About the Trustees
The Gloucester Harbour Trustees were originally constituted in 1890 and initially comprised some 22 Trustees. Today the board consists of 10 members who are appointed in line with the principles of the 'Guide to Good Governance' drawn up as part of the DETR's Review of Trust Ports and in accordance with the provisions of the Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002
The Gloucester Harbour covers a large area of the Severn Estuary and includes the tidal reaches of the rivers Severn and Wye. It extends from seawards of the Second Severn Crossing up to the weirs at Llanthony and Maisemore on the Severn near Gloucester and Bigsweir Bridge on the River Wye. The harbour area is crossed by both the the Severn Bridge (M48) and the Second Severn Crossing (M4), and Oldbury nuclear power station operates on land adjacent to the harbour area.
The Severn Estuary has an immense tidal range and contains mudflats, sandbanks, rocky platforms and saltmarshes. The waters can be extremely rough and there is virtually no shelter. The tidal streams are very strong and in certain places may reach 8 knots or more during full flow and ebb. Sea conditions can deteriorate rapidly. The Severn Bore occurs regularly in the upper reaches of the Gloucester Harbour throughout the year.
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels whose length overall is 30 metres or more and this service is provided by pilots authorised by GHT. The act of pilotage to and from Sharpness is long, taking between 3 and 4 hours depending on the speed of the vessel. Great care is required by all vessels navigating within the Gloucester Harbour, particularly in the area of the Shoots channel which is crossed by the 454m span of the Second Severn Crossing. When navigating in this confined area the pilots may be assisted by a radar system which permits a portable receiver on the ship to display information from three radar stations on the shore.
The Trustees currently authorise three self-employed pilots who operate as the Gloucester Pilots' Partnership (GPP) under a contract with GHT. The pilots board and land at Barry using the pilot cutter provided by Bristol Port Company. Accommodation is also available at the pilots' lodge at Barry run by ABP. The pilots take turns on a rota basis to act as Duty Pilot and manage bookings for the service.
Traffic in the Gloucester Harbour includes commercial vessels moving to and from Sharpness Dock. Cargoes include scrap metal, grain, cement, fertiliser, forest products, coal and stone. Both the dock and the shipyard/dry dock at Sharpness are operated by private sector companies and the Trustees do not own or operate any docks, quays or loading/unloading facilities. A sand dredger also operates in the Gloucester harbour on a regular basis, whilst leisure traffic and the occasional visit of historic passenger vessels such as the 'Balmoral' and 'Waverley' make up the remainder of the traffic. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal links Sharpness Dock to Gloucester and the rest of the inland waterway system.
Over the years the Trustees have provided a significant number of onshore and offshore lights and beacons and buoys. Lights are also provided to mark and safeguard the two motorway crossings between England and Wales. Regular inspection, maintenance and repair work is carried out by local contractors on behalf of GHT. The Trustees have recently completed a modernisation programme to replace and upgrade the navaids as appropriate to ensure continued compliance with health and safety standards. Most of the ageing structures, many over sixty years old, have either been replaced or modernised. This has resulted in an improvement in reliability and performance and a reduction in maintenance costs.
The Gloucester Harbour includes a number of areas which have been designated under national, European and international environmental legislation. These impose environmental responsibilities on GHT when undertaking its stautory duties as a competent harbour authority and GHT liaises with the appropriate authorities when required.
The Board of Trustees normally meets six times a year and the day-to-day running of the Authority is supervised by the Chairman. The full-time Harbour Master/Marine Officer is based at Sharpness and is responsible for maintaining the radar system and supervising the maintenance of other navigational aids which include lights, buoys, beacons and daymarks. He is responsible for environmental management issues, duties relating to the pilotage service and carrying out other statutory functions. Relief harbour master services are provided under contractual arrangements between GHT and GPP. Administrative and financial support is provided by two part-time members of staff based at the Sharpness office.
As a Trust Port, GHT is a self-financing 'not for profit' organisation. The Trustees aim to run a reliable, efficient and cost-effective operation for the benefit of all stakeholders. They aim to break-even each year and any surplus is reinvested for the benefit of the harbour and its stakeholders with whom it liaises formally through the Advisory Body and informally on a day-to-day basis.
The Trustees have, as their overriding consideration, the safety of navigation within the Gloucester harbour. They have implemented the Port Marine Safety Code and assessment of continued compliance with its requirements is audited by the Trustees' Designated Person on a regular basis. Statements of compliance are issued to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when required. This was done most recently in January 2009.
