Battle to ban Europe’s BIGGEST party boat from London: Locals fight to stop football pitch-sized yacht for 1,500 revellers mooring near their homes
- EXCLUSIVE: The Oceandiva plans to set sail in London from September
- Thameside locals irate that football pitch-sized party boat will moor near homes
Europe’s biggest party boat is set to make waves in London – but not all Thameside residents are happy.
The Oceandiva, a vessel nearly as big as a football pitch that can carry up to 1,500 revellers, is due to set sail for the Thames in September.
But while the giant boat will no doubt prove a huge draw for partying Londoners, the prospect of the 86 metre-long vessel moored up on the Thames is proving far from appealing to the well-heeled locals of Butler’s Wharf.
Locals are incensed by the arrival of the ‘warship without guns’ that will be using the historic dock to offload passengers onto Shad Thames street.
Over the last week, ‘No Oceandiva’ posters have been plastered all over the multi-million-pound properties, that are just a stones throw away from Tower Bridge, in a last-ditch attempt to stop the mega boat’s arrival.
Campaigner Paul Crosbie, who has lived in Shad Thames for more than two decades told MailOnline: ‘The boat will be sailing up and down the Thames.
‘It won’t just affecting residents here at Shad Thames and Butler’s Wharf, it will affect the views of tourists coming to see the sites. The river for everyone – not just a privileged few.’
One concerned building manager, called Naz, added: ‘Can you imagine 1,500 people here needing taxis, cars and coaches?
‘The residents have kids here too, imagine them looking out the window there and seeing all sorts of antisocial behaviour.’
Resident’s around Butlers Wharf in London are up in arms over the OceanDiva plans. Pictured: Resident of 20 years Paul Sacer with building manager Naz
Two Oceandiva vessels are already fully operating in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Dusseldorf, Germany, with revellers sharing images online of nights dancing away onboard
The Oceandiva, an 86 metre long and 17-metre-wide vessel which incensed locals claim ‘looks like a warship’ with ‘the guns missing’
Butler’s Wharf was once home to one of the most notorious slums portrayed in Charles Dickens Oliver Twist but is now contains some of the city’s most desirable properties
Optisport party at Ocean diva Amsterdam
Two Oceandiva vessels are already fully operating in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Dusseldorf, Germany, with revellers sharing images of online of everything from club nights to corporate networking events.
Spread over three decks, the ship is equivalent to seven double-decker buses and 15 metres longer than a Boeing 737 airliner.
Passengers in London will jump the £25m vessel at Butler’s Wharf, where the boat will stay moored for the events duration or cruise along the river.
The wharf was once home to one of the most notorious slums portrayed in Charles Dickens Oliver Twist but is now contains some of the city’s most desirable properties, with two-bedroom flats going for no less than £2m.
Plans for the boat to make its British debut have been ongoing for years but were stalled by the pandemic and planning problems.
In May, a record number of nearly 1,000 people urged Newham Council to deny the vessel a 3am alcohol and entertainment license, with the majority of the complaints coming from locals in Southwark, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets.
While the boat will serve booze to guests at each borough it passes through it only needs to obtain its licence from Newham as it will be moored in the Royal Docks when not in use.
The most recent protest is spearheaded by the River Residents Group, a community based on protecting the capital’s main river, and the Shad Thames residents association.
Mr Crosbie said the main concerns from residents is that the area does not have the facilities – namely toilets and bins – to cope with hoards of boozed-up people clambering off the pier.
The Oceandiva is currently held at Chatham docks in Kent after undergoing repairs after its anchor got stuck while carrying out test manoeuvres close to Erith in south-east London last month
#oceandiva #whiteparty #traumleben #lifestyle #lrvipteam
Spread over three decks, the ship is equivalent to seven double-decker buses and 15 metres longer than a Boeing 737 airliner
The most recent protest is spearheaded by the River Residents Group, a community based on protecting the capital’s main river, and the Shad Thames residents association
Balconies and bridges across Shad Thames have been filled with posters reading ‘No Oceandiva’ in protest
He said ‘The local council, Southwark, objected to the plans and local restaurants have too. They will be left to clear up the mess.
‘You will have 1,500 people coming off this boat in the early hours of the morning. They are going to want the toilet and there are no toilets around here.
‘The streets also you can imagine how Uber would struggle.’
