Plans for a £25 million luxury party yacht, Oceandiva, to host late-night events on the River Thames have been abandoned by entertainment firm Smart Group. The company announced on Thursday that the vessel would be returning “to EU waters,” citing regulatory challenges and infrastructural inadequacies.
Initially, Smart Group had envisioned Oceandiva hosting high-end weddings, conferences, and exhibitions for up to 1,000 people on the iconic river. However, the decision to scrap the plans has been lauded by a local councillor as a “huge victory” for Thames-side residents who expressed concerns about potential antisocial behavior and environmental impact.
Chloe Jackson, the Managing Director of Smart Group, conveyed the decision in a letter, attributing it to the aforementioned challenges. She expressed regret, stating, “It is with deep regret that we will not be able to bring this long-awaited project to fruition. While we acknowledge this victory for some local residents, it is a sad day for the city and Smart Group, as this carbon-neutral, cutting-edge vessel will no longer be redefining events on the River Thames. It is quite simply a missed opportunity for the city.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London commented on the situation, emphasizing the city’s openness to global investment but mentioning concerns raised by the City of London about adverse impacts for local residents, leading to the decision to abandon the project.
Oceandiva, originally expected to be operational by the end of 2022, only arrived in London in May 2023. The super yacht, which had planned to moor at the Royal Docks in Newham, faced opposition from residents and businesses, resulting in the withdrawal of a licensing application to serve alcohol into the early hours.
In June 2023, Oceandiva faced a setback when it crashed during test manoeuvres, colliding with the anchor of an unmanned barge near Erith, south-east London. Rachel Bentley, a Liberal Democrat councillor for North Bermondsey, celebrated the decision as a “huge victory for Thames-side residents and businesses,” expressing concerns about the vessel’s unsuitability for the narrow urban river.
The withdrawal of plans for Oceandiva comes on the heels of another significant development, with the US company Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) pulling out of its proposed Las Vegas-style “Sphere” venue in east London. MSG cited a process deemed “merely a political football between rival parties” as the reason for its withdrawal, ending its ambition to construct a 21,000-capacity entertainment venue in Stratford.
