Information notices for mariners of any work or activities in Bristol Harbour that may affect navigation.
The notices have two digits each for the number of the notice and the year it was issued, for example Notice No 41/10 means notice 41 of the year 2010.
You should check these events as they're in force for the safety of all harbour users and will help you make the most of your visit to Bristol Harbour.
Bristol Harbour Review
pdf Bristol Harbour Operations Review (7.87 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing the document contact harbour.office@bristol.gov.uk
33/24 Filming at Lloyds Amphitheatre, 22 and 23 October 2024
On Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 October, filming will be taking place at Lloyds Amphitheatre. Filming will take place close to the waters edge and in the water itself.
Safety teams will be there on land and on the water during the filming.
Mariners are advised to proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution when passing Lloyds Amphitheatre.
32/24 Bristol Canoe Club Sprint Regatta
On Saturday 19 October, Bristol Canoe Club will be holding a Sprint Regatta at Baltic Wharf. Racing will begin at 1pm and continue until 5.30pm.
The racecourse will be 250 metres long, starting at Bristol Marina and finishing at The Cottage Inn.
The navigation channel will be on the north side of the Harbour marked by green buoys. Mariners are advised to proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution when passing the course.
Safety Boats will be there during the event.
31/24 Bristol Harbour Walkway Temple Backs to Totterdown Basin
Mariners are advised that construction work on the Bristol Harbour Walkway continues.
To allow these works to take place navigation has been restricted from Temple Backs up to Totterdown Basin. These works are clearly signed and marked and include a full closure of the Southern Temple Meads tunnel. All vessels are must use the northern tunnel when navigating this section of the Harbour.
Divers may be operating within the works area.
All vessels must use extreme caution navigating through the area and give priority to vessels traveling downstream.
30/24 Bristol Gig Club Rowing Regatta
From the 26 October 24 to 27 October 2024, Bristol Gig Club will be hosting a 2 day rowing regatta on Bristol Harbour at Baltic Wharf.
Racing will begin 9am and continue until 6pm on Saturday 26 October 2024. On Sunday 27 October 2024, racing will begin at 8am and continue until 3pm
The racecourse is 1.3km starting at the MShed and finishing at The Cottage Inn. Safety Boat cover will be provided and will manage navigation stops when necessary.
Harbour users may still use the Harbour to travel between races. Contact race control safety boats before passing through the course. Vessels may be expected to wait up to 10 minutes to pass.
Approach and pass with caution.
29/24 Netham Lock winter operating times
From Monday 30 September 2024 to Sunday 30 March 2025 winter operation hours will apply at Netham Lock.
Locking Operations will be between 9.30am and 3.45pm. Staff will be on duty daily between 9am and 4.45pm.
Mariners wishing to pass through Netham Lock must give the Harbour Office 1 hours' notice and contact them on 0117 9031484, Option 1.
28/24 Prince Street Bridge winter operating times
Mariners wishing to pass east or westbound through Prince Street Bridge with a vessel that exceeds the clearance height (2.2m), may arrange to have the bridge swung at the following times:
- 9.30am
- 10.30am
- 11.30am
- 12.30pm
- 1.30pm
- 2.30pm
- 3.30pm
- 4.30pm
Mariners are advised that priority swings will be given 3 and a half hours prior to high water to 1 and a half hours after high water. Outside these tidal times, the above-published swings will be at the discretion of the Harbour Master.
Swing requests within the tidal period should be made at least 1 hour in advance and can be made via the Sail Bristol App, the Harbour Office Tel No: 0117 9031484, or VHF Radio Channel 73 call sign “Bristol Floating Harbour”.
Vessels entering from seaward may also make arrangements with the Deputy Harbour Master at Cumberland Basin Tel: 0117 9273633 or VHF Radio Channel 14 call sign “City Docks Radio”.
27/24 Cumberland Basin winter locking operations
From Friday 27 October 2024 until Sunday 30 March 2025 locking services will not be routinely provided between 5pm and 9am.
A minimum 48 hours' notice MUST be given when locking requests fall during the out of hour's period.
Bookings can be made via the Sail Bristol App, or by calling 0117 9273633 where you can leave a message for the Deputy Harbour Master.
