Driver Jatt

The Imaginary Duckmaster & Real Delivery Tales at St. Katharine Docks, London

Delivering to St. Katharine Docks, right under the shadow of Tower Bridge feels like stumbling into a maritime postcard. If you’re lucky enough to moor a boat here, you’re in for a treat. But if you’re a courier, good luck with the parking.

But for those of us without a boat to moor this is what to expect.

There’s a small handful of sailing boats with masts that go all the way up to the sky! Okay slight exaggeration there but they’re certainly not small. These ships are certainly something to take in even if like me your knowledge of ships started and stopped at the Titanic. Two or three of the boats really stood out against the what I assumed are more modern shiny boats.

I was fortunate enough to deliver here today.

The Imaginary Duckmaster (And Very Real Birds)

Now the thing that nobody knows about this place is that it has a unique quirkiness to it that’s quite amusing. We have the tradition of the “Duckmaster.” Yep, you heard that right! At St. Katharine Docks, there used to be a Duckmaster whose job was to ensure the safety of the resident ducks and to guide them across the marina. It was a whimsical position created to add a touch of charm to the area. Imagine seeing a Duckmaster leading a procession of ducks through a marina filled with boats and yachts whilst wearing a black top hat and a long tailcoat. A bit like Daffy Duck! A scene straight out of a quirky comedy but sadly this is not the case.

I just made this up HOWEVER, before I get a load of abuse in via email, I should point out that there are some very rare birds that do visit the marina and tend to nest on the backs of some of the docked boats.

I can’t recall the names of these birds. Although there is a plaque just outside Zizzi giving them a mention.

Docking Costs: Metres, Not Tuna

Moving on today it’s obviously a place where most people reading this are unlikely to own a ship or anything that requires docking there.

While the Duckmaster might be fictional, the costs of docking here are very real and surprisingly measured in meters, not tuna!

Something interesting I found out about the place and most docks like it. The cost to dock is based on the size of the vessel measured in metres of length. I don’t know why this came as a surprise, I know that horses are measured in hands so I assumed rather haphazardly that boats must be measured in units of tuna or something else found in the sea. Then you need to add the cost of electricity, water and waste which all equals ££££ more than I can possibly afford.

Let’s just say i’m glad that my van parking isn’t measured by the meter. I guess that would seriously upset many a courier.

From Pirate Hub to Swanky Marina

Back in the 19th century, this place was a bustling hub for trade, especially for luxury goods like tea and spices. Picture a scene straight out of a pirate movie, with ships coming and going, loading and unloading all sorts of treasures. You can even see one of the rings where ships were anchored to. Pic below.

But like many things, time moved on, and by the mid-20th century, the docks fell into disrepair. They were bombed during World War II and just kinda lost their way.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and boom! The docks got a major revamp. They were transformed into a swanky marina surrounded by modern apartments, restaurants and shops. It went from faded glory to waterfront chic complete with fancy opening bridges. It really is a nice place to spend some time with a coffee and a date. Take a look at their official website https://www.skdocks.co.uk/marina/

Nowadays, St. Katharine Docks is more about leisure than commerce. People stroll along the promenade, enjoy coffee at outdoor cafes and watch the yachts bobbing in the water. It’s a prime spot for soaking up some ‘London vibes’ and tourism, right next to Tower Bridge which is an amazing piece of British engineering and a must see for both nationals and tourists alike.

Frigate Express the national courier had the pleasure of delivering there 🙂

So, fancy being the ‘duckmaster’ or need a courier who knows London’s secret spots? Frigate Express delivers everywhere, even next to pirate-worthy docks!

Get a quote >>>>>>>>> Over Here

If you have any questions???? Get in touch.