The Thames Clipper which crashed into Tower Millennium pier last October had a faulty control joystick, a Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report revealed today.
The 18:49 eastbound river commuter service from Blackfriars crashed into the pier, injuring 14 of the 53 passengers on board.
The accident report says that the Moon Clipper's steering control joystick had been noted as faulty earlier in the day but the boat had remained in service. The crash happened after the catamaran approached the pier and veered to port as the steering failed, resulting in a fractured hull as it hit the pier.
The MAIB report noted that a combination of distractions on the bridge, the vessel running late and the faulty steering contributed to the accident. The Thames Clippers company are said to have had taken action to prevent a future recurrence.
Photo by firstnameunknown in the Londonist Flickr pool.
