Steering problems caused river cruise crash
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }
A river cruise boat that crashed on the Thames, injuring nine tourists, had steering problems, according to a report into the accident.
Also, the 69-year-old man at the helm of City Cruises’ Millennium Time did not hold a boatmaster’s licence.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said he found it difficult to keep the boat on a steady heading before it hit a tug between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges last July.
MAIB said that since the accident, City Cruises had replaced its steering systems.
The nine injured passengers suffered cuts and bruises. In total, there were 362 passengers onboard.
At the time of the accident, the boat’s master was providing a sightseeing commentary so he wasn’t supervising the mate at the helm, said the report. The employment of the mate as a helmsmen went against the instructions of City Cruises.
The investigation also found the crew thought they were carrying 60 more passengers than were actually on the boat at the time of the collission.
It took more than a month to repair Millennium Time, and MAIB said City Cruises had replaced its steering systems and those of other rival vessels in its fleet.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026