Marine Safety
Specialist marine safety support for filming on the River Thames
Livett’s provides specialist marine safety support for film, television, commercials, branded content, documentaries, live events, and other productions filming on or near the River Thames.
From safety boats and on-water safety cover to safety-led planning, practical operational guidance, and support for productions working with crew, contributors, cast, talent, or specialist action on the river, we help production teams film safely and confidently on the water.
We help productions think through marine safety properly from the outset – not as a last-minute add-on, but as an essential part of making filming on the Thames controlled, realistic, and professionally managed. That can include practical input into marine safety planning, operational method statements, working procedures, and the wider setup needed to film safely on the water.
With decades of operational experience on the tidal Thames, a specialist fleet, highly experienced crew, and extensive marine coordination knowledge, we provide marine safety support that is practical, production-aware, and built around the needs of the shoot.
What we can help with
Safety boats for filming on the Thames
We provide a range of safety boats suitable for filming support on the River Thames, whether the requirement is straightforward standby cover, close support around camera boats, or a wider multi-vessel setup involving talent, stunts, picture boats, or specialist craft. Our fleet includes dedicated and dual-purpose vessels suited to different filming environments and operational requirements.
Safety support for cast, crew, contributors, and talent
Whenever people are working on or near the water, robust safety planning is essential. We support productions with practical marine safety arrangements for cast, presenters, contributors, stunt performers, technical teams, and production crew, helping ensure the right level of cover is in place for the nature of the shoot.
Safety-led operational planning
Marine safety starts well before the filming day. We help production teams think through the practical side of the job in advance, including vessel positions, access, movement plans, working areas, timings, standby cover, and how marine safety fits into the wider filming plan.
Practical safety guidance for filming on a busy tidal river
The River Thames presents its own operational challenges, including tides, commercial traffic, passenger vessels, bridges, working windows, wash, restricted areas, and changing weather conditions. Because we work on the Thames every day, we can help productions understand these realities early and plan around them properly.
Safety planning for technically demanding shoots
Some productions require more complex marine safety input – for example shoots involving multiple vessels, difficult access points, low-light filming, moving sequences, live events, higher-risk activity, or specialist action on the water. Livett’s has extensive experience helping productions plan and support technically demanding shoots safely and efficiently.
Support with marine risk assessments and wider safety input
Where required, we can support productions with practical input around marine risk assessments, safety considerations, and operational planning for filming on the Thames. That can include helping production teams think through access, vessel movements, working areas, standby arrangements, crew and talent safety, and the practical controls needed to execute the marine side of the shoot safely.
Diving and in-water safety support where required
Some shoots call for in-water safety support, safety swimmers, or full dive team involvement. We work closely with trusted specialist diving teams and can help arrange tailored support where the production requires it.
View suitable safety boats for filming
Marine safety for a wide range of filming requirements
No two productions are the same, and the right level of marine safety support depends on the brief, location, who is involved, and what is happening on the water.
Perhaps you need:
- A safety boat to support a camera boat or picture boat
- Safety cover for cast, crew, contributors, or presenters working near the water
- Operational guidance on how to film safely on the Thames
- Support planning vessel movements, timings, and working zones
- Safety input for a more complex or higher-risk shoot
- Multi-vessel safety support as part of a wider marine coordination package
Whatever your production needs, Livett’s provides practical marine safety support for filming on the River Thames, backed by experienced crew, specialist vessels, and decades of working knowledge on one of the busiest and most operationally demanding urban waterways in the world.
What marine safety means in practice
Marine safety on the Thames works best when it is considered early.
By bringing safety planning into the wider marine conversation from the outset, productions are more likely to avoid delays, reduce unnecessary risk, and achieve what they need on the day with greater confidence.
It also gives producers, directors, crew, and contributors greater confidence that the shoot is being planned and delivered with the right level of professional marine oversight.
