FGS Oker sails down the Thames

Rob Powell Navy, News

A GERMAN navy intelligence ship was seen sailing down the Thames this afternoon. FGS Oker (A53) arrived in the capital under the cover of darkness late last week and has spent the weekend moored alongside HMS Belfast. The Type 423 Oste class ship, commissioned in 1988, set off early this afternoon with Tower Bridge lifting for her at 2pm. With …

SS Robin to move to Trinity Buoy Wharf

Rob Powell Heritage vessels, News

HISTORIC SS Robin looks set to move from her current home in the Royal Docks to Trinity Buoy Wharf. The SS Robin Trust which maintains the steam ship say the relocation of the Robin will secure her long term future. SS Robin is the last surviving British-built steam coaster and is listed on the National Historic Fleet register. She has had previous spells …

Photos: Deserted London on Christmas Day morning

Staff Writer News

THE NORMALLY bustling streets of the capital turned into a ghost town on Christmas Day morning. Some of the West End’s most famous streets and landmarks which were packed with people 12 hours earlier instead looked completely deserted. Christmas morning offers a rare opportunity to see London so bereft of bodies and is increasingly popular with photographers wanting to capture …

New Thames photo exhibition opens in Greenwich

Staff Writer News

A COLLECTION of river photographs from onthethames.net has gone on display in a Greenwich restaurant. The series of pictures in the new Thames exhibition celebrates the river and just some of the ways its used, with tall ships, cruise ships, the navy, tugs and a dredger all making an appearance. Curated by Tony Othen from the nearby Greenwich Gallery, the river …

Brand new On The Thames 2017 calendar now available

Staff Writer News

A NEW calendar celebrating the River Thames is now out. It’s the fourth year that a calendar produced using the photography from OnTheThames.net has been produced. The A4, spiral bound calendar once again includes images from up and down the Thames including tall ships, cruise ships, tugs and the Navy. A stunning sunset over the QEII Bridge at Dartford, the …

Rare chance to catch ferry across Thames by Tower Bridge

Staff Writer News

THERE will be a rare opportunity to catch a ferry across the Thames between St Katharine Pier and Butler’s Wharf Pier this weekend. For one day only, a ferry service will be in operation on December 4th between the two piers just below Tower Bridge. The unusual chance to travel by boat across the Pool of London has arisen because of …

Disappointment for HMS President campaigners in Autumn Statement

Staff Writer Heritage vessels, Navy, News

CAMPAIGNERS hoping to HMS President have had their hopes dealt a blow by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement but say they “won’t give up on her.” A petition asking for the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, to use proceeds from LIBOR fines to bail out the WWI vessel was signed by over 10,000 people. But when details of where the proceeds …

Greenpeace ship Esperanza sails up the Thames with a message for Sainbury’s

Rob Powell News

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza sailed up the Thames this afternoon to moor at St George’s Stairs near Tower Bridge. The 72 metre long vessel, in the distinctive Greenpeace livery, arrived on a clear but chilly November afternoon. Fixed to the ship, which was originally a Soviet fire fighting vessel, was a banner saying “Stop killing our oceans.” Greenpeace has been calling …

The Thames pays its respects to the fallen on Armistice Day

Rob Powell News

TOWER Bridge lifted in salute as a poppy wreath was carried up the River Thames to mark Armistice Day last week. The wreath was borne by the motor vessel Havengore, famous for also carrying the coffin of Churchill on the day of his funeral back in 1965. Followed by a small flotilla of vessels, the former PLA hydrographic survey boat left …

148 bedroom floating hotel arrives on the Thames

Rob Powell News

A LUXURY floating hotel with 148 bedrooms has arrived on the Thames after being towed across the North Sea. The Good Hotel is a not-for-profit that has been open in Amsterdam for the past year, retraining and employing 70 local people. Now the social enterprise has moved to East London where it plans to join the capital’s other floating hotel in the …