Kathleen Ehrlich, 51, chair of the Shad Thames Resident’s Association added: ‘All riverside communities are concerned about the enormous size of the boat and the amount of noise it will generate as it goes up and down the Thames.
‘There is an enormous amount of people who will be on that boat, and when they get off, they will be doubling the size of our neighbourhood.
‘There is also the environmental impact of how many cars and coaches will be necessary to take passengers to and from the boat. We have elderly people, we have kids and a nursery right on the roof and we are worried about the air quality.’
Paul Sacer has been living in the Butler’s Wharf housing block for 20 years and fears there will be an increase in anti-social behaviour.
He told MailOnline: ‘This thing is longer than an A380, or a jumbo jet. It’s 7.6 London buses. It’s enormous.’
‘It just seems wrong here. I think if it was a bigger harbour, or a bigger area, it would be great fun,’ he added. ‘Party boats sometimes go on the Rhine but that is three or four times the size.’
Oceandiva (pictured in original plans for the boat) is targeting corporate London – hoping firms that are looking to ‘host high quality sustainable events on the River Thames’ will choose them
Lib Dem councillor for North Bermondsey Rachel Bentley insists that the concerns are not just from ‘wealthy riverside residents’
The campaigners have insisted they are not NIMBYs – ‘we are trying to protect the Thames for everyone’
Kathleen Ehrlich, 51, chair of the Shad Thames Resident’s Association said that ‘all riverside communities are concerned about the enormous size of the boat’
The boat is currently held at Chatham docks in Kent after undergoing repairs but is due to launch on the Thames in September
The campaigners have insisted they are not NIMBYs – ‘we are trying to protect the Thames for everyone’, Mr Crosbie insisted.
He added: ‘Everyone accepts this is a lively area with riverside restaurants – there is no question about that. We cannot be accused of being NIMBYS.’
Meanwhile Lib Dem councillor for North Bermondsey Rachel Bentley insists that the concerns are not just from ‘wealthy riverside residents’.
She told MailOnline: ‘There’s a whole range of people who live along the river – people in social housing and people in luxury apartments.
‘The population in Shad Thames is only around 2,000 to 3,000 people, so to have these numbers coming into the area is too much.
‘We want the river to be animated, after all London was built around the Thames and it should be used but people are not feeling listened to, including the multiple businesses along the river from Lambeth to Greenwich to the City of London’.
She called on the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, whom she accused of being ‘very quiet’ on the issue and said he refused to ‘acknowledge or engage with residents’ to take further action.
Oceandiva, however, asserts it has listened to the concerns of residents from Butlers Wharf and as a result has put in place an 8.30pm curfew for all events that disembark at the pier.
Chloe Jackson, managing director of Smart Group who own Oceandiva London, added: ‘Our commitment to consultation with the communities in which we will operate is a top priority, and we are excited to work together to create a project that benefits London and everyone in the community.
‘Consultation with riverside communities, local groups, and responsible authorities is critical to our approach. Our ambition is to create a project that delivers real benefits to the communities in which we operate and that we can all be proud of.’
Oceandiva is targeting corporate London – hoping firms that are looking to ‘host high quality sustainable events on the River Thames’ will choose them.
The boat is dressed up to be suitable for drinks receptions, gala dinners and award ceremonies, conferences and exhibitions, charity events, film premieres and product launches, and cultural celebrations.
But easing some of the locals’ concerns, Ms Jackson stressed: ‘The vessel shall not be used for DJ-led events or concerts, stag or hen parties, graduation parties or birthday parties for those between the age of 18-21 years.’
The boat is currently held at Chatham docks in Kent after undergoing repairs after its anchor got stuck while carrying out test manoeuvres close to Erith in south-east London last month as it prepares to launch.
Tug boats were seen helping the vessel returning it to its home at the Royal Docks near the ExCel London.
Ms Jackson added: ‘Smart Group’s business and reputation is founded on giving our guests a great experience and ensuring that our neighbours do as well. Ensuring our guests get home safely and responsibly from Oceandiva London is a vital part of this story.
‘We are developing bespoke plans for how we do this for each pier we plan to operate from, which will carefully consider management of guests, security, provision of transport options, and tidying up afterwards.
‘We have a fantastic team of well-trained events and security staff to put these plans into practice and will have programme of pilot events to thoroughly test and refine them before we make any future licensing application.’
MailOnline has contacted the Mayor of London and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
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