London's River

Superyacht of the year Grace E is the latest big charter boat to visit. And at 73m (239ft) she is certainly big.

The charter company (Burgess) describes her as stunning, but am I alone in thinking that there's something strange about her top hamper? As though the shipyard lost the mast or radar arch and had to use a couple of drainpipes instead?

One of the features of the ship that will appeal to her target market is the "wellness deck" which includes dry and steam saunas, hydrotherapy bath, massage room and gym, plus a meditation space. Also, the aft deck has an area which apparently is ideal for yoga.

Grace E can take 12 passengers, with 20 crew to look after them and the ship. No surprise then to learn that it will cost $595,000 for a week's Caribbean cruising in the winter. More than you really need to know can be found at
https://www.burgessyachts.com/en/charter-cat-1/yachts-for-charter/motor-yachts/grace-e-00000449.html/

After more than three hours of often noisy discussion, the Royal Borough of Greenwich planning board last night approved the latest plans for the London City Cruise Port at East Greenwich.

There were a fair number of objectors, many of them on the grounds of air quality. The issue is that cruise ships depend on their auxiliary engines to generate electrical power while they are moored, and local residents fear that this will lead to increased pollution.

Several objectors have called for shore power to be provided, with engines turned off when moored. The engines become simply lumps of “cold iron”. Hence the term cold ironing often used for shore power provision.

Such demands ignore some inconvenient truths. Ports which provide shore power are mostly big ports which have a constant flow of ships all year round, or are operated by public authorities which subsidise the installation or operational cost.

I'm reliably told that the cost of the equipment on the berth would be about £1million, plus the multi-£million cost of connecting it to the Grid, since the nearest suitable connection is apparently a substation at Shooters Hill.

And that would obviously not be viable for a one-berth terminal catering for 50–60 ships a year.

So all those who – perhaps through ignorance of the facts – called for the terminal to provide cold iron supply were really saying: Go away, we don't want you.

The terminal will cater for both turnarounds (starts and finishes) as well as en route calls. And the site will include 700 flats and a podium-level garden or mini-park on the roof of the terminal building, as shown in this pic.

Which might remind older readers of a famous pic of a liner at the end of a street in the Isle of Dogs. If I find a copy, I will post it later.

An early start this morning, and although sunrise at 05:07 looked promising, by the time Silver Cloud turned from Woolwich into Gallions Reach there was little more than a suggestion of sunshine. But as always, the ship looked fine. After a brief call alongside HMS Belfast, she is now making passage for the Elbe.

Silversea Cruises pretty much invented the small luxury cruise ship market. When we first went aboard Cloud some years ago Gill (who served as an assistant purser on P&O's big ships, including the "real" Oriana) was really impressed with the luxury, quality and standards of service.

Interesting that this week we also have in port one of the newest entrants in this specialist market, Star Legend - see below – (formerly Seaboard Legend. She is owned by Windstar, who as the name suggests is best known for its giant sailing yachts. (If you've never seen them, ask Ms Google and be amazed).

A quick comparison: Silver Cloud: 157m x 22m, 296 passengers and 22 crew. Star Legend: 135m x 19.6m, 208 passengers, 164 crew.

Star Legend makes her second visit of the year – a warm sunny afternoon as she heads up river

Training ship Tenacious heads up Gallions Reach today, on her way to West India Dock.

She is one of two ships operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a charity whose mission is to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of tall ship sailing aboard two very special ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious.

JST offers able-bodied and disabled people holidays which involve working together on board. More at http://jst.org.uk/

Look out for a familiar ship with a new name over the next couple of days. The former Seabourn Legend, now named Star Legend, is due on Tower Bridge Upper (alongside HMS Belfast) early on Thursday. (NE Sunk at 2045 Wed, bridge lift 0315 Thu).

Legend is one of three former Seabourns recently bought by Windstar, who made their name in luxury sailing yachts, and has had a multi $ million refit.

