Large scale boat clean up on the Upper Thames
The aim is to remove more than 100 sunk and abandoned vessels
The Environment Agency has launched its biggest clean-up effort in a decade on the Upper Thames.
The aim is to remove more than 100 sunk and abandoned vessels from the non-tidal section of the river.
The initiative has been driven by a newly established task force, designed to tackle various challenges along the Thames, including unattended boats.
A substantial portion of the work has already been completed, with 53 abandoned boats removed from the lower riverbanks earlier this year. The current operation focuses on clearing the remaining sunken and abandoned boats in the non-tidal Thames.
Environment Agency Navigation Operations Deputy Director Bill Jephson emphasised the severity of the situation, saying:
"Irresponsible boat owners have caused a blight on the Thames for far too long. We know the impact these boats can have on river users and local people. It’s time to start with a clean slate. Sunk, wrecked or abandoned, they’ve got to go."
Boat owners are responsible for removing their sunken wrecks, and where owners can be identified, the Environment Agency plans to recover associated costs.
Boats on the river are required to be registered and meet the EA’s standards, which include having insurance and a valid boat safety certificate.
Jephson noted the change in approach for non-registration offences, indicating that the agency will now remove boats where offenders have been prosecuted but continue to violate regulations. "We are currently recruiting more patrol officers to clamp down further," he added. "It’s time to put pride back into the river."
The task force, set up in July 2025, removed 35 boats from the Lower Thames in September 2025 and an additional 18 in January 2026. A further 70 boat removals are scheduled for March 2026.