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January 9, 2013
A new addition to the River Thames might actually be an old addition, so to speak. Currently docked in Dubai, the historically important Queen Elizabeth 2 (or QE2) could find her way to the shores of the River Thames. Will history remember her while the cruise vessel exists or is she doomed to the scrap heap; these are purported to be her two fates. To be able to once more board the QE2 on a London boat cruise must rank high enough to be on anyone’s bucket list but currently the owners based in Dubai are in talks with China to strip it down and scrap the boat altogether.
The Patriotic Plan
While the cruise vessel may have been retired almost five years ago, the threat of her being broken down for scrap has put a multi-million pound plan into motion to save the vessel and many are hoping British ministers put their weight behind it. The plan is to have the QE2 permanently dock on the Thames River with information surrounding the plan placing it across from the O2 Arena. Although attractive as a wedding boat, the QE2 will fulfil that need and many more as a luxury hotel with the placement and conditions of the River Thames perfectly suited for just such an establishment. The Mayor’s office has been informed of the plan and has been urged to throw his weight behind it; however noble the plan may be, there are real challenges to be addressed before it can set sail.
The History of the QE2
The history of the QE2 is an example of British pride and a lasting legacy to maritime achievements, so the saving of the ship from scrap is as much a symbol as it is a business investment. One can only imagine what a River Thames cruise that included the QE2 as a sight would mean to the older British generation. While the cruise ship would hardly put London on the map as it is already brimming over with rich historical culture, the QE2 ship would make a great and apt addition to the bustling metropolis contributing in no small way to the economy via tourism. The River Thames continues to be the backbone of London, but we certainly hope that it is capable of housing a British legend that is the QE2.
October 11, 2012
The River Thames is more than a river running through the middle of London; it has been dubbed the ‘Spine of London’ because it plays such an integral part of the biggest metropolis in Europe. As such it is important for the denizens of London to take pride in the history of the River Thames and its influence on their everyday lives. Unfortunately the stark truth about a river of this magnitude running through the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world is that it will unfortunately be exposed to a lot of pollution. While the River Thames activities continue and it is still beautiful enough to have wedding transfers and family cruises, beneath the surface lies an incredible amount of pollution that needs to be cleaned up.
Students Clean Up
Now Kingston University students are looking to rectify the mark pollution has made beneath the surface by diving in and digging it all out. Shopping trolleys, traffic cones, chairs and even a birdbath were some of the discarded rubbish that were brought to the surface once more by a team of student diving in. The hope was that the River Thames conditions would be improved thus making Thames boat trips and other activities slightly more pleasant for the citizens and visitors of London. The Underwater River Clean was an initiative organised by second year student Chris Elliot who also kept a blog report of the progress and events. This was no mere cruise on the River Thames; over 177 hours were spent on the cleanup effort with twenty-six students getting their proverbial hands dirty.
River Thames Cleanup
It’s difficult to locate the parts worst affected since there is no River Thames map of the most densely affected areas and so the task of eating an elephant one bite at a time was set underway. There were many local supporters of the drive which shows that facts surrounding the River Thames and its pollution are widely understood and many wish to see it changed. The students hope that they can continue their efforts to clean the River Thames and are planning another dive for the 3rd of November.
August 15, 2012
Now that the curtain has been drawn closed on the London 2012 Olympics, all eyes are now on Brazil, who is set to host the world’s greatest sporting event in 2016. Behind the success of the Brazilian Olympics team, business representatives from Brazil were also flexing their muscles in London, making valuable ties and connections with the British professionals and technicians who helped make London 2012 a success, from workers in Dickies coveralls to sports scientists in laboratory coats.
Over the sixteen days of the Olympics, politicians and business leaders from Brazil and the United Kingdom were regularly meeting to discuss sports business ties. For Brazil, these talks were geared towards gaining invaluable knowledge about preparing for a successful Brazil 2016 Olympic Games. On the same token, Britain is eager to lend expertise in exchange for investment opportunities in various sectors, ranging from construction to health medicine. The UK is already the fourth largest investor in Brazil, growing a massive 23% in 2010 and a further 9% in 2011. The Brazil 2016 Olympics, not to mention the FIFA world cup in 2014, will work together to further bolster investment.
