GEES Provides the Electric Propulsion System for the UK’s First Electric Cruise Thames Explorer – General Energies (GEES Shanghai) provides the new generation of electric vessel

GEES Provides the Electric Propulsion System for the UK’s First Electric Cruise Thames Explorer

November 2024

Generations-old Thames family business supports British shipbuilding to lead the world in sustainable, luxury tourism launching summer 2025 with The Tower of London River Tour.

The electric propulsion system of the UK’s first electric cruise, which will be put into operation on the Thames in London, comes from General Energies Electrical Ship (Shanghai) Limited, which is also the result of cooperation between GEES and Vulkan Italy.

Main parameters
LOA 39 meters, beam 10 meters, draft 1.5 meters, 166 seats indoors, 150 seats outdoors, a total of 316 seats, able to carry 250 passengers.

Woods' Silver Fleet proudly announce their first zero emissions tourist vessel, with construction underway at Pendennis Shipyard , Cornwall, England.

The new boat is the first of its kind in the UK, harnessing developments in ultra light weight, aluminium design and construction technology coupled with an innovative industry first all-battery drive train. Following extensive design and power profiling by Vulkan Marine, the team has settled on an EST Floattech Octopus Series battery bank which will be rapid charged between each tour from a two megawatt shore charging facility (sustainable energy sources).

GEES's General Control System (GCS) provides the entire ship with 2 liquid-cooled 165kW propulsion motors, 2 x 125kW emergency generator sets, 2 X 50kVA hotel load transformers, 4 x 250kW DC fast charging, 2 x 44kW AC fast charging, an energy management system (EMS) and a propulsion control system (PCS). The battery capacity of the vessel is 2 x 360 kWh.

Historic Royal Palaces - Groups and Travel Trade , the independent charity that cares for the Tower of London, has agreed to exclusively partner the first 39m flagship, Thames Explorer, as the official Tower of London River Tour. Pendennis Shipyard, the renowned superyacht build team commissioned by Woods, are building a truly sustainable vessel which will have the capacity to cruise with 250 passengers per tour (500,000 passengers per year).

Toby Allies , Managing Director at Pendennis said “The start of the Thames Explorer project has been an exciting period for the yard and all the team involved. The aluminum 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.”

The circular Thames guided river tour will embark and disembark at Tower Bridge Quay , linked by an atmospheric stone riverside walkway to the Tower of London, and last 40 minutes featuring landmarks old and new including the Palace of Westminster, Tate Modern, London Eye, Traitor’s Gate and Tower Bridge.

The attention to detail will be apparent throughout the vessel’s design from clean, contemporary lines echoing the heyday of Thames River cruising during the 1920s and 30s with wide, awning-shaded decks, single deck panoramic views, bespoke wool woven carpet from Kidderminster looms and generously upholstered in Scottish leather seating.

There will also be 21st century full accessibility, solar gain reducing glazing, sound system and LED lighting. “The vessel, built by Pendennis’ experienced team, will support maritime apprenticeships in Falmouth. 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 ) program, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonize the UK domestic maritime sector.

Ticket sales will be launched in winter 2024 with the vessel arriving on the Thames for her first tour in summer 2025.