Mooring and berthing in the harbour

Availability of berthing

We currently have a waiting list in operation for all types of vessel and for all areas in the Bristol Harbour.

Bristol Harbour Authority administers the licensing of about 400 berths within Bristol docks. Bristol is a very popular place for leisure boaters to keep their craft. Berths do occasionally become available.

Short term visitor berths

There are approximately 50 visitors’ berths in the harbour. See the harbour map for locations. Water and electricity are available at these berths.

Please check the local notices to mariners to avoid conflict with the events in the harbour.

Only craft of up to 15m in length can moor in the Harbour Inlet.

Annual berths

Vessels are berthed:

• alongside the quay walls either singly or double-banked
• alongside pontoons and finger pontoon for smaller craft

Annual-term moorings in Bristol Harbour are allocated from a waiting list. An application must have been made and the vessel allocated a mooring by the Moorings Officer before any vessel can occupy a berth other than the short-term transit moorings.

For operational reasons it may be necessary to relocate craft to another mooring at any time.

Vessels moored alongside quay walls must secure to bollards or mooring rings and put out fenders to the craft moored inside. To prevent one craft from pounding against another, the two should be secured together with diagonal springs.

For licensing purposes vessels are categorised according to their main use, for example leisure, residential, commercial, and into berthing areas, depending on the location. See table below and the Harbour map.

Some moorings may have to be vacated three or four times a year for major events such as boat shows, regattas, festivals or visiting ships. There is less likelihood of this happening in Class ‘B’ areas.

There are currently four disabled access landing stages: Baltic Wharf, Castle Park, St Augustine’s Reach and Temple Quay.

Note: An adult must accompany anyone under 16 years of age when onboard vessels and pontoons.

Applying for an annual berth licences

Annual licensing starts on 1 May each year. You can apply for an annual licence for long term berthing by completing an application form.

To find out more and get an application pack

Telephone 0117 903 1484 or
Email harbour.office@bristol.gov.uk

Conditions of a license application

• You must provide provide evidence that your vessel meets the Boat Safety Scheme standards.
• You must provide a recent photograph of your vessel
• The craft must be insured against third party risks and passenger liability to a minimum of £2,000,000 for any one claim.
• Craft must be properly marked with the name and registration number on both sides of the bow. Plastic numerals may be obtained from ships’ chandlers.
• A licence sticker is issued and must be displayed on the vessel.

After your application has been submitted

Once we receive your completed application we will contact you in writing to tell you whether your application has been successful.

If you have not been successful we will add your craft to the current waiting list relevant to your type of vessel and requirements.

Licenses for part of a year and refunds

Annual licences expire on 30 April, therefore the fee payable is reduced in stages during the course of the year.

If a licence is given up, a refund may be claimed up to a maximum of three-quarters of the annual amount payable, depending on the time left to run.

Change of ownership

If a boat changes ownership, the original owner should surrender his/her licence, and the new owner must apply for a new licence.

Leisure Moorings

The facilities provided range from fully serviced marina-type pontoon berths for vessels up to 9.5 metres and linear quay wall berths for larger vessels. Due to the high quay walls, there are a very limited number of berths available for Narrow-boats and other low freeboard vessels over 9.5 metres in length.

Winter moorings

There are approx 20 visitors berths located in the central part of the harbour. Some of these berths are made available to cruising live-aboard boaters for winter lay-up between 1st November and 30th April of the following year.

Demand is very high for these berths so early application is essential.

If your application is successful your vessel must leave the harbour on 1st May.

Residential moorings

There is a long waiting list for residential moorings. The residential berths are currently fully allocated and rarely become available. No other residential use of vessels is permitted. However, the Harbour Office will accept an application to be placed on a waiting list for a residential berth.

For full information please read the City docks mooring policy. The following summarises the main points about residential moorings:

• Each residential mooring area will require planning consent and individual moorings are also licensed.
• Waste will be removed from sewage holding tanks by mobile pump-out services.
• All residential craft moored in the Harbour Arena must be able to be moved to allow space to be created for events in the Harbour.
• No car parking spaces will be allocated on the quayside for residential mooring.
• Residential Mooring Agreements currently have a term of up to 25 years with break clauses and review provisions every 5 years and an appropriate charging regime to reflect the facilities enjoyed and services provided. Some craft are recognised as being used for residential purposes but have annual licences.

City docks mooring policy

For more information about mooring and berthing in the docks please read the City docks mooring policy.