Oceandiva London floats new sustainable events venue
John E. Kaye
- Published
- Business Travel, Travel and Lifestyle

In an exciting development for 2023, the River Thames will welcome its largest – and greenest – floating events space
Smart Group in collaboration with Oceandiva, is set to launch the UK’s first CO2-neutral venue on the River Thames, revolutionising London’s events and hospitality sector. Spanning across three decks, this unique blank canvas venue provides the ability to host sensational events on the Thames, whether static or sailing, in the heart of London. The ship will provide a state-of-the-art space to host glamorous receptions, gala dinners, cutting-edge product launches and brand activations for up to 1,500 standing and 500 seated.
Ahead of the vessel’s arrival, Oceandiva London has already begun to attract attention from event planners and incentive buyers globally. Arriving in early 2023, it is set to be the hottest new opening of the year.

Green approach
With corporates facing ever challenging sustainability quotas, Oceandiva London will offer a solution that allows event organisers to accurately measure the eco-efficiency of each event on board working through industry body ISLA.
The TRACE platform created by ISLA helps the event industry reduce their carbon footprint by measuring and minimising carbon. Giving insight into the environmental cost, TRACE captures emission and waste data, which is then generated into impact reports in real-time, empowering corporates to support their clients and stakeholders.
“As London works towards becoming a carbon neutral city by 2030, we welcome sustainable and pioneering venues like Oceandiva, which are helping to transform London’s unique offering even further,” said Joshua Novick, VP of Business Tourism, North America at London Convention Bureau.
Oceandiva London will be the largest floating events space on the Thames measuring 86 metres in length and 17 metres in breadth, spanning three decks capable of hosting events on water that have never been seen before. The ship will provide a state-of- the-art space to host glamorous receptions, gala dinners, cutting edge product launches and brand activations for up to 1,500 standing and 500 seated. The ship will be an Anglo-Dutch partnership between Oceandiva, based in the Netherlands and founded by Edwin Petersen in 2003, and Smart Group, the UK’s leading events and hospitality provider.
Designed, built and owned by Oceandiva, this will be the first London venture outside of mainland Europe from the group who are well established in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium with clients including Porsche, L’Oréal, Microsoft, Dior and Jaguar.
The trading company of Oceandiva London will be owned, managed and operated by Smart Group, who deliver over 600 events each year from international sporting and cultural events, including Royal Ascot Village and Lord’s to corporate and charitable functions for the NSPCC, Google and Adobe. Oceandiva London will follow the Groups trading pattern, specialising in business and private events.
Further information
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