Keeping it in the family

On the eve of London International Shipping Week (11-15 September), Joe Lukes, the latest generation of a Kent family with a long history of working on the capital’s river, describes it as “the best job in the world.”

In the blood

“The tidal Thames is a massive part of my life.

“Working on the river was all my dad ever did.

“It’s all I wanted to do growing up."

Starting out

“One of my earliest memories of the river is going to work with Dad, back when it was allowed.

“I was around six or seven years old.

“We used to board the tugs at Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend, the town where I was born and bred.

“I remember being terrified of the gaps between the planks of the pier."

Ties that bind

“My family’s links with the river span five generations.

“My great, great grandad worked on the Anglia, the vessel that towed Cleopatra’s Needle up the Thames.

“My great grandad helped save lives during the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk in World War Two."

Career path

“I have worked for the global towage company, Svitzer, for 12 years now.

“The river has always been the focus of my work.

“My first job after leaving school was working on a small survey boat.

“It gave me a good foundation.

“Getting onto the tugs was always the end goal, but with my family’s history, expectations were high.

“In the first year of my four-year apprenticeship with Svitzer I qualified as a deckhand, gaining my mates qualification 12 months later.

"Aged 27, I became a skipper, one of the youngest at Svitzer, at that time.

“We refer to it as ‘dead man’s shoes’, as there are ten tugs and 21 skippers, so you are waiting for people to retire to move up."

Life afloat; the ups…

“No two days are the same on the river.

“We’re much busier in the winter - there’s a bit of respite in the summer.

“The best part of the job is the challenge of towing vessels.

“A lot of our jobs are at London Gateway, manoeuvring 400m box boats, which is always good fun.

“I prefer doing the smaller ships, as there is more skill involved. They are more delicate.

“Escorting navy ships going through Tower Bridge is always great too, with people hanging out the windows to wave at us.

“I like the upper river too, but we don’t get up there that often.

“I also really enjoy going into Tilbury.

“I have worked in Sweden, Scotland, Wales and most ports in the UK.

"Naturally, London remains my favourite.”

…and downs.

“The downside is having an irregular sleep pattern.

“Our rota system involves seven days on, with five of them on the river, then seven days off.

“A good day is a night in bed!”

Union man

“I also followed my dad into becoming a union rep.

“Despite witnessing the work and stress he brought home, I felt the challenge of future proofing the job was a big enough draw to take on the role as union rep.

“My responsibilities as a union rep include attending meetings, representing staff in pay negotiations, disciplinary hearings, and just general queries.

“It’s good for staff to have someone they can feel comfortable talking to.

“We also have quite a young branch with 150 members, so it’s easier for the organisation to communicate via one channel.”

Future goals

“I want to become as good as I can be.

“I want people to feel safe when they’re on board and teach them.

“I want to do more training.

"I do enjoy being the union rep, so I want to continue that too."

Changing times

“During my time the safety culture on the Thames has improved, both within Svitzer and across all river operations.

“Technology has also improved the tugs’ capabilities and is reducing the element of surprise.”

Top tip

“My advice to anyone thinking of a career on the tugs would be just try it!

“As my grandad told me, you will be there three months or 30 years.

“It isn’t for everybody, but I think it’s the best job in the world.

“Towing ships at 3am sounds awful, but watching the sun rise makes it worth it.”

Quick fire

• Hobbies? Spending time with my family, Charlton FC, boxing and playing golf.
• Hero? My Dad. He achieved everything I want to achieve. “He’s the better tug captain, but give me time…"
• Best place on the river to eat or drink? The Trafalgar in Greenwich.