With only 212 passengers, she is the latest luxury "mini cruiser" to visit London, at the start of a 7-night "Idyllic British Isles" cruise to Dublin.

Ocean View suites are still available for about £1600. Or splash out £4500 for an Owner's Suite which includes separate living room and dining areas, veranda, two flat-screen TVs and DVD players, plus a full master bath and separate powder room

Before you pull out your wallet to fork out £217,000 for a week on Shemara, take a couple of minutes to look at the alternatives. For the same money or less you could have a top class boat of your own – to use 50 weeks of the year.

Take a look at our shortlist – all at about the £200k price point – and decide: which would you choose?

With all of these boats you could happily cruise the Channel, the French Atlantic coast, the Med – and of course up the River Thames almost as far as Oxford:

1 Sunseeker Predator - speed and glamour
2 Fairline Squadron – stylish, comfortable cruising
3 Beneteau Swift – space and comfort
4 Grand Banks – if you want to "sell up and sail away"

Out on the Thames Path this morning to see the motor yacht Shemara heading up to the Pool of London. She was built in 1938 for the glamorous yet notorious Dockers – businessman Sir Bernard and his wife, a former dancer known to the tabloids as Naughty Nora.

For years she lay, almost forgotten, on the Norfolk coast, before being rescued and given a million man-hour refit – making her look almost certainly better than new.

Shemara is now available to charter, so if you and 11 friends fancy a week at sea, she would be idea. Always provided you have €300,000 to spare – about £217,000 for the week. Look at it another way. that's "only" £18,000 each for a party of 12.

For some pix of the interior, take a look at the charter operator's website:
http://www.edmiston.com/yacht-charter/shemara-3024/

and to read the story of her refit – a tribute to the British marine industry, Boat International has the story:
http://tinyurl.com/oj2ojkz

Out early this morning to see cruise ship MV Albatros coming up river. She looked lovely in the sunshine. What I call a real ship, rather than something that looks more like an apartment building.

Albatros is a mid-sized cruise ship (630 passengers) operated by Germany's Phoenix Travel. Originally the Norwegian Viking Star, she has been popular with the Germans for the past 10 years – and at one stage featured in a well-known TV show.

A flotilla of the Dunkirk Little Ships are coming down the river today – staying overnight in the Royal Docks before heading to France for the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.

If you don't know the part played by Thames boat owners in that heroic operation, our website has the story.

Thames boat builder Douglas Tough helped to save 335,000 Allied troops in ‘the miracle of Dunkirk’ – http://www.londonsriver.com/world-war-ii.html

Read, marvel, and give thanks.

World War II The River Thames and London in World War II. The story of The Longest Night when 1,436 people were killed by German bombing. How a boatbuilder from Teddington took his "little ships" to rescue 335,000 troops from Dunkirk.

We're busy thinking of our Vision of London's River. To start the ball rolling here are three themes which underpin it.

A safe river
A clean river
A busy river

Safety affects everyone. Walkers, boat passengers and crew, visitors, riverside residents – and everyone who works on or along the river. The PLA and Transport for London insist that safety is their No1 priority – and so must everyone else.

A clean river is a healthy river – good for wildlife, good for all of us. And that must mean “full speed ahead” for the Thames Tideway Tunnel which will remove the pollution which invades the river when sewers flood after heavy rain.

A busy river is one that millions enjoy, that helps to reduce traffic on city streets – and maintains its role as London’s liquid highway.

What else do we need to say?

There's still time to contribute to the PLA's Vision for the Future project. The first round of consultations close on 6 May, and after that there are three public meetings.
14 May 2015 – London Rowing Club, Putney
21 May 2015 – Orsett Hall, Orsett, Essex, RM16 3HS
2 June 2015 – St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, Southbank Centre
Full details can be found here
http://www.pla.co.uk/About-Us/The-Thames-Vision

The Thames Vision