Latest news and pictures from shipping on the Thames
NEW 228-metre-long cruise ship Viking Sun sailed up the Thames in the early hours of Friday morning – the first cruise visitor to the capital this year. The ship, which was finishing her maiden 141 night round-the-world cruise that started in Miami last year, is the fourth in the Viking Star-class. Viking Sun, with a capacity of 930 passengers, spent …
A flotilla of traditional Thames craft led by the Queen’s row barge Gloriana has been axed from this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show. QRB Gloriana and the Traditional Thames Rowing Association (TTRA) have been told they will not feature in the pageant which takes places in November. The ancient tradition of carrying the new Lord Mayor of London down the river …
A STUNNING supermoon was seen rising over the Thames in London late yesterday afternoon. Rain and clouds which had dominated the morning sky cleared away in time to provide a clear view of the rising moon. According to NASA, it was a “super blood moon” due to the phenomenon whereby the moon appears reddish in colour and particularly large and …
STORM Eleanor forced the Environment Agency to raise the Thames Barrier yesterday to protect London from flooding. High tide levels combined with Eleanor’s surge meant that the iconic flood protection system was required to act – the 180th time it has done so in response to a flood threat since it became operational in 1984. The barrier in south east …
THE On The Thames 2018 photo calendar has been released and is now available to buy online. It the fifth consecutive year that the pictorial calendar has been produced and one again it celebrates the sights up and down the tidal stretch of the river. This year’s edition has the heritage steam tug Portwey at Tower Bridge adorning the front …
TWO frigates from China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy sailed up the River Thames today. The Type 054A ships Huanggang (577) and Yangzhou (578) arrived at West India Docks and they will be followed this evening by the 18-month old Type 903 replenishment ship Gaoyouhu which will go in to the Royal Docks. Just an hour separated the arrivals this morning …
TWO huge chimneys at Tilbury Power Station have been brought crashing down to the ground this morning, At 8am the tallest standing concrete structures in Essex were razed to the ground in a controlled demolition at the decommissioned power station. Crowds had gathered at vantage points in Tilbury and along the riverside in Gravesend to watch the local landmarks disappear …
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 …