Boat Drifts from Putney and Smashes into Chiswick Pier
PLA issues warning after incident involving unmoored pleasure cruiser
The Interceptor under Chiswick Pier . Picture: Chiswick Pier Trust
The Port of London Authority (PLA) have issued a safety warning after a commercial passenger vessel broke loose from its moorings in Putney and drifted upstream for several miles before smashing into Chiswick Pier.
Nobody was on board the vessel, the Interceptor, which belonged to Chas Newens. The incident took place on the night of Friday 10 April. The Interceptor was swept up river by a strong incoming Spring tide which took her under Hammersmith Bridge and then lodged her under the footbridge that links the pier to the riverside path.
The RNLI were able to free the boat, which had some damage to its superstructure. A cable connecting the power supply to the RNLI boat station on the pier was severed.
According to a spokesperson for Chiswick Pier, had the boat been under power, the damage would have been a great deal worse. When the owners came to collect the boat the engines fired up easily and she was taken away.
The boat suffered some damage. Picture: Chiswick Pier Trust
The PLA’s Chief harbour master Bob Baker said, “We appreciate that commercial operators have limited numbers of employees or that their staff have been furloughed because of Covid-19, but it is vital that vessel moorings are attended to regularly to ensure accidents don’t happen.
“Equally, while recreational Clubs may have closed their clubhouse doors, it is again important that the moorings of vessels on Club moorings or in marinas, are regularly checked by a suitable representative from the Club during this current lockdown. Owners of vessels on private moorings should do the same, if essential and there is no viable alternative, whilst respecting Government guidelines.”
The cable to the RNLI station was severed. Picture: Chiswick Pier Trust
The PLA also recommend that all houseboat residents use this time to ensure that mooring lines and fenders are examined and meet best practice.
We have asked Chas Newens for comment.
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April 30, 2020