LONDON — 1989 · Major Tragedy

Marchioness Disaster

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

At about 01:46 on the night of 20 August 1989, the pleasure boat Marchioness, hired for a birthday party and carrying about 130 people, collided with the aggregate dredger Bowbelle on the River Thames between Cannon Street and Southwark bridges. Struck twice from behind, the boat sank in about 30 seconds; 51 people died and 79 survived. A formal investigation in 2000 identified poor lookout on both vessels as the main cause. The removal of victims' hands for identification without the families' knowledge caused outrage. After the disaster, RNLI lifeboat stations were established on the Thames.

Date: 1989
Place: River Thames, England, London, UK
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: 51.5085, -0.0945 ↗

Timeline of Events

20 August 1989Marchioness sank after colliding with Bowbelle; 51 people died.
1990sFamilies campaigned for years for a full public inquiry.

2000The formal investigation found poor lookout to be the main cause.
2002The RNLI opened four lifeboat stations on the Thames.

Sources

Wikipedia — Marchioness disaster en.wikipedia.org ↗
GOV.UK — MAIB report Marchioness/Bowbelle 1989 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk ↗
Wikipedia
Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)

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