'Piper's Wharf': London's principal boat repair yard under threat

The site on the shore of the Greenwich Peninsula is affected by a major development proposal, the subject of a planning application made November 2004.
The owner Thames Craft Dry Docking Services has instructed BWCP to make representations to the borough, to give evidence before the Development Plan Inspector and to negotiate with his freehold landlord for a suitable relocation without interruption of his business which maintains the majority of the ferry and tourist craft on the Thames and has built many of the piers and the floating Chinese restaurant in Docklands.
Negotiations for relocation to a long-disused wharf site a little to the north are well advanced.




Craft are floated into a floating dry dock at high tide; the dock drains on the falling tide and is closed with remaining water pumped out. The vessel is safely propped to carry out repairs, maintenance or alterations. Cranes are mounted on the embankment to hoist materials into place.