For over a decade, the team at Smye-Rumsby has been maintaining the radars and marine radios on the Thames Clipper boats operating in London.

Over the past few years, the Thames Clipper brand has evolved into Uber Boats which allows commuters and tourists to travel through London by river. In this new initiative, passengers can book a trip with their phone and skip the traffic with a gentle crossing across the Thames.

Last week we were tasked with realigning the radar header sensor to ensure the correct placement of targets on the screen. As the boats regularly travel under bridges or through the Thames Barrier in foggy conditions, a properly aligned header sensor ensures the safety of passengers and crew. While we were there, engineers also performed a preventative maintenance survey of the vessel’s electronic systems. Preventative maintenance minimises the risk travel disruption and loss-of-earnings, letting our clients spend more time on the water.

On Friday evening, our engineer Ben received an emergency call out from Thames Clipper requesting assistance with a faulty radar. With a busy weekend forecasted due to lockdown restrictions lifted, it was vital that the vessel was back up and running quickly. Knowing time was of the essence, Ben quickly travelled to London to rectify the situation and ensure smooth sailing for the weekend.