27th October 1997 - mv Sand Kite , a 98m suction dredger collided with the Thames Barrier during thick fog at 0648. Her master moved her astern and clear of the barrier before then moving ahead to try and clear the adjacent span. As the vessel did this her bow began to take on water and she sank, coming to rest on the river bed. Two crew were washed overboard from the bow but quickly picked up and the remaining crew were taken ashore.
The Sand Kite was refloated on 1st November and she was taken to Blackwall Power Station Jetty. She was back in service by February 1998.
(C)Ken Smith
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