What to do if you plan to leave the harbour, payments, bridge swings and embargos, stopgates and locking operations
If you plan to leave the harbour
You must give 24 hours' notice if you plan to leave the harbour.
Phone the Watch House on 0117 927 3633 to book your outbound journey.
If you call outside of tidal watches, you can leave a message.
Tell us your:
- name and your phone number
- vessel name
- preferred departure date and time
The Deputy Harbour Master will call you back at the earliest opportunity to confirm your booking.
Payments
You'll need to pay your harbour dues before you get to the Entrance Lock at the Cumberland Basin.
You can make your payments:
- using the Sail Bristol App, 48 hours before departure
- at the Harbour Office
- with the Harbour Patrol (card payments only)
Bridge swings
If you don't need a bridge swing for either the Junction or Plimsoll Bridge, go to the Cumberland Basin and contact the Deputy Harbour Master on VHF Radio Channel 14, call sign ‘City Docks Radio'.
The Deputy Harbour Master will then tell you when you can enter the Entrance Lock.
If you do need a swing for Junction or Plimsoll Bridge, you should tie up your vessel in Junction Cut and contact the Deputy Harbour Master to let them know you are ready for the next available bridge swing.
If you need a swing for Plimsoll Bridge, you need to give 48 hours notice.
Bridge embargos
The Cumberland Basin bridges are not swung between 8am to 9am and 5pm to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays )
Road traffic has priority on all bridges 30 minutes either side of these times. There may be shadow periods at the discretion of the Deputy Harbour Master.
The clearance beneath the bridges to leave the harbour are:
- Junction Lock Bridge, 2.5m above harbour level
- Plimsoll Bridge 5.9m MHWS and 5.8m above harbour level
Stopgates
For stopgate timings:
- phone the Watch House on 0117 927 3633
- check the Sail Bristol App (see the ‘Locks' page)
When your vessel is in the lock you need to use both a bow and stern line.
Pass your mooring lines to docking staff who will pass them through a ring and then pass them back to your vessel's crew.
Make sure your ropes:
- are clear on their cleats
- will not jam
- are tended continuously
- are at least 15 metres in length
You should not experience any turbulence when the lock is being emptied.
Times of outbound locking operations
- First lock: 2 hours 50 minutes before high water
- Second lock: 1 hour 40 minutes before high water
- Third lock: 30 minutes before high water
When you go outbound through the River Avon keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 12.
When you pass Nelson Point, you'll need to contact ‘Bristol VTS' for traffic information in King Road.
If your vessel is over 30 metres or carrying more than 12 passengers, you must report to ‘Bristol VTS' at Sea Mills, Shirehampton and Nelson Point.