In order to streamline delegations and as part of the Brazil 2016 Olympics preparations, Brazil House was set up in central London in order to host business leaders directly related to the Olympic Games, such as sports design and marketing, but also in areas related more to infrastructural and social development, such as housing, jobs and skills. In preparation for the Brazil Summer Olympics, massive infrastructural and economic expansions are taking place in the host city Rio de Janeiro, creating huge opportunities for investment. The UK firm Aecom has already been awarded the design of the 2016 Olympic Park Master Plan. From builders in Dickies work trousers to sports marketing teams, Britain is eager to lend a hand in the Brazil Olympics in any way.
July 24, 2012
Taking turns to float around London’s river Thames, first the Olympic torch and now the 2012 Olympic rings have been spotted floating through the waters. A reminder of the games, which start on Friday, the giant rings were mounted on a barge and left to make a slow pilgrimage down the waterway.
The Countdown Has Begun
Londoners and tourists, out and about enjoying the weather on Thames boat trips, called in sightings of the five symbolic Olympics rings as the barge made its way to its destination.
To add to the occasion, an impressive replica of the Olympic rings was recently unveiled atop London’s iconic Tower Bridge. Part of the exciting countdown, the huge monument to this year’s game made quite the statement suspended from one of the capital city’s most iconic landmarks. Weighing a whopping three tonnes, the rings cost £259,817 to produce (without the costly installation fee).
Like a wedding boat host to pending nuptials and celebrations, the signature bands’ passage down the Thames encompassed the bubble of excitement as the clock ticks down to Friday. A promise of things to come and a floating reminder of games gone past, the large Olympics rings were mobile tributes to the athletes landing in London town and a nudge to spectators that the time has finally come.
June 19, 2012
2012 has been crazy year in London and continues in the same vein for a while to come. The new Thames Cable Car being another exciting addition to the London landscape.
It’s hard to count all the events that have taken place over the last several months but the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has been a constant focus and most recently the Thames Pageant. Now, with the Olympic flame just around the corner and fast approaching, there are many projects that people are eager to finish in time for the opening ceremony. The Thames Cable Car is one such development and construction workers will no doubt be kitted out in their combat trousers while they tackle the project.
The cable car is set to travel along its line, offering patrons panoramic views of the city and the Thames. Thorough safety tests have been carried out over the last couple of weeks and the Department of Transport are set to give their consent shortly. Authorities are near certain that the project will be completed in time for the Olympic Opening Ceremony on July 27, but there is speculation as to whether the cable car will be in full operation or not.
The airborne travel vehicle will consist of 34 gondolas and carry a total of 2,500 passengers per hour. The cable cars will traverse the river between Greenwich Peninsula and Royal Docks in 5 minutes and at its peak each car will be suspended by the cable at 160 feet above river level. You may even find some excessively cautious visitors wearing their waterproof trousers for the trip.
With the London Eye being such a successful attraction, especially for tourists, the City will no doubt do its best to have the cable car system up and running as soon as possible. Hosting an Olympic Games guarantees the most diverse groups of foreigners to the City and no matter the prices visitors will definitely be chomping at the bit to grab a ride.
The River Thames is the most prevalent tourist spot in London considering how large it is and many visitors will end up on its shores or even on a boat trip, but they may also let their guard down because of how unsuspecting it can be in the middle of the biggest city in the United Kingdom. However recently, what with the Olympic Games come and gone, rescue services in the capital have been extra vigilant to highlight the proper etiquette when approaching the River Thames. For kids and parents alike, visiting for Thames boat trips is supposed to be one of fun and excitement but that doesn’t mean we should take precautions or at least be aware. If one treats River Thames boat trips as one would treat any trip on a boat, there should be absolutely nothing to worry about but it can be tempting to not be vigilant because the river through the city seems completely safe – after all if one were to fall in it’s a simple case to get out right?
Well conditions on the River Thames can become less than ideal as it might on any river, especially after heavy rain. Rain alone is not enough to spoil a big day on a wedding boat, but it may make for something a little more fast-paced than your average River Thames cruise. The Walton fire station ironically is the guys who get called out when things may get hairy on the River Thames; in charge of a large portion of the map and its protection should things indeed go awry you can count on the men and women of the rescue service to save the day.
The true facts about the River Thames and how choppy conditions can get are no different to any other river in the world but in urban environments with a heavy population we tend to let our guards down because we feel that little bit safer. However we should never forget that the River Thames is first and foremost a river and a pretty big one at that.