Other navigation authorities
The Environment Agency manages the navigation of the River Great Ouse and its tributaries - the rivers Cam, Lark, Little Ouse and Wissey. You will need to register your boat with the Environment Agency to boat on these rivers.
There are other navigation authorities that cover the tidal Great Ouse and some of the connecting rivers. Please contact these authorities to register your boat.
Tidal Great Ouse from Stowbridge
The Environment Agency is the navigation authority on the tidal River Great Ouse as far as Stowbridge. After Stowbridge the Kings Lynn Conservancy Board Port and Pilotage Authority takes over.
Contact the Kings Lynn Port Authority
You will need to contact the Port Authority if you are planning to enter the River Great Ouse system via the Wash, or if you would like to go out to sea.
Tel: 01553 773 411
Fax: 01553 763 431
Email: harbourmaster@portauthoritykingslynn.fsnet.co.uk
Post: The Harbour Master, Kings Lynn Conservancy Board, Harbour Office, Common Staith, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1LL.
River Nene to the River Great Ouse connection
The connection between the River Nene at Stanground and the River Great Ouse at Denver is part of the Middle Level Navigation. Its main purpose is as a land drainage system. It's controlled by the Middle Level Commissioners.
The Nene-Ouse navigation link is at present the only connection between the Great Ouse and the main canal network. During a normal summer over 1,000 pleasure crafts pass through this link.
Contact the Middle Level Commissioners
If you are boating on the link between the Nene and the Ouse, you can register your boat with the lockkeepers at one of the following locks:
Stanground Lock: 01733 566 413
Salters Lode Lock: 01366 382 292
River Cam upstream of Bottisham Lock
The River Cam links the Ely Ouse with the City of Cambridge. It has several offshooting channels, some of which are navigable.
The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the River Cam up to and including Bottisham Lock. After Bottisham Lock, the River Cam Conservancy are the statutory navigation authority. This is from the Mill Pond, Silver Street to Bottisham Lock, and with lesser responsibilities upstream to Byron's Pool.
Speed limits on the River Cam above Bottisham Lock are 11km per hour up to Baits Bite Lock and 8km per hour above Baits Bite Lock. The navigation keys and windlasses used on the Great Ouse and the River Cam are the same.
Contact the River Cam Conservancy
To register your boat for the River Cam after Bottisham Lock, contact the Cam Conservancy. Also contact them to order a copy of their byelaws for this part of the Cam.
Tel: 01223 863 785
Email: river.manager@camconservators.org.uk
Post: The River Manager, Baits Bite Lock House, Fen Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6AF.