Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co. Ltd's excursion vessel PRINCESS POCAHONTAS appeared to lose power shortly after leaving West Street Pier shortly after 6 p.m. this evening. She began to drift downstream with the ebb tide but luckily the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry DUCHESS M. had just departed the South side at the time and was radioed up to assist. She was quickly alongside, along with the Port of London Authority's patrol boat KEW, and between them managed to nudge her back safely alongside the Pier. Fortunately there were no large commercial ships transiting the Reach at the time.