The skies above the Thames in Central London were lit up like a glorious Christmas tree – as more than 100,000 revellers watched from the foreshore and a worldwide TV audience of millions welcomed
in 2016.

It’s the busiest night of the year for Thames passenger boats and two
of our launches were there to
ensure everyone could enjoy the fireworks safely.

Barnes and Kew, with blue lights flashing, were stationed 100 metres upriver of Westminster Bridge and 100 metres downriver of Charing Cross Bridge respectively, making sure no vessels passed through for the duration of the 11-minute show.

Thousands of police officers
watched over more than 100,000 revellers on the waterside. Many faced down drizzle in London for
the display, which featured about 12,000 fireworks on three barges,
tied to moorings laid by our Marine Services team the day before.

The pyrotechnics were
synchronised and triggered
by GPS linked to Big Ben’s
midnight chimes.

It also involved:

30 tonnes of equipment on
three barges
The cooperation and planning 
of 85 different organisations
306 set-up crew

2,808 crew and stewards
16,800 metres of barriers
21,000 metres of cabling.

Deputy harbour master (upper)
Ryan Hall said: “It was a spectacular display and a fitting start to 2016. We’re happy to play our part and look forward to another exciting year of events on the Thames.”