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A longstanding Thames family business is spearheading sustainable tourism with the UK’s first electric-powered sightseeing boat for the Tower of London, launching in summer 2025.
Woods’ Silver Fleet has unveiled plans for their initial zero-emission vessel, currently in production at Pendennis Shipyard, Cornwall. For over a century, the Woods family has run river tours on the Thames and provided private charters for prominent clients, including Google, Net-A-Porter, and Lamborghini, with their fleet of yachts.
This innovative boat is the UK’s first to incorporate lightweight aluminium construction alongside an advanced all-battery drive train. After extensive testing by Vulkan Marine, Woods’ Silver Fleet chose an EST Floattech Octopus Series battery bank, which will be charged from a two-megawatt shore facility powered by sustainable sources.
With the Tower of London River Tour, Woods Tours is blending its legacy with forward-thinking technology in a fully electric, luxurious sightseeing fleet. “This new vessel represents the bridge between the past and the future of river tourism, building on the generations of experience the Woods family have operating on the river whilst striving to lead the industry’s push towards sustainability,” says Chris Kangis, CEO of Woods Tours. “We are delighted to partner with Historic Royal Palaces for the Tower of London River Tour. The Tower of London is one of the most significant London landmarks on the river and the perfect match for the tour.”
Historic Royal Palaces, the charity overseeing the Tower of London, has signed on as an exclusive partner for the 39-metre flagship vessel, Thames Explorer, marking it as the official Tower of London River Tour. Created by Pendennis, the vessel will seat 250 passengers per tour, with a projected annual total of 500,000.
Pendennis Managing Director Toby Allies commented, “The start of the Thames Explorer project has been an exciting period for the yard and all the team involved. The aluminium construction specified on the project is all in-house providing a perfect backdrop for some of our more experienced team members to transfer their skills and knowledge to a whole new generation of fabricators.”
He continued, “The client’s requirement for the vessel is also for it to be fully battery-powered advancing our own in-house capabilities in this area that in turn will transfer to other market sectors that we operate in.”
Departing from Tower Bridge Quay, this 40-minute circular tour will feature iconic views of London’s historic landmarks, such as the Palace of Westminster, Tate Modern, the London Eye, Traitor’s Gate, and Tower Bridge.
The onboard commentary, narrated by British actress Martha Howe-Douglas of Ghosts and Horrible Histories, will be created with leading historians and delivered with a touch of British humour.
Andrew Jackson, CBE, Governor of the Tower of London, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Woods Tours on the first official Tower of London river tour. For centuries, some of the most famous Kings and Queens in our nation’s history approached the Tower by boat. Now, even more visitors will be able to experience a unique view of the Tower from the Thames, discovering more about the history of this remarkable place throughout their journey. We look forward to sharing the story with them!”
The vessel’s design combines modern functionality with a nod to 1920s Thames cruising. It will feature panoramic decks, awning-shaded seating, bespoke wool carpets, and eco-leather seating, all crafted with a commitment to sustainability.
There will also be 21st century full accessibility, solar gain reducing glazing, sound system and LED lighting. All hand built by Pendennis’ experienced team, supporting maritime apprenticeship in Falmouth, with both traditional and new technology. Due to its innovative design, the project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
Tickets will be available from winter 2024, with tours starting in summer 2025.
