On February 1st 2024, the team behind the Oceandiva announced that it was scrapping its plans to operate on the Thames, citing ‘regulatory’ issues.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Rachel Bentley, who has campaigned on behalf of residents against Oceandiva, said it was “the wrong boat for the wrong river … Seeing Oceandiva sail away from London is a great reminder that community campaigns and residents’ objections can make a difference.”

River Resident Group Chair Ralph Hardwick said, “We look forward to welcoming truly carbon-neutral vessels to the Thames and to genuinely sustainable development alongside the river. Emissions, noise and safety on the Thames remain of concern to our River Residents Group members, who are particularly worried about increasing numbers of cruise ships coming into the heart of the city, running their generators 24 hours a day close to residents, businesses and hospitals.

“Secrecy, greenwashing and virtue-signalling are too apparent in the marine authorities’ approach to date. The Oceandiva debacle has been symptomatic of a wider problem. London’s river deserves truly green solutions and we hope to be involved in activating them.”