Information notices for mariners of any work or activities in Bristol Harbour that may affect navigation.
About the notices
The notices have two digits each; the number of the notice and the year it was issued, for example Notice No 36/24 means notice 36 of the year 2024.
It's important to check these notices. They're there for the safety of all harbour users, and they'll help you make the most of your visit to Bristol Harbour.
17/25 Surfers against sewage paddle out: 17 May 2025
A paddle out highlighting water quality issues across the UK will take place on the harbour between 10:30am and 12:30pm on Saturday 17 of May 2025.
The event will comprise of a variety of manually propelled vessels navigating between Baltic Wharf and Bush Corner. There will be a higher volume of these craft in the area than normal.
Mariners should proceed with caution and take directions from Harbour Authority staff.
Safety cover for the event will be on site.
16/25 Works at Silverthorn lane on the Feeder Canal
Contractors are currently working from a scaffold on a pontoon moored at the Silverthorn Lane development site on the Feeder Canal.
All vessels should proceed slowly through the area, causing as little wash as possible.
12/25 Cumberland Basin: Summer locking times 2025
Monday 31 March to Sunday 26 October 2025
During British Summer Time (BST) docking services will be available between 7:30am and 10pm.
Staff will also be on duty for all spring/stop gate tides. Mariners must give a minimum of 24 hrs notice if they need locking operations outside these hours, so we can make sure staff are available.
The above times include all bookings made on the Sail Bristol app or through the Docking Marine Services Supervisor.
If you leave a message, we'll reply the next time we're on duty to confirm your booking.
- Email: docks.office@bristol.gov.uk
- Watch House: 0117 903 1484 (24-hour answerphone)
Plimsoll Bridge swing
You must give 48 hours' notice 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.
Call the Deputy Harbour Master on 0117 927 3633 for more details. If you leave a message, we'll call you back as soon as we can.
11/25 Prince Street Bridge: Summer operating times
Monday 31 March to Sunday 26 October 2025
Mariners who want to pass through Prince Street Bridge with a vessel that is more than the clearance height of approximately 2.2 metres, can arrange a Prince Street Bridge swing,
Monday to Friday at:
- 9.30am
- 10.30am
- 11.30am
- 12.30pm
- 1.30pm
- 2.30pm
- 3.30pm
- 4.30pm
- 6.30pm
- 7.30pm
- 8.30pm
- 9.30pm
Weekends/bank holidays at all the above times and 2 extra swings at:
- 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, other swings will be at the discretion of the Harbour Master.
You must request a bridge swing at least 1 hour in advance through the Sail Bristol app.
To make an urgent request:
- call the Harbour Office on 0117 903 1484
- use VHF Radio Channel 73 call sign 'Bristol Floating Harbour'
Vessels entering from seaward can also contact the Marine Services Supervisor at Cumberland Basin:
- Phone: 0117 927 3633
- VHF Radio Channel 14 call sign 'City Docks Radio'
10/25 Netham Lock: Summer operating times 2025
Summer operating will run from Monday 31 March 2025 to Sunday 28 September 2025, 7am to 10pm.
Vessels should arrive at the lock at least 1 hour before it closes to ensure passage through the lock.
9/25 Harbour Office: Summer opening times 2025
Monday 31 March 2025 to Sunday 26 October 2025
During summer opening times, the Harbour Office main reception will be open for general enquiries, licensing and buying commodities:
- Monday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Tuesday 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Wednesday, closed
- Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
Duty Officers are on duty from 7.30am to 10pm, carrying out dock patrols. They're on call to respond to emergencies.
The Baltic Wharf slipway may be locked after 5pm if the Duty Officers are not nearby.
Our emergency telephone service (0117 903 1484, option 2) is available during operational hours.
If you're using the slipway
You can buy short-term licences through the Sail Bristol app.
You must send photographic proof of identity to get a short-term navigation licence for a powerboat or sports boat. Your licence will be denied if you don't send this.
8/25 Review of Bristol City Docks pilotage directions
Mariners are advised that we are reviewing our pilotage directions. This is to make sure that they remain appropriate and proportionate to maintain safe and efficient use of the city docks.
A period of engagement with relevant stakeholders will start on Wednesday 5 March 2025 and will continue for one month.
pdf Pilotage directions policy(424 KB)
6/25 Events in Bristol Harbour
Saturday 7 June 2025 and Sunday 8 June 2025, 10am to 5pm: District Cadet Regatta
The District Cadet Regatta is organised by the TS Adventure Sea Cadet Unit.
