MOON CLIPPER

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

40 people evacuated burning river boat

All 37 passengers and three crew members were evacuated from the 'Moon Clipper' following an engine room fire while the ship was sailing eastbound on the Thames in London near the Battersea Power Station pier in the morning of Sep 20, 2022, shortly after 10 a.m. There were no reported injuries. The firefighters had extinguished the blaze by around 11:30 a.m. at the Battersea Power Station Pier. The damaged boat remained stationary in the afternoon, with services not stopping at the pier until further notice. The cause of the fire was still unknown. Report with photos:https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1671776/london-fire-brigade-thames-clipper-battersea-power-station-pier

Faulty control stick caused allision

The allision of the "Moon Clipper" with a pier in the night of Oct 5, 2011, on the River Thames, injuring 14 passengers, happened because used a control joystick known to be faulty, an accident report revealed. The ship was running late and the speed of its approach accentuated the effect of the steering control failure, the report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said. Distractions on the bridge adversely affected the master's reactions and crew resources were overloaded during the response to the emergency. Passengers were not mustered and a headcount was not taken prior to the passengers being allowed to disperse, the MAIB said. The "Moon Clipper" had departed London Bridge City Pier with 53 passengers on board and headed for Tower Millennium Pier on the opposite side of the river. Approaching the pier, the vessel suffered a steering control failure and veered to port. During the master's attempts to regain control, the starboard main engine stalled and, five seconds later, the stem of the port hit the pier, causing passengers and crew to be thrown forward. 14 passengers and two crew suffered injuries, and the stem of the port hull was fractured. Earlier in the day, it was noticed that the steering control joystick was sticking hard over, rather than centring when released. The defect could not be immediately rectified, but the vessel remained in service on the understanding that the helm wheel would be used to steer the vessel. The MAIB made a number of safety recommendations and added that the Thames Clippers company and the Port of London Authority had taken action.

14 hurt in pier allision

The "Moon Clipper" on Oct 5, 2011, on its 6:39 p.m. eastbound river commuter service from Blackfriars crashed into Tower pier. The vessel was in collision with the pier, which is used by passengers embarking and disembarking river ferries, and is situated on the north side of the Thames, near to Tower Bridge. The Lifeboat crew was called at approximately 7 p.m. by London Coastguard. The crew were first on scene and found 14 people had sustained injuries, and proceeded to give first aid to all 14 until the London Ambulance Service attended. Of the 14 people injured and treated by the lifeboat crew, four people were subsequently taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. The Police and the Port of London Authority (PLA) also responded. The Tower RNLI lifeboat crew were released from service at approximately 7.45 p.m. and are back at the lifeboat station. The entire operation was coordinated by London Coastguard.