If your enquiry is urgent, contact the Bristol Harbour Office on 0117 9031484, Option 1.
26/24 Harbour Office winter opening times
From Monday 30 September 2024 to Sunday 30 March 2025, the Harbour Office will be open for general enquiries, licencing, and the purchasing of commodities between 10am and 3pm, 7 days a week. It will not be possible to obtain any commodities from the Harbour Office outside of these hours.
Duty Officers will be on duty between 9am and 5pm, carrying out dock patrols and will be on call to respond to emergencies that occur outside of office opening times.
These changes apply to both in person and telephone enquiries; however, an emergency telephone service will continue to be available during operational hours.
For users of the slipway: in order for a short-term navigation licence to use a powerboat or sports boat in Bristol City Docks, photo ID must be provided. Failure to show this will result in a licence being denied.
24/24 Silverthorne Lane: Continuation of works to Canal Wall
Friday 27 September 2024 to Friday 23 May 2025
Repair works will continue to the Canal Wall between Arthur Street and Silverthorne Lane Footbridge on the Feeder Canal.
Two Pontoons and a Safety Boat will be in attendance during this period.
Mariners must proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution in this area.
21/24 Totterdown Basin buoys
Mariners are advised that a line of buoys has been installed at Totterdown Basin.
This has been done in the interests of safety to encourage a line that gives the best onward view through the narrows of Totterdown Lock when navigating downstream.
18/24 Open water swimming events at Baltic Wharf
Saturday 15 June to Sunday 27 October 2024
Open water swimming will be taking place at Baltic Wharf, Bristol Harbour on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 8am and 10am, from Saturday 15 June to Sunday 27 October 2024 .
There will be no swimming on 20 and 21 July due to the Bristol Harbour Festival.
These events will have segregated swim courses with lifeguards, safety boats.
The are only available for competent swimmers who have prebooked.
Mariners need to be aware of this event and follow all navigation and instructions given by the safety boats.
13/24 Cumberland Basin summer locking times
Summer operating hours are from Thursday 28 March 2024 to Sunday 27 October 2024.
Docking services will be provided between 7:30am and 10pm. Staff will also be on duty for spring or stop gate tides.
You must give a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need locking operations outside these hours to ensure staff are available.
The Notice to Mariners 27/17 for Plimsoll Bridge Swing remains in force. You need to give 48 hours' notice if you have a vessel that needs a Plimsoll Bridge swing, day, or night.
You can make a booking on the Sail Bristol app or through the Docking Marine Services Supervisor. If you leave a message, staff will reply when they are next on duty to confirm the booking.
- Email: docks.office@bristol.gov.uk
- Watch House: 0117 903 1484 (24 hour answerphone)
12/24 Prince Street Bridge summer operating hours 2024
Summer operating hours are from Thursday 28 March 2024 to Sunday 27 October 2024.
Mariners who want to pass through Prince Street Bridge with a vessel that is higher than the clearance height of approximately 2.2 metres, can arrange to have the Prince Street Bridge swung at the following times:
Monday to Friday
- 9:30am
- 10:30am
- 11:30am
- midday
- 1:30pm
- 2:30pm
- 3:30pm
- 4:30pm
- 6:30pm
- 7:30pm
- 8:30pm
- 9:30pm
Weekends/Bank Holidays
There are two extra swings on weekends and bank holidays:
- 8:30am
- 5:30pm
Priority swings will be given 3 and a half hours before high water to 1 and a half hours after high water. Outside these tidal times, swings will be at the discretion of the Harbour Master.
Swing requests should be made at least 1 hour in advance, through the Sail Bristol App.
Urgent requests can be made:
- by calling the Harbour Office on 0117 903 1484 or VHF Radio Channel 73 call sign “Bristol Floating Harbour”
- for vessels entering from seaward, by calling the Marine Services Supervisor at Cumberland Basin on 0117 927 3633 or VHF Radio Channel 14 call sign “City Docks Radio”.
10/24 Harbour office summer opening times 2024
From Thursday 28 March 2024 to Sunday 27 October 2024, the Harbour Office will be open between 8:30am and 4:30pm, seven days a week for general enquiries, licensing and sales.
