A sludge lancing system for use in a steam generator including a no tube lane disposed between a first bank of tubes and a second bank of tubes that are transverse to a horizontal reference plane, comprising: a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes an elongated groove having a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane; and a first lancing head, comprising: a body including a head portion, a fluid inlet and defining a conduit, the head portion being slidably received in the elongated groove; a high pressure hose attached to the fluid inlet, the high pressure hose being configured to move the head portion along the rail; and a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, and at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation, the sludge lancing system being characterised in that the high pressure hose is retained within the elongated groove of the rail. a rail that extends through the no tube lane and includes an elongated groove having a longitudinal center axis that is parallel to the reference plane; and a first lancing head, comprising: a body including a head portion, a fluid inlet and defining a conduit, the head portion being slidably received in the elongated groove; a high pressure hose attached to the fluid inlet, the high pressure hose being configured to move the head portion along the rail; and a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, and at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, a body including a head portion, a fluid inlet and defining a conduit, the head portion being slidably received in the elongated groove; a high pressure hose attached to the fluid inlet, the high pressure hose being configured to move the head portion along the rail; and a nozzle assembly that is mounted to the body and is pivotable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation, the nozzle assembly including a manifold defining a conduit that is in fluid communication with the conduit of the body, and at least a first nozzle that is mounted to the manifold and defines a conduit that generates a lancing fluid jet, wherein a longitudinal center axis of the conduit of the first nozzle lies in a first vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the rail so that the lancing fluid jet of the first nozzle is disposed in the first vertical plane when the manifold is pivoted about the axis of rotation, the sludge lancing system being characterised in that the high pressure hose is retained within the elongated groove of the rail.