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.

Events in Bristol Harbour

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.

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”.

11/24 Netham Lock summer operating times 2024

Netham Lock will be open from Friday 29 March 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024, from 7am until 10pm. 

Vessels should arrive at the lock at least one hour before it closes to ensure passage through the lock.

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.

08/24 River Avon blocked by fallen tree

The River Avon is completely blocked by a fallen tree just downstream of Conham River Park.

Location on What3words: wizard.steer.sobs.

No navigation is possible.

07/24 Events in City Docks 2024

For the events in City Docks and the navigation advice visit Events in Bristol Harbour.

02/24: Scouring operations: Cumberland Basin 2024

Scouring operations in the Cumberland Basin will take place at the following times:

April 2024

  • 8 April: 13:00pm
  • 25 April: 14:00pm

May 2024

  • 8 May: 13:15pm
  • 24 May: 13:30pm

June 2024

  • 5 June: 11:45pm
  • 21 June: 12:10pm

July 2024

  • 5 July: 12:30pm

August 2024

  • 5 August: 13:45pm
  • 19 August: 13:00pm

September 2024

  • 3 September: 13:45pm
  • 18 September: 13:15pm

October 2024

  • 2 October: 13:15pm
  • 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.

01/24 Diving Operations in Temple Meads Railway Tunnels

On Tuesday 16 January 2024, divers will be operating in the Temple Meads Railway Tunnels on behalf of Network Rail.

A Safety Boat will be in attendance on the downstream side of the tunnels while diving works take place.

38/23 Bristol Harbour Walkway: Temple Backs to Totterdown Basin

From Monday 27 November 2023, construction work on the Bristol Harbour Walkway will commence.

The work is expected to continue for a period of 3 months and due to be completed by Monday 18 March 2024.

To allow these works to take place navigation will be restricted from a point near to Temple Back and up to Totterdown Basin.

These works will be clearly signed and marked and will include a full closure of the southern Temple Meads tunnel.

All vessels:

  • are required to use the northern tunnel when navigating this section of the Harbour
  • must use extreme caution and where possible give priority to vessels traveling downstream

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.

33/23 Dredging operations

Dredging operations will be carried out in the City Docks from 13 October 2023 until further notice.

This work will be carried out by the water injection dredger “Innovation” and will display signals as prescribed in the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea (1972 as amended) Rule 27 section (b) and (d) as appropriate.

“Innovation” will start at Netham Drain (entrance to Netham Lock) and progress westerly through the City Docks.

Vessels may pass either side of the dredger and mariners are advised to approach and pass with caution at slow speed. The dredgers will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 14 in Cumberland Basin and Channel 73 in the Floating Harbour.

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.

Contact information

Harbour Office

Underfall Yard
Cumberland Road
Bristol, BS1 9NE

Opening Hours

Open for general enquiries, licensing and the purchasing of commodities daily (except Christmas Day) as follows:

Summer (BST)

Harbour Office: Monday to Sunday 08.30am to 4.30pm

Emergency Service: Duty Officers are on call between 07.30am and 10.00pm

Winter (GMT)

Harbour Office: Monday to Sunday 10am to 3pm

Emergency Service: Duty Officers are on call between 9am and 5pm

VHF Radio

Channel 73, call sign BRISTOL FLOATING HARBOUR.

Email: harbour.office@bristol.gov.uk

Tel: 0117 903 1484
Fax: 0117 903 1487