Every shoot is different, but marine safety support often includes practical planning and on-water measures such as:
- Safety boat provision
- Standby safety cover
- Vessel positioning and movement planning
- Access planning
- Working area advice
- Talent and crew safety considerations
- Safety support for camera, drone, and picture boat operations
- Input into timings and river logistics
- Operational guidance around filming near bridges, piers, foreshore areas, and other restricted environments
- Coordination between production, marine crew, and other specialist partners where required
Why production teams choose Livett’s for marine safety
Safety is built into how we work
At Livett’s, marine safety is central to how we plan, coordinate, and deliver filming on the water. From the first conversation, we help productions think clearly about what is realistic, what support is required, and how to put the right controls in place.
Deep Thames knowledge
Filming safely on the Thames requires local knowledge as much as it requires the right boats. Our team understands the practical challenges of operating on a busy tidal river and helps productions plan around changing conditions, vessel traffic, restricted areas, and location-specific considerations.
Experienced, properly trained crew
All support is delivered by highly experienced marine crew with strong local knowledge and up-to-date training. Across the filming fleet, crew are trained in first aid, sea survival, and the latest safety practices, helping productions feel confident that the people supporting them on the water understand both the environment and the responsibility that comes with it.
Licensed vessels with the right equipment
Our filming fleet is fully licensed by the Port of London Authority and carries the appropriate life-saving equipment onboard. That matters not just from a compliance point of view, but because it gives production teams confidence that the vessels supporting the shoot are suited to the realities of working safely on the Thames.
Backed by marine coordination expertise
Marine safety is strongest when it is tied into the wider operational plan. Livett’s combines marine safety support with marine coordination, vessel supply, permissions guidance, stakeholder liaison, safety planning, and practical logistics – allowing productions to deal with the project in a joined-up way, rather than piecing different elements together separately.
Proven on demanding shoots
Livett’s has provided marine safety support on well over 500 productions and has worked on some of the most technically complex filming ever carried out on the Thames. That breadth of experience ensures marine safety decisions are shaped by practical judgement built over many years, not theory alone.
How we work
1. Understand the brief
We start by understanding what is being filmed, where it is taking place, who will be on or near the water, what level of activity is involved, and whether other vessels or services may be required.
2. Recommend the right level of safety support
We advise on the most appropriate safety boats, safety arrangements, and wider operational measures based on the nature of the shoot, the location, the people involved, and any practical constraints.
3. Plan the practical details
Where needed, we help productions think through timings, vessel movements, access, working areas, standby arrangements, and how marine safety should be integrated into the wider filming plan.
4. Deliver experienced support on the water
With the right plan in place, we provide experienced marine safety support on the water to help filming run safely, smoothly, and with greater confidence for everyone involved
River Thames filming marine safety FAQs
Do I need a safety boat for filming on the Thames?
In many cases, yes. Where filming involves working on the water, close to the river’s edge, moving vessels, cast or crew near the water, or more complex operational setups, safety boats are often required. The right level of support depends on the nature of the production, and we can advise on what is appropriate for the brief.
Can Livett’s help with marine risk assessments?
Yes. We can support productions with practical input around marine risk assessments, operational safety considerations, and the wider planning needed to film safely on the Thames.
Can you support filming involving talent or contributors on the water?
Yes. We regularly help productions plan safe working arrangements for cast, presenters, contributors, crew, and other personnel involved in filming on or near the river.
Are your safety boats licensed for the Thames?
Yes. Our filming fleet is fully licensed by the Port of London Authority and operates with the appropriate safety equipment onboard. All support is delivered by experienced marine crew with strong local knowledge and up-to-date training.
Can you provide more than one safety boat?
Yes. We can support both simple and more complex shoots, including multi-vessel filming setups where safety boats need to work alongside camera boats, drone platforms, picture boats, pontoons, or other specialist craft.
Do you only provide marine safety support on the River Thames?
The Thames is one of our core areas of expertise, but our wider marine film services are also available across the UK and internationally where required. Many of our vessels and services can be deployed more widely depending on the brief.
Need marine safety support for your shoot?
If your production involves filming on or near the River Thames, getting the right marine safety measures in place early can make a significant difference to how smoothly, safely, and confidently the shoot runs.
Livett’s can help you assess the risks, develop the right marine safety plan, put the right support in place, advise on practical operational safety, and provide experienced safety boats and marine crew for filming on the Thames.
Talk to us about marine safety for your Thames shoot: