Top award given to world’s first carbon-neutral floating venue – Oceandiva London

Floating event venue provider, Oceandiva, has received Green Award’s prestigious Gold Certificate with a Platinum Label for its new vessel Oceandiva London, making it the world’s first carbon-neutral floating event venue to achieve this.

“We are delighted to receive the Green Award Gold certificate with a Platinum Label. Oceandiva London is the new standard for future vessels. This recognition demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and our leadership in the industry,” says Edwin Petersen, CEO of Oceandiva.

The Platinum Label is the highest level of recognition awarded by Green Award for shipping companies committed to environmental protection, safety and quality.

Merging innovative architectural design with the latest technology, Oceandiva London is a 2.2Mw powered battery CO2-neutral event vessel and will be the first carbon-neutral powered vessel on the River Thames. Some of the innovative renewable technology featured on the vessel includes a PureBlue INNOPACK++ sewage treatment plant to recycle wastewater and a new HVAC system that has airflow as well as energy saving.

The new events vessel was constructed at VEKA shipyards in the Netherlands and will be fully operated and managed by Smart Group.

Capable of 100 per cent sustainable operation through its propulsion system and energy strategy, Oceandiva London utilises fast charging shore-based renewable energy, and a back-up biofuel generator.

“I am very pleased that with the Oceandiva London, the United Rivers group of companies is setting an initial example of what sustainable shipping will look like in the future,” says Jelle van der Steeg, board member of United Rivers and managing director of Oceandiva International.

“I am proud that Green Award for Inland Navigation is now extending to the UK, with the first Green Award-certified vessel on the Thames. I greatly appreciate the owners of the Oceandiva London, who not only talk about sustainability, but put it into practice, setting an example for others. This is ‘leading by example’,” says J.A.A.J. Fransen, executive director of Green Award.

Green Award is a certification for ships that meet high safety and environmental standards. The programme encourages cleaner and safer shipping.

Oceandiva London features three decks, measuring 86m in length, and 17m in breadth. With flexible event spaces, the vessel is capable of hosting conferences, exhibitions, receptions, gala dinners, award ceremonies, product launches, and brand activations once in full service.

Greg Lawson, CEO, Smart Group comments: “We are excited to bring a spectacular and stylish new events venue to London, one that raises the bar for luxury venues on the Thames in terms of its quality and sustainability credentials.”

Oceandiva London is due to make its passage to the UK for commissioning, testing and fit out.

Fransen continues: “We sincerely hope that the Oceandiva London will inspire others to increase their sustainability efforts, contributing not only to the reduction of CO2 emissions, but also to the improvement of London’s air quality.”