MBNA Thames Clippers is set to receive two new catamarans, providing additional capacity across its river transport network.
The new vessels, Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper, represent a £6.5m investment aimed to support London’s commuters and sightseers.
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Expected to start service in autumn this year, the vessels will be deployed in the Putney to Blackfriars commuting service.
The boats are the first new additions to the fleet of 12 high-speed catamarans, in the last seven years.
MBNA Thames Clippers CEO Sean Collins said: "The arrival of Galaxy Clipper and Neptune Clipper later this year to the MBNA Thames Clippers fleet is not only a major milestone for our business, but also for the London transport network.
"London is in its infancy compared to other cities in the world when it comes to commuting and travelling by river and we are excited to be leading the way in making more of the River Thames as a key part of the Capital’s infrastructure."
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By GlobalDataDesigned to handle the tides, shallow waters and low bridges of the River Thames, the 35m-long vessels are 30% more fuel efficient compared with the existing fleet.
Built by Incat Tasmania, the boats are designed by Sydney-based company One2Three Naval Architects.
In 2014, the MBNA Thames Clippers river bus operation carried over 3.8 million passengers in 2014.
Images: MBNA Thames Clippers loads the boats onto a vessel in Hobart, Tasmania, prior to its 10,000 mile journey to the River Thames in London. Photo: courtesy of MBNA Thames Clippers.
