Pendennis Shipyard is constructing a zero-emissions tourist vessel for use on the River Thames.
The 39m vessel, for Woods’ Silver Fleet, is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, harnessing developments in ultra light weight, aluminium design and construction technology coupled with an industry first all-battery drive train.
The design and power profiling is by Vulkan Marine, and incorporates an EST Floattech Octopus Series battery bank which will be rapid charged between each tour from a two megawatt shore charging facility.
“This new vessel represents the bridge between the past and the future of river tourism, building on the generations of experience the Woods family have operating on the river whilst striving to lead the industry’s push towards sustainability,” said Chris Kangis, CEO, Woods Tours.
“We are delighted to partner with Historic Royal Palaces for the Tower of London River Tour. The Tower of London is one of the most significant London landmarks on the river and the perfect match for the tour.”
The start of the Thames Explorer project has been an exciting period for the yard and all the team involved.
Toby Allies
The vessel’s design will provide a nod to the heyday of Thames river cruising during the 1920s and 30s with wide, awning-shaded decks, single deck panoramic views, bespoke wool woven carpet from Kidderminster looms and upholstered in eco-leather seating.
The vessel will also incorporate the latest technology with solar gain reducing glazing, sound system and LED lighting.
The vessel will have the capacity to take 250 passengers per tour.
The project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK.
“The start of the Thames Explorer project has been an exciting period for the yard and all the team involved,” said Toby Allies, Pendennis MD. “The aluminium construction specified on the project is all built in-house, providing a perfect backdrop for some of our more experienced team members to transfer their skills and knowledge to a whole new generation of fabricators.”
He continued “The client’s requirement for the vessel is also for it to be fully battery-powered – advancing our own in-house capabilities in this area that in turn will transfer to other market sectors that we operate in.”
The vessel is scheduled to arrive on the Thames for her first tour in summer 2025.
The Woods family are known for private charter events aboard their fleet of river yachts with recent clients including Google, Net-A-Porter and Lamborghini.
