29 Dec 2025 / Lambeth Reach (London), United Kingdom

Exclusion Zone & Traffic Management for New Year celebrations

On 31 December, the Mayor of London’ New Year celebrations and firework display will be staged in Lambeth Reach. In order for this event to take place safely, an exclusion zone, river closure, and vessel traffic management will be implemented.

At 23:40 on 31 December until approximately 00:30 on 1 January an Exclusion Zone will be established from 100m downstream of Charing Cross Rail Bridge to 100m upstream of Westminster Bridge…

…Manned vessels must not remain within the Exclusion Zone, with the exception of emergency services vessels responding to an incident and vessels engaged in fireworks operations as approved by the Harbour Master.

The upper and lower Exclusion Zone boundaries will be patrolled by a PLA Harbour Service Launch, displaying blue flashing lights.

All vessels are to navigate with caution in the vicinity of the Exclusion Zone boundaries; maintain an effective continuous listening watch on VHF channel 14; and promptly comply with all instructions which may be given by the attending Harbour Service Launches, which have the following callsigns:

  • “WESTMINSTER CONTROL” for the Harbour Services Launch stationed at the upper closure boundary.
  • “EMBANKMENT CONTROL” for the Harbour Services Launch stationed at the lower closure boundary.

From the implementation of the exclusion zone, commercial and recreational vessels assembling to view the fireworks display will be segregated. Vessels must remain inside the area designated for their type of vessel and this segregation will be enforced by attending Harbour Service Launches and Marine Policing Unit vessels.

Except emergency services vessels, or a vessel in an emergency, no vessel is to enter, and no manned vessel is to remain within the “Emergency Use Only” areas.

All vessels are reminded to navigate with caution; maintain a continuous, effective listening watch on VHF channel 14; and promptly comply with any instructions which may be given by the attending Harbour Service Launches, displaying blue flashing lights, with the callsigns detailed above…

…Between 21:00 on 31 December 2025 and 01:30 on 1 January 2026, only relevant vessels holding a NYE2025 licence may enter the Enforcement Area between Tower Bridge and Chelsea Bridge. NYE2025 licenses must be produced to police officers on demand and any relevant vessel unable to produce a NYE2025 licence will not be permitted to enter, or remain within, the Enforcement Area.

(For information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at [email protected])

Source: Extract from Port of London Authority Notice To Mariners Ref.M154-25

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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