The Gloucester Harbour Trustees were originally constituted in 1890 and initially comprised some 22 Trustees. Today the board consists of 10 members who are appointed in line with the principles of the 'Guide to Good Governance' drawn up as part of the DETR's Review of Trust Ports and in accordance with the provisions of the Gloucester Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2002
The Gloucester Harbour covers a large area of the Severn Estuary and includes the tidal reaches of the rivers Severn and Wye. It extends from seawards of the Second Severn Crossing up to the weirs at Llanthony and Maisemore on the Severn near Gloucester and Bigsweir Bridge on the River Wye. The harbour area is crossed by both the the Severn Bridge (M48) and the Second Severn Crossing (M4), and Oldbury nuclear power station operates on land adjacent to the harbour area.
The Severn Estuary has an immense tidal range and contains mudflats, sandbanks, rocky platforms and saltmarshes. The waters can be extremely rough and there is virtually no shelter. The tidal streams are very strong and in certain places may reach 8 knots or more during full flow and ebb. Sea conditions can deteriorate rapidly. The Severn Bore occurs regularly in the upper reaches of the Gloucester Harbour throughout the year.
Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels whose length overall is 30 metres or more and this service is provided by pilots authorised by GHT. The act of pilotage to and from Sharpness is long, taking between 3 and 4 hours depending on the speed of the vessel. Great care is required by all vessels navigating within the Gloucester Harbour, particularly in the area of the Shoots channel which is crossed by the 454m span of the Second Severn Crossing. When navigating in this confined area the pilots may be assisted by a radar system which permits a portable receiver on the ship to display information from three radar stations on the shore.
The Trustees currently authorise three self-employed pilots who operate as the Gloucester Pilots' Partnership (GPP) under a contract with GHT. The pilots board and land at Barry using the pilot cutter provided by Bristol Port Company. Accommodation is also available at the pilots' lodge at Barry run by ABP. The pilots take turns on a rota basis to act as Duty Pilot and manage bookings for the service.
Traffic in the Gloucester Harbour includes commercial vessels moving to and from Sharpness Dock. Cargoes include scrap metal, grain, cement, fertiliser, forest products, coal and stone. Both the dock and the shipyard/dry dock at Sharpness are operated by private sector companies and the Trustees do not own or operate any docks, quays or loading/unloading facilities. A sand dredger also operates in the Gloucester harbour on a regular basis, whilst leisure traffic and the occasional visit of historic passenger vessels such as the 'Balmoral' and 'Waverley' make up the remainder of the traffic. The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal links Sharpness Dock to Gloucester and the rest of the inland waterway system.
Over the years the Trustees have provided a significant number of onshore and offshore lights and beacons and buoys. Lights are also provided to mark and safeguard the two motorway crossings between England and Wales. Regular inspection, maintenance and repair work is carried out by local contractors on behalf of GHT. The Trustees have recently completed a modernisation programme to replace and upgrade the navaids as appropriate to ensure continued compliance with health and safety standards. Most of the ageing structures, many over sixty years old, have either been replaced or modernised. This has resulted in an improvement in reliability and performance and a reduction in maintenance costs.
The Gloucester Harbour includes a number of areas which have been designated under national, European and international environmental legislation. These impose environmental responsibilities on GHT when undertaking its stautory duties as a competent harbour authority and GHT liaises with the appropriate authorities when required.
The Board of Trustees normally meets six times a year and the day-to-day running of the Authority is supervised by the Chairman. The full-time Harbour Master/Marine Officer is based at Sharpness and is responsible for maintaining the radar system and supervising the maintenance of other navigational aids which include lights, buoys, beacons and daymarks. He is responsible for environmental management issues, duties relating to the pilotage service and carrying out other statutory functions. Relief harbour master services are provided under contractual arrangements between GHT and GPP. Administrative and financial support is provided by two part-time members of staff based at the Sharpness office.
As a Trust Port, GHT is a self-financing 'not for profit' organisation. The Trustees aim to run a reliable, efficient and cost-effective operation for the benefit of all stakeholders. They aim to break-even each year and any surplus is reinvested for the benefit of the harbour and its stakeholders with whom it liaises formally through the Advisory Body and informally on a day-to-day basis.
The Trustees have, as their overriding consideration, the safety of navigation within the Gloucester harbour. They have implemented the Port Marine Safety Code and assessment of continued compliance with its requirements is audited by the Trustees' Designated Person on a regular basis. Statements of compliance are issued to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency when required. This was done most recently in January 2009.
