Custom-built boat

DUCKWEED can be a massive problem if left unchecked, limiting boat users’ ability to navigate the canals easily.

I cover a large area of London in my daily work, and we can expect lots of craft on the waterway throughout the day. As such, with weed growing so quickly due to the warmer temperatures, I often visit the same patch of waterway several times a week, just to keep on top of things.

The logistics involved when it comes to weed clearance require careful consideration – I need to look at the weather forecast days in advance so I can predict where weed growth will be biggest and be aware of the manpower I will need to allocate in order to clear specific areas.

The correct deployment of weedcutting operatives allows us to work as productively as possible to keep the waterways clear, even at very busy times.

Yet even with a large team working the waterway, the days can be long and intense during the summer. The heat means weeds are constantly blooming, and we have to be up early in the morning to clear the canals before the mid-morning boat traffic peak.

This is a highly important part of the job, so even though it adds to my day, I always ensure any boat maintenance and refuelling is done prior to finishing.

That way, I know I can start straight away the next morning and tackle the weeds again.

The boats we use are customised to collect duckweed, with a large conveyor belt mounted to the front. This is hydraulically lowered into the water to collect the weed, which is deposited into an open hold on the boat.

When this is filled, we then reverse the belt to offload the contents into the hold of a larger ‘hopper’ – a boat designed to carry materials – which is then transported away from the canal.

We also used a hydraulically powered boat with a small digger arm on the front. This enables us to attach a basket for scooping up weed, or a cutting arm for processing large rafts of pennywort, which is a different type of weed.