6
Wharf Life Mar 14-28, 2019 wharf-life.com
river rolling on the
how Venus will help cater to the millions of river passengers that use the Thames By Jon Massey
F
or anyone who’s yet to try getting around the capital on the MBNA Thames Clippers, the arrival of the river bus service’s latest craft might provide the necessary excuse. Venus Clipper has completed her maiden voyage from the Isle Of Wight where she was built to become the 19th vessel catering to London’s aquatic passengers. With a capacity of 222, she is the largest boat in the Clippers’ fleet and represents an investment of £4million by the company in expanding its river bus service. MBNA Clippers CEO Sean Collins said: “The company has been on an incredible journey over the last two decades and has come such a long way since we transported our first passengers back in 1999. “We are now in our 20th anniversary year and have grown to carry more than 4million passengers annually – an amazing feat and proof London should make more of the Thames in its transport strategy.
“Venus Clipper is our largest capacity vessel and offers 50 more seats than the last two craft that joined our fast-growing fleet in 2017. “We are confident it will be a welcome, and even greater customer experience, addition to the capital’s growing river network.” Following construction at Wight Shipyard Co, Venus sailed 200 nautical miles to London where she will be expected to help transport an anticipated 300,000 commuters and visitors every year across the Clippers’ 25km river network, stretching from Putney in the west to Woolwich in the east with a large number of piers in central London and a key stop at Canary Wharf. The introduction of the new boat, which offers more than 70 seats with access to a table, is also aimed at boosting the company’s charter offering with the new layout deemed “more adaptable”