Duty Officers will be on duty from 7:30am until 10pm to carry out dock patrols and will be on call to respond to emergencies. The Baltic Wharf slipway may be locked after 5pm if the Duty Officers are not in the area.
Our emergency telephone service (0117 903 1484 option 2) will continue to be available during operational hours.
Users of the slipway
You can buy short-term licences through the Sail Bristol App.
You will need photographic proof of identity to apply for a short-term navigation licence to use a powerboat or sports boat in Bristol City Docks . Failure to produce this will result in a license being denied.
02/24: Scouring operations: Cumberland Basin 2024
Scouring operations in the Cumberland Basin will take place at the following times:
October 2024
- 17 October: 13:00pm
November 2024
- 1 November: 12:15pm
- 15 November: 11:30pm
December 2024
- 2 December: 12:45pm
- 16 December: 12:45pm
During these operations:
- Prior to the scour it may be necessary to increase the level of the harbour by up to +0.25 metres.
- The water level in the Floating Harbour, Feeder Canal and River Avon upstream of Netham Lock may be reduced by as much as 0.5 metres during the period of approximately 12 hours from commencement of each scour.
- Strong currents will be experienced in narrow bridge ways and especially Prince Street Bridge, Totterdown Junction and in the Feeder Canal at Netham Lock.
- Vessels proceeding upstream against the current must give way to vessels coming downstream at all bridge ways, Totterdown Junction and at Netham Lock.
- All vessels when approaching Prince Street Bridge, Redcliffe Bridge, Totterdown Junction or Netham Lock must sound one prolonged blast of their whistle from either direction.
35/23 Bristol Harbour Boaters facilities
From November 2023, the Harbour Boat Owners facilities located at Mud Dock, Bathurst Basin, New Harbour Inlet and the Elsan disposal at Wapping Wharf will undergo essential repairs and refurbishment.
To allow these works to be completed, some of these buildings may have to close and be unavailable for short periods of time.
Once this programme is underway, information of any such closures will be publicised on the buildings with details of alternative facilities.
We're sorry for any inconvenience.
16/23 Temple Island River Wall Repairs in the New Cut
From June 2023, repair works will commence to the Temple Island River Walls in the New Cut between Totterdown Bridge and Bath Roundabout Bridge.
Upon completion of the works a further Notice to Mariners will be raised.
Mariners must proceed at a slow speed, navigation with caution in the area.
8/22 Water sport activity sessions
Baltic Wharf Sailing Club racing
June to September: Saturdays, 11am to 1pm.
February to December, 1pm to 4pm.
Baltic Wharf Sailing Club training
First Saturday of each month, 11am to 1pm
Baltic Wharf Sailing Club event
Every Wednesday, 11am to 1pm.
Baltic Wharf Cadet and Social Sailing
May to September, every Wednesday, 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
All Aboard Youth Sailing
April to October, weekdays and evenings at Baltic Wharf.
All Aboard
Sailing and powerboat tuition throughout the year, at Baltic Wharf.
Bristol Canoe Club
Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout the year, from Baltic Wharf to Netham.
Bristol Rowing Club
Throughout the year, Albion Dock to Netham and River Avon.
Ariel Rowing Club
Throughout the year, Netham to Hanham.
Guides Association
Evenings and weekends at Redcliffe Wharf.
Scouts Association
Evenings and weekends at Baltic Wharf.
TS Adventure Sea Cadets
Evenings and weekends, from Baltic Wharf to Narrow Quay.
Young Bristol
Water sports throughout the year at Pooles Wharf.
Bristol Gig Club
Gig rowing throughout the year, Bristol Marina to Netham.
27/17 Plimsoll Bridge Swing
48 hours' notice is required for a Plimsoll Bridge swing.
This will affect all vessels of a height above float level of 5.8m entering or leaving Bristol City Docks.
The Deputy Harbour Master can be contacted on 0117 927 3633 and between tidal watches a message can be left on the answering machine.
This restriction will remain in force until further notice.
30/14 Short term licences: Netham Lock
The duty lock keeper at Netham will not be able to accept any cash payment for short term licences. The only method of payments will be by debit cards, credit cards or cheques.
31/11 Safety boat cover for water events
Any Water Events held in Bristol Harbour will need to have adequate safety cover provided and must have permission from the Harbour Master prior to the event happening.