A Thames “party boat” longer than a jumbo jet and designed to carry up to 1,500 passengers is set to start late-night trips on the river.
The operators of the new Ocean Diva — which, at 86m (282ft) long, would be the biggest vessel of its kind in London — are in the final stages of seeking approval for their plans.
Details were revealed in a planning application with the City of London Corporation for a new pier at Swan Lane, close to London Bridge, where guests will embark and disembark. The boat’s permanent mooring will be at the Royal Docks in east London.
The application describes the Ocean Diva as a “commercial venue hosting a range of high-quality events” up to twice a week. The Dutch company has been operating two other vessels in Holland, Belgium and Germany since 2003.
Chief executive Edwin Petersen said: “I have always been surprised by the low quality of party boats on the Thames. What we will do is high-end corporate events, not just parties. Nobody does that on the Thames, there will be a huge market for it.”
However, some residents have expressed concern about the impact of noise and pollution from the boat.
Daryl Murphy, who lives close to the site of the pier, said in an objection to the application: “My flat is opposite the proposed site and would suffer from noise, light pollution and increased traffic until the early hours.”
The documents submitted with the planning application state that evening events would start between 6.30 and 7pm and end at 1am.
They add that guests will be given a time slot for embarkation over a two-hour period to minimise congestion at the pier, and that noise is “well contained within the boat”.
A decision on the pier will be made in the coming months.
