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19.10.2015

MBNA Thames Clippers: New Boats

(MBNA Thames Clippers News Release)

  • London celebrates arrival of two new commuter boats after 15,000 mile journey from Australia
  • Multi-million pound investment in London’s transport infrastructure from MBNA Thames Clippers
  • Boats arrival comes as Oyster Pay as You Go readers now at all piers served by river bus services
  • New pier set to open at Plantation Wharf to meet rapidly rising passenger demand


Two new high speed catamarans that have travelled over 15,000 miles from where they were built in Tasmania, Australia, have today arrived in their new home the River Thames in central London.

The £6.5 million investment in new fleet by owners, MBNA Thames Clippers, represents a significant enhancement to London’s transport infrastructure and river travel in particular. It is the latest step in a series of boosts to river transport in the capital, with the forthcoming opening of the new Plantation Wharf Pier and the installation of Oyster card pay as you go readers at all piers served by river bus services, making it even easier for the growing number of passengers to use.

The 150-passenger, 35m long ultra-high specification twin catamarans – Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper – are the first new boats to be added to the popular MBNA Thames Clippers river bus service in seven years. Specially-designed to be exceptionally lightweight and with a sleek hull format, the vessels will be the most efficient and technically advanced river buses on the Thames. They will add extra capacity to the popular RB6 route from Blackfriars to Putney, which has already seen a 40% increase in passenger journeys in the last 12 months. They will also provide extra capacity on other routes during periods of high demand.

MBNA Thames Clippers is at the forefront of delivering against London Mayor Boris Johnson’s River Action Plan to double passenger trips on the Thames by 2020. In 2014 alone, MBNA Thames Clippers passenger numbers increased by half a million to 3.8 million. In 2016 the growing MBNA Thames Clippers business is projected to carry in excess of 4.3 million commuters and visitors around London on the river. By the end of 2016 MBNA Thames Clippers will have welcomed over 34 million people to its fast, efficient and comfortable river bus services since its inception in 1999.

The River Thames is a major contributor to London’s economy and according to the latest Port of London Authority research, delivers £4 billion in gross added value to the UK, and supports in excess of 43,000 jobs. There is predicted to be £1 billion worth of investment in and around the tidal Thames – which covers the 95 miles of river for Teddington Lock to the North Sea – over the next five years.

Sean Collins, CEO and Co-founder, MBNA Thames Clippers comments:

“Just over a year ago MBNA Thames Clippers announced that we would add one new boat to the fleet to bring more commuting options to those travelling around London. Today I am very happy to declare we have in fact doubled on that promise with two new boats; Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper.


“I’m the third generation of my family to work on the River Thames and it is with immense pride that I now see the river fulfilling its potential for the first time for passengers, like it did in its heyday for freight, as the essential thoroughfare in London. The new boats will treble the river transport capacity between Putney in west London and central London at peak times.”

In a further boost to river transport, a new £2.8 million pier will open on the south bank of the Thames between Battersea and Wandsworth bridges next month. Plantation Wharf, which is built and owned by Plantation Wharf Pier LLP, will improve transport links for local commuters and residents, allowing them access to the RB6 service which runs during weekday morning and evening peak hours.

Transport for London (TfL) has also recently installed pay as you go Oyster readers across all piers served by MBNA Thames Clippers river bus services, improving the experience for regular customers and visitors. In the summer of 2016, TfL will deliver contactless payment for the river bus service.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP said:

“These fabulous, top-of-the-range vessels will make it even easier for Londoners and visitors to our city to get from A to B by boat. Along with the introduction of Oyster readers and a major investment at Plantation Wharf, the delivery of these stunning new Clippers show that it’s full steam ahead for travel on the Thames. Having grown from humble beginnings into a multi-million passenger carrier, MBNA Thames Clippers is a real story of success. By ferrying record breaking numbers of people they are not only playing a key role in our river renaissance, but helping to steer our economy in the right direction too.”

