Some interesting ships can be seen docked in the Thames, such as the Greenwich warship a couple of years ago. This weekend brought a Spanish Navy training ship, the four masted tall ship called Juan Sebastián de Elcano which is one of the largest and oldest tall ships still operational.

The video was taken from onboard one of the Hurricane Clipper river boat catamarans which provide a commuter service as well as sightseeing on the river Thames and now accept Oystercard onboard for payment as well as pre-paid tickets.

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Greenwich Tall Ship – 4 Masted Juan Sebastián de Elcano

Ark Royal could be saved from the scrapheap under plans to turn it into a heliport.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier, axed in last October’s defence cuts and due to be decommissioned next month, could be based on the Thames by May 2012.

The 693ft vessel would be manned by around 150 former servicemen, for whom it would be both a home and a job, and would cater for City workers, police helicopters and London’s air ambulance.

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the head of the Navy, said the move could safeguard the future of the carrier, and the Ministry of Defence  confirmed it was considering the plan.

Currently in Portsmouth, the ship would be moored in the Royal Docks near City Airport to comply with noise-pollution rules.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358880/Ark-Royal-new-future–floating-helipad-Thames.html

Photo: HMS Illustrious at Greenwich

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Arc Royal to extend London City Airport

More information:

• thisislondon/cable-cars-over-thames-a-high-way-to-the-east
• docklands24.co.uk  plans outlined_for_boris johnson’s_cable_car_scheme_over_london
• tfl.gov.uk/../projectsandschemes/
• Gondola Project

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London Cable Car May Go Ahead

HMS Illustrious is moored in the Thames off Greenwich for a week to help with the Royal Navy’s participation in Remembrance Day commemorations in London. This year is the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

HMS Illustrious was also used as a platform for the November 6TH Fireworks display which by all accounts was quite spectacular, being accompanied by the dramatic sounds of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture.

Photo derived from one by Simon Starr

HMS Illustrious returns to Greenwich in MAy 2009 as part of the Fly 100 events to commemorate the Royal Navy’s first “airship”. The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will be in Greenwich from Wednesday 6th may 2009 around midday.

• Gravesend at 9am
• Thames Barrier 10-11am
• Greenwich at 11:30am

There will then be a flypast of every current Front Line helicopter type passing up the Thames over HMS Illustrious on Thursday May 7th 2009 at 12.00 noon.

Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th May - Static aircraft displays in the Greenwich Old Naval College.

Saturday 9th May and  Sunday 10th May  at 2pm –  helicopter displays over the river by the Greenwich Old Naval College.

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HMS Illustrious at Greenwich