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, email harbour.office@bristol.gov.uk
06/2025 Events in Bristol Harbour
Sunday 20 April 2025: Omra model boat race
Model boat racing will take place at Baltic Wharf with boats racing a set course. Mariners should stay clear of the races and pass slowly to minimise wash.
Sunday 11 May 2025, 4am to 5pm: AJ Bell Great Bristol Run, 10k and half marathon
The Great Bristol Run will take place for up to 23,000 participants and will involve some road closures.
The 10k route will result in road closures at access points to the Floating Harbour.
Prince Street Bridge will not be swung for vessels before 3.30pm.
Mariners who may be disrupted by this restriction should contact the Harbour Office to make alternative arrangements.
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.
Saturday 14 June, 10am to 5pm: Bristol Canoe Club sprint
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 22 February: Canoe Polo Tournament, Cumberland Basin
- Saturday 8 March: Canoe Polo Tournament, Cumberland Basin
- Saturday 22 March: Canoe Polo Tournament, Cumberland Basin
- 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.
2/25 Harbour office new winter opening hours
From Thursday 2 January 2025 until Sunday 30 March 2025 the Harbour office reception will be operating under new opening hours:
- Monday: 10am to 3pm
- Tuesday: 10 am to 3pm
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 10am to 3pm
- Friday: 10am to 3pm
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Outside of these hours the duty office upstairs will be open between 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week for the purchase of electricity cards, pump out and laundry tokens. These can also be purchased from the marine staff on patrol.
36/24 Scouring operations: Cumberland Basin, January to June 2025
Scouring operations in the Cumberland Basin will take place at the following times:
- 14 January 2025 at 12:57pm
- 29 January 2024 at 12.42pm
- 12 February 2025 at 12:48pm
- 13 March 2025 at 12:28pm
- 28 March 2025 at 11.59am
- 11 April 2025 at 12.57pm
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
All Aboard Sailability sessions
Saturdays, 10am to 1pm at Baltic Wharf
All Aboard open water swimming sessions
Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 10am, Baltic Wharf.
Avon Scouts taster sessions
April to August on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8.30pm at Baltic Wharf.
Avon Scouts sailing/powerboat tuition
March to October, evenings and weekends 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.
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.