Richard Tracey, Mayor's River Ambassador and Assembly Member for Wandsworth, said:

“This is a major step for river transport and a real boost for the service along the western reaches to Putney. Next step – all day services to the west."

The introduction of the new fleet and development of services will see the creation of an initial 14 new jobs at MBNA Thames Clippers. In addition to this London River Services are funding improvements to key central London piers at Westminster, Embankment and Bankside, providing much needed additional berthing capacity.

The addition of the new vessels has been made possible by the commercial partnership with leading credit card provider, MBNA. MBNA is driving payments innovation in the UK. The relationship will lead to new ways to pay and improved ticketing for customers.

Patricia Brassil Poole, Head of Partnerships Management at MBNA, adds:

“Supporting improvements to London’s transport network and making life easier for commuters and leisure visitors alike is important to MBNA. The fast and efficient MBNA Thames Clippers river service is the commute of choice for many of our cardholders who enjoy remaining connected and travelling in comfort around our iconic Capital. Our investment has delivered a step-change in London’s infrastructure. We believe innovation is key and we look forward to working with MBNA Thames Clippers to bring the latest payment technology to travel.”

Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper are the most technically advanced and energy efficient river and harbour fast ferries in the world. They have been designed to accommodate the unique tidal conditions of the River Thames and can cope with its low and high tidal conditions, allowing it to navigate its shallow reaches and pass under London’s famous but sometimes low bridges. The new boats boast design features such as additional roof windows that maximise opportunities to enjoy London’s iconic skyline and more room than ever to accommodate bikes.

Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper by numbers:

  • At 35m long both Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper are longer than over seven London black cabs
  • Each week Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper will travel 204 miles each up and down the River Thames, covering over 74,052 miles each in one year – that is the equivalent of travelling around the world almost three times
  • Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper have a top speed of 30 knots, which equates to almost 35mph, making MBNA Thames Clippers one of the fastest modes of transport in London
  • The 150 luxury seats on-board each board are spaciously planned so that every passenger has more leg room than is commonly found in aircraft premium economy cabins

For more information on MBNA Thames Clippers please visit www.thamesclippers.com.

An Edited Package (A-Roll) and Rough Cut footage from the launch will be available to all media, free and without restriction on Monday 19th October 2015. Details on how to access the footage are below.

Media enquiries:

Siren Communications: Stacey Stockwell ([email protected]), Sam Sims ([email protected]) or Katie Wright ([email protected]) on 020 7759 1150

About MBNA Thames Clippers:

MBNA Thames Clippers is the leading River Bus service on the River Thames running a 20 minute frequency between key London piers including North Greenwich for The O2, Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower, London Bridge, Embankment and London Eye for Waterloo, as well as several residential piers.

In April 2013 the company won the contract to run a River Bus service from Putney to Blackfriars which allows the boats to now additionally stop at Putney, Wandsworth Riverside, Chelsea Harbour and Cadogan Pier, a total of 19 piers across the capital.

Co-founded in 1999 by Sean Collins (CEO) and Alan Woods (former Chairman), the company began with one boat servicing 80 passengers a day between Greenland and Savoy piers. Now 16 years on numbers have significantly risen to over 3.8 million passengers in 2014.

In 2006 AEG, owners and operators of The O2, acquired the majority stake in the company and since then the fleet has substantially grown to 13 vessels, now 15. River Bus Express for The O2 is an additional fast direct service between London Eye, London Bridge and Canary Wharf to The O2 at North Greenwich on arena event nights.
For more info visit the website www.thamesclippers.com or follow @ThamesClippers

About MBNA Limited

Headquartered in Chester for over 20 years, MBNA Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC). It is one of the UK’s leading credit card providers and was voted Credit Card Provider of the Year for the second year running in the Consumer Moneyfacts Awards 2015. MBNA is committed to implementing innovations to make life easier for customers. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.mbna.co.uk or @mbna.