 metres and needs no lift. Greenwich Ship Tier, five miles downriver, takes yachts of up to 228 metres. For yachts of up to about 42 metres and 12 metres beam, St Katharine Docks, beside the Tower, is the only central berth with walk-ashore access.

The three tiers are operated under one contract to the Port of London Authority and are booked on 48 hours' notice. They are tender berths, so guests and crew land by the yacht's tender or by licensed launch. The berths are compared in where a superyacht can berth in central London.

Does the yacht need a Tower Bridge lift?

A yacht with an air draught of 9 metres or more, bound for the Upper Pool, needs the bridge to lift. The lift is requested in writing at least 24 hours in advance by the agent, the owner or the master, and there is no charge. Masts, radar arches and antennas all count towards the air draught, so the figure is best taken from the yacht's drawings. The process is set out in booking a Tower Bridge lift.

Is a pilot required?

Pilotage is compulsory above 40 metres throughout the Port of London. The pilot boards at the North East Spit from the south or the Sunk from the north, and the booking is confirmed with the Port Control Centre six hours before the movement. Under the Port of London Authority's Charges 2026, a 55 metre yacht from the Channel to the Upper Pool pays two pilotage acts, about GBP 1,999 inbound. A worked example is on the fees page.

How does the tide shape the passage?

The range at London Bridge is about 7 metres at springs, and the ebb runs longer and harder than the flood, so every movement on the river is planned to the tide. The time the yacht must reach Tower Bridge sets the pilot's boarding time in the estuary, and the tide sets both.

London VTS monitors VHF 69 seaward of Sea Reach 4 and VHF 68 from Sea Reach 4 to Crayfordness, and the Thames Barrier Navigation Centre monitors VHF 14. Thames pilots monitor VHF 09.

What about fuel and services in the Pool?

There is no fuel berth on the tiers. The fuel barge Heiko lies below the St Katharine Docks lock, and for a large quantity a smaller vessel attends by prior arrangement. Water, refuse, and black and grey water are booked with the tier, and shore power is confirmed with the operator when the berth is booked.

How can Watermans help?

We book the berth, the pilot and the lift together when we plan your arrival, and make the report to Border Force before you sail. The full detail is in the London pilot notes, and arrival formalities sets out the rest of the call.