Holed pleasure boat safely in dock - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Holed pleasure boat safely in dock

A pleasure boat in danger of sinking after it was holed striking Westminster Bridge is safely in dock.

No passengers were on board the pleasure cruiser and the six crew members had been safely evacuated by the RNLI after Friday night's collision in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament.

The boat was no longer in any danger and was now moored awaiting repairs, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

The operation was completed early on Saturday morning.

The 288-tonne Millennium City, belonging to City Cruises, got into difficulties after holing its bow by striking the bridge at 10.30pm.

Firefighters used specialist pumps to siphon water two metres deep out of the craft's engine rooms. Pumping was completed and the engine room sealed successfully.

The Metropolitan Police's Marine Support Unit attended the incident and no arrests were made. It is not known if any of the crew will face charges relating to the collision.

The twin-hulled boat is 30 metres long and can seat up to 500 people with two bars and an open top deck, according to City Cruises' internet site.

City Cruises deploys five boats that generally sail between Westminster Pier and Greenwich Pier on sightseeing voyages.

A spokeswoman for City Cruises declined to comment.

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