The former operator of the Woolwich ferry has been fined £200,000 after a Surbiton man's son drowned in a mooring rope accident.

Surrey Comet:

Ben Woollacott, centre, died on August 3 when he fell from Woolwich Ferry after trying to untie mooring ropes and was hit by propellers.​

August 2011: Neighbours pay tribute to boatman killed on ferry

August 2011: Boatman tells of heartbreak over son's loss

Ben Woollacott, 19, a deckhand working on the Ernest Bevin Woolwich ferry, sustained severe head injuries after he was dragged overboard by a mooring rope on August 3 2011.

His father, Stephen Woollacott, reacting to the ferry company's fine, said he had just got the news as he had only been able to bear spending one day at the trial.

He said: "To tell you the truth, no amount of money in the world can bring Ben back.

"All I can say is that I hope if it can be prevented by that it can never happen again.

"You just hope that lessons have been learnt.

"They could get fined thousands of millions of pounds, it wouldn't bring Ben back."

About 60 people attended a memorial stakes for his son on Monday, October 19, at Windsor racecourse, as he loved racing.

Mr Woollacott said: "We all raised a glass to Ben and remembered him, as he loved life that boy."

Serco Limited was found guilty after an eight day trial at Inner London Crown Court, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.

Mr Woollacott, a sixth-generation Thames waterman from Swanley, was caught in a loop of the rope while releasing lines that were securing the ship to a mooring buoy.

He struck the buoy before entering the water.

Mr Woollacott was recovered by the ship’s boat with help from a Port of London Authority launch and taken to the ferry’s south terminal.

Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead.

The teenager was in the final year of an apprenticeship when he was killed and had got engaged to his girlfriend Jade Humphreys, 18, from Putney just days earlier.

He came from five generations of boatmen and was the son of Surbiton-based Mr Woollacott, boss of sightseeing tour company Cruise London.

Paying tribute to his son at the time of the accident, his father said: “He was a complete natural with very good boat hands.

“It is in the blood. For generations the family have been out on the river.”

An MCA investigation found risk assessment and procedures had not been updated at the time of the accident and did not cover the work being carried out.

The crew were not monitored to ensure they complied with safety procedures.

Serco Limited was convicted of one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of the Ernest Bevin crew, the MCA said.

The company was cleared of a second separate charge of failing to ensure the safe operation of the Ernest Bevin under Section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

It was fined £200,000 with £200,000 costs.

Andrew Rudge, MCA area operations manager, said: "This was a tragic incident and our sympathy goes out to the family of Ben Woollacott.

"This case serves as a reminder that owners and operators of ships should review their procedures and risk assessments regularly, ensure they are fit for purpose and are being used correctly by their employees."

Julia Warren, Serco's transport, defence and justice business HR director, said: "Ben Woollacott's death in 2011 was a tragic accident which shocked and devastated all those who knew him.

“Our thoughts are very much with his family, friends and the close-knit team at Woolwich ferry.

"Safety is our highest priority and we strive to put procedures in place to ensure that our people are protected.

"We are pleased that the judge recognised that overall Serco has a responsible attitude to health and safety and took its duties seriously.

“He acknowledged that Serco had made 'genuine efforts' to improve processes on the Woolwich ferry.

"When Serco took on the contract in 2008, we brought in significant management and resources which improved the health and safety regime, including appointing a dedicated health and safety officer.

"These improvements have been acknowledged by both MCA and Transport for London (Transport for London) independent audits."

Serco no longer operates the service as its contract with TfL ended as planned on March 31, 2013.