The Moon-Clipper: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a dramatic incident on September 20, 2022, all 40 individuals aboard the 'Moon Clipper' were swiftly evacuated following a fire that broke out in the engine room while the vessel was navigating the Thames near Battersea Power Station. The emergency occurred shortly after 10 a.m. and involved 37 passengers and three crew members. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as first responders from the London Fire Brigade arrived promptly and extinguished the blaze by approximately 11:30 a.m. Following the incident, the damaged boat remained anchored near the pier throughout the afternoon, causing a suspension of services at the Battersea Power Station Pier until further notice. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. For more details and images, visit: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1671776/london-fire-brigade-thames-clipper-battersea-power-station-pier.

On the evening of October 5, 2011, the "Moon Clipper" collided with a pier along the River Thames, resulting in injuries to 14 passengers. An accident investigation report has disclosed that the incident was caused by the vessel's control joystick, which was known to be malfunctioning. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) indicated that the ship, which was behind schedule, approached the pier at an increased speed, intensifying the impact of the steering failure. Furthermore, distractions on the bridge hindered the master's ability to respond adequately, exacerbating an already overloaded crew situation during this emergency. Notably, the report highlighted that passengers were not mustered, and a headcount was not conducted before they were allowed to leave the vessel. The "Moon Clipper" had embarked from London Bridge City Pier with 53 passengers on board, en route to Tower Millennium Pier across the river. As the vessel neared its destination, it experienced a steering control failure, causing it to veer to port. In the captain's attempts to regain control, the starboard main engine malfunctioned and stalled. A mere five seconds later, the port stem struck the pier, resulting in passengers and crew being thrown forward. The incident left 14 passengers and two crew members injured, with the port hull suffering a fracture. Earlier that day, crew members observed that the steering control joystick was sticking, failing to return to center when released. Although the issue could not be immediately fixed, the vessel continued to operate under the understanding that the helm wheel would be utilized for steering. In response to this incident, the MAIB has issued several safety recommendations and noted that both the Thames Clippers company and the Port of London Authority have taken proactive measures.

On October 5, 2011, a maritime accident occurred involving the commuter vessel 'Moon Clipper' at Tower Pier during its scheduled 6:39 p.m. eastbound service from Blackfriars. The incident took place as the vessel collided with the pier, a location frequently utilized for embarking and disembarking passengers of river ferries, positioned on the north bank of the Thames adjacent to Tower Bridge. London Coastguard received emergency alerts and dispatched the lifeboat crew, who arrived on the scene at approximately 7 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered that 14 individuals had sustained injuries due to the collision. The lifeboat crew swiftly administered first aid to all those affected until the London Ambulance Service arrived. Following treatment, four injured passengers were transported to the hospital for further care. Additionally, the incident saw the prompt response of the Police and the Port of London Authority (PLA). The Tower RNLI lifeboat crew completed their service at around 7:45 p.m. and returned to their station, while the overall response was well-coordinated under the direction of London Coastguard.