The event will include many young people taking part in pulling boats, racing, and carrying out manoeuvres in the Cumberland Basin area.
Mariners should give consideration to participating craft.
Sunday 8 June 2025, 7am to 7pm: Dragon boat race
Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club are holding a dragon boat race on Sunday 8 June at Baltic Wharf.
Saturday 14 June, 10am to 5pm: Bristol Canoe Club activity day
This event is hosted by Bristol Canoe Club.
There will be sprint kayak races along Baltic Wharf throughout the day. Mariners are requested to proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution.
Thursday 26 June 2025, 12 noon to 5pm: New Wave Lloyds dragon boat race
The dragon boat race will take place on the south side of the harbour at Baltic Wharf, between the Cottage Inn and the Bristol Marina.
The event will include groups of dragon boats racing in a 30-metre-wide course marked by yellow buoys.
Mariners should proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution when passing through the course.
Saturday 28 June 2025, 10am to 5pm: Sea Cadet Area Regatta
The Sea Cadet Area Regatta is organised by the Area Cadets and TS Adventure Sea Cadet Unit.
The event will include many young people taking part in pulling boats, racing, and carrying out manoeuvres in the Cumberland Basin area.
Mariners should give consideration to participating craft.
Sunday 6 July 2025, 7am to 3pm: Triathlon swim in Basin
Triathlon swimmers will be completing laps within the Cumberland Basin between 7.30am and 2.30pm. The basin will be completely closed to marine traffic for swimmers' safety.
Friday 18 to Sunday 19 July 2025: Harbour Festival
Vessels entered for this event will be moored in the Floating Harbour on pontoons projecting from the quayside at Canons Marsh, St. Augustine's Reach, Amphitheatre, and Hanover Quay.
Installation of these pontoons will start 4 weeks before the event and will be dismantled within 4 weeks after the event.
If your vessel is moored in these areas and not entered for the event, you'll need to moor elsewhere, as directed by the Harbour Master.
Aquatic events will take place in this area throughout the weekend.
Craft moored in this area should be prepared for some wash from these events, You should also make sure your vessel is adequately fendered. Vessels passing through this area may be delayed for periods of up to 20 minutes whilst these events take place.
Sunday 21 September, 10am to 4pm: New Wave Gympanzees dragon boat race
The dragon boat race will take place on the south side of the harbour at Baltic Wharf, between the Cottage Inn and the Bristol Marina.
The event will include groups of dragon boats racing in a 30-metre-wide course marked by yellow buoys.
Mariners should proceed at a slow speed and navigate with caution when passing through the course.
Saturday 18 October 2025, 10am to 5pm: Bristol Canoe Club sprint regatta
Information to follow
Smaller events in Bristol Harbour, 2025
- Saturday 17 May, 9am to 5pm: Avon Scouts Club Day,
- Saturday 14 June, 9am to 5pm: Avon Scouts Club Day
- Saturday 5 July, 9am to 5pm: Avon Scouts Club Day
Times are between 10am and 6pm approximately.
Vessels should proceed with caution near these events.
Quayside events: 2025
Throughout the year, a number of quayside events take place. These may cause some restrictions to visitor's moorings.
Visitors should contact the Harbour Office for more details and directions on entering the harbour.
36/24 Scouring operations: Cumberland Basin, January to June 2025
Scouring operations in the Cumberland Basin will take place at the following times:
- 26 May 2025 at 12.48pm
- 10 June 2025 at 12.58pm
- 26 June 2025 at 2.14pm
Before the scour, we may need to increase the harbour level 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, approximately 12 hours from the beginning of each scour.
There may be strong currents in narrow bridge ways, especially Prince Street Bridge, Totterdown Junction and the Feeder Canal at Netham Lock.
Vessels going upstream against the current must give way to vessels coming downstream at all bridge ways, Totterdown Junction and Netham Lock.
All vessels approaching Prince Street Bridge, Redcliffe Bridge, Totterdown Junction or Netham Lock must sound one prolonged blast of their whistle from either direction.
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 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.
28/24 Prince Street Bridge 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"
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.
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.
When the work is completed, a further Notice to Mariners will be raised.
Mariners must proceed at a slow speed, navigation with caution in the area.