The new ferry route over the Limehouse Reach of the Thames in east London will see all electric, self-charging, roll-on roll-off cycle & pedestrian ferries crossing between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.
Running 24/7 the ferries would use an innovative auto-mooring system to ensure a fast turn-around and intervals between sailings of only 4 minutes during peak times with all three ferries in operation. The vessels would be powered by renewable electrical energy and would be the first zero emissions service on the Thames. Much larger all electric vessels already exist such as Ampere a coastal ferry in Norway. The ferries are a very simple crossing solution to quite significant constraints at this point on the river with minimal shore-side ramps and almost no impact on ships plying the right of way along the wide navigation channel.
The crossing includes an extension to an existing pontoon at Westferry Circus and a new pontoon on the south bank with a link through Nelson’s dry dock, ramping down to Rotherhithe Street.
Developed in consultation with the landowners on both banks, the proposal is a collaboration between Thames Clippers who operate Transport for London’s existing ferry services, Beckett Rankine Marine Engineers, leading experts on Thames marine infrastructure, Anthony Carlile Architects and Aus Yachts, naval architects and shipbuilders from Brisbane. The proposal would demonstrate the potential for zero emission transport on the Thames and similar ferry links could be deployed downstream to provide greater north-south connectivity as London continues to develop eastward.
Cycle charity Sustrans first put forward the crossing point estimating a high demand between new jobs at Canary Wharf and new houses around Canada Water.
Cost estimate:£30m
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