Latest news and pictures from shipping on the Thames
POPULAR paddle steamer Waverley has arrived on the river for the start of her 2017 Thames season. This year’s programme of excursions, which coincides with the 70th anniversary year of her maiden voyage, is already sold out on many days. On sunny Friday afternoon, she steamed up the Thames, stopping at Southend, Gravesend and then making her way up to …
A 293 METRE long cruise ship became the biggest to ever visit London International Cruise Terminal when she sailed up the Thames yesterday. Mein Schiff 3, meaning My Ship 3 in English, arrived at the Tilbury terminal in Essex shortly after 7am on Tuesday morning. Seasoned ship spotters have been checking the archives to check whether she might be the …
HUNDREDS of boats took part in the 2017 Great River Race on the River Thames yesterday afternoon. It was the 30th time that London’s river marathon has been held, with over 300 craft taking on the 21 mile challenge. The crews, many from around the world, set off from Millwall slipway on the Isle of Dogs 12.40pm. According to the …
THE BRAZILIAN navy’s sail training ship Cisne Branco sailed up the River Thames yesterday afternoon for a port visit to London. The ship was dressed overall, bringing some much needed colour to the Thames on a dull day as she made her way up the river to arrive at West India Docks at about 2.30pm. Built in Amsterdam, the 74 …
A 144 metre long oil & chemical tanker ran aground in the River Thames on Wednesday night. Arsland had departed Purfleet and was rounding Swancombe Peninsula at Broadness when she went aground. Svizter tugs Madeline, Bootle and London assisted with pulling the Hamburg-bound vessel clear. The incident was also attended by the oil cleanup vessel Recover and the PLA’s Southwark. …
WHILE the new Dunkirk movie rides high at the box office, one of the ships from Operation Dynamo is lying rotting in Kent. 111 year old Sailing Barge Ena is currently decaying in a barge graveyard in the River Medway at Hoo. The historic vessel was sailed out to Dunkirk on 31st May 1940 to help with the evacuation but …
GRAVESEND commuters will get the chance to try travelling to London and back by boat in a four day trial next month. MBNA Thames Clippers will be running the trial service from Gravesend town pier into central London, stopping at Canary Wharf, Tower Pier, Blackfriars and Embankment. The service will get passengers from Gravesend to Canary Wharf in just 48 minutes and …
ROYAL Barge ‘Royal Nore’ is to leave the River Thames and join the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust Collection in Leith. The historic vessel has been owned by the Port of London Authority since 1971 and has been the Queen’s mode of transport at several important river events including the official openings of London Bridge, the Thames Barrier, Millennium Dome and the Millennium …
THE RIVER Thames was treated to a very rare spectacle yesterday afternoon when two Silverseas cruise ships passed each other near Greenwich. Silver Cloud was heading down the river after a two day visit to the Upper Pool when she was passed by her sister ship Silver Wind on her way up the river. Silver Cloud paused in Blackwall Reach …
A NEW operator has taken over the historic Tilbury Ferry service today. The river crossing between Tilbury and Gravesend is now operated by Jetstream Tours using the Thames Swift trimaran vessel. It’s a return to the service after a 15 year absence for Thames Swift, having originally been built in Gravesend by a previous ferry operator – White Horse Ferries …