On Board



Making the Thames Accessible

On Board
Group Leaders
The group leader and accompanying staff/carers play an important role to help your group make the most of the trip. Under the guidance of the skipper and crew they work with the crew to facilitate the group, assist with activities, especially on Living and Learning Afloat trips, and encourage the young people to work as a team. The group leader is responsible for the conduct of your group during their visit.

Meals
	The Venturer is usually hired on a self-catering basis, however, a list of caterers can be provided. We suggest that you plan a picnic or prepare a hot meal in advance, which can be heated-up in the galley. Lunch can be eaten around the table in the saloon or out on deck, weather permitting. The Boat Project provides tea, coffee, milk, sugar, salt and pepper, tea towels and washing up liquid. There is plenty of crockery and cutlery, saucepans, chopping boards, etc. in the galley. Please do not bring paper plates, plastic cups or plastic cutlery. They are not environmentally friendly and are easily blown into the river when taken on deck. It has become a custom that meals are provided for the skipper and volunteer crew by the visiting group. This gives everyone the opportunity to share the meal and discuss the voyage. It helps group dynamics and is often a time when you find out most about the river.
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Food Hygiene
Store food safely in the fridges. DO NOT place uncooked meat above cooked or fresh foods, always store it at the bottom of the fridge. Wash your hands before preparing food and cover cuts or grazes. Wash knives, chopping boards etc used for preparing uncooked meat before using them to prepare raw or previously cooked foods. Make sure food is properly cooked. When reheating prepared food ensure it is piping hot. If any of your group assists the crew on deck or if anyone comes into contact with river water, ensure they wash their hands before they eat.

Use of Calor Gas
The gas oven and hob use Calor Gas, which is stored in canisters on the boat. Please ensure there is a responsible adult in the galley at all times when the oven, grill and gas rings are being used. Never leave these appliances unattended when in use, in case the flame is blown out. If you smell gas, check to see that the oven, grill and/or gas rings are turned off and tell a member of crew immediately. Kettles should not be left boiling just in case they are needed - this wastes gas and causes condensation.
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Safety on board
Safety Briefing
When you arrive on board you will asked to go down into the saloon for a safety briefing. Please assist the crew by ensuring everyone in your group is present. Acquaint yourself and your group with the location of the exits, first aid kit and lifejackets in case of an emergency. Please ensure that instructions given by the skipper and/or crew are carried out quickly and calmly and that the NO SMOKING policy inside the boat and wheelhouse is observed. Care should be taken whilst moving around the Venturer at all times. While outside, the group should stay on the upper deck (painted green). Clients are not allowed on the foredeck and side decks. Sitting on the bollards is strictly forbidden. Heads, bodies, arms and legs should not dangle from the side of the boat. The lift must only be operated under the supervision of the skipper or crew.
River Safety Code
Staff/carers/parents bringing a group of children or young people on board should ensure that everyone knows our River Safety Code before the voyage.
Watch out for danger at all times. Do not run on deck, at the lockside or on the river bank. NEVER go into the water deeper than welly deep. Only work on, in or by the river with an adult in sight at all times. Do not splash other people or push them into the water. Cover cuts and scratches with plasters and wear rubber gloves. Do not get river water in your mouth, nose, eyes or ears. Do not eat or drink whilst working. Wash your hands after working on, in or by the river and before eating.
This code is based on a RoSPA approved code of safety

Lifejackets
Passenger lifejackets are stored under the bunks. If any member of the group is under 16, a non-swimmer or lacks confidence on board, they should wear a lifejacket on deck whilst the boat is underway. Wheelchair users should have their lifejacket easily available at all times. When cruising at night, everyone must wear a lifejacket whilst on deck.

Evacuation Procedure
In the unlikely event of having to evacuate the boat in an emergency, please proceed as follows:

The emergency alarm is either: a continuous ringing of the ship's bell, or seven long and one short blast of the ship's horn. If you hear either of these signals, leave the accommodation by the steps at the front of the boat or at the stern into the wheelhouse. Do not take your belongings with you. Go to the "Muster Point" on the port side (left-hand side) of the boat. When instructed, evacuate the boat quickly and calmly. Keep your group together and assist the crew by doing a head count to ensure all are present. Do not go back onto the boat. Follow instructions of the skipper and crew at all times.
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Living in a New Environment
When underway, the Venturer is completely independent of the services we all take for granted - fresh water, power supplies and sewage disposal. As part of the environmental aspects of the Boat Project please try to use them carefully. We would like to draw your attention to their use and conservation.

Water Fresh water is carried in tanks under the saloon floor. There should be enough water on the boat to last several days. If, however, taps are left running, the supply will quickly dry up. Please remember not to leave the tap running when washing your hands, washing up or cleaning your teeth, and always turn off dripping taps. Use water sparingly and think of ways to re-use water before throwing it away. This will reduce consumption and reduce the time spent filling the tanks - which can take several hours. Power The lights, water pumps, toilets, lift and some of the safety equipment on Venturer are powered by batteries, which will discharge quickly if any lights or water taps are left on unnecessarily. If this happens the facilities we all rely on will fail. Waste Sewage is stored in tanks under the shower-room floors. When the tanks are full, the effluent is pumped ashore. It may be necessary to carry out this operation during your stay on board, if so we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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River Thames Boat Project Company No.: 3953201. Registered Charity No.: 1080281

On Board

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Safety on board

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Living in a New Environment