GHT is the competent harbour authority for the Gloucester Harbour under the 1987 Pilotage Act. Its main responsibility is to ensure the safety of navigation within the Harbour through the provision of a pilotage service and the provision and maintenance of navigational aids.

However, the role of a modern harbour authority encompasses much more and information about GHT's many and varied activities, past and present, can be accessed through the buttons above. Use your browser's 'back' button to return to the main menu.

SEVERN BORE - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR POWER BOAT OPERATORS

Publicity from media organisations and the Environment Agency has seen a significant rise in the number of people drawn to the Severn by the promise of predicted large Bores.

  Many people line the banks at popular viewing spots to see the spectacle and large numbers of surfers and kayakers line up to have a go at riding the wave.

  However, increasing numbers of powered craft are also joining the ride and the behaviour of a minority of inconsiderate motor boat operators is giving cause for concern as they spoil the spectacle for those on the bank and can endanger surfers.  

These boats ride in or on, or in the immediate vicinity of the Bore wave.  This is an unsafe practice when other vulnerable users, such as a surfer who has fallen from a board, are sharing the same water.  It is not always possible to see people in the water between or ahead of waves.

  The Gloucester Harbour Trustees as the navigation authority for this part of the Severn has Byelaws which are designed to protect the safety and well-being of both river users and people on-shore.  These impose a 12 knot speed limit and require vessels to be navigated with care and caution and not cause danger to other vessels and those in the water, nor give grounds for annoyance to spectators on the banks of the river.

  Power boats should stay at least 200m behind the Bore waves and not exceed the 12 knot speed limit.  They should also ensure the safety of people in the water and not cause the break-up of waves near popular viewing spots.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Recommendation.
In November 2008 a small cabin cruiser attempted to leave Whitby Harbour in heavy seas. The vessel was overwhelmed and all three people on board lost their lives. The MAIB investigation raised the question of how safety information can be better promulgated by ports to leisure users, especially those without local knowledge. As a result of the enquiry, the MAIB have advised that:
"There is a need for port authorities to provide comprehensive local safety advice to the leisure craft users of their ports including, where appropriate, specific local knowledge to enhance the safe navigation and operation of their craft."
Gloucester Harbour Trustees have provided a great deal of safety information for users of small craft on this website, which may be accessed through the menu buttons on the left of this screen (Marine Safety in the Severn Estuary). Despite this, leisure users are still observed to be transitting the harbour area without an adequate passage plan and without any reference to up-to-date official charts of the area. Leisure vessels have regularly ignored the existence of prohibited areas, have demonstrated a lack of understanding of the purpose of aids to navigation, and have failed to appreciate the effects of tide, tidal levels and the clearance over natural features which exist outside the marked channels.
Leisure craft operators must also pay due regard to the SOLAS V requirements as set out in MCA leaflet MCA/098, which may be obtained from the clicking on this link MCA/098

The dangers of over-reliance upon GPS and navigating under the influence of alcohol.
On 18 May 2009 at 2330, the 6.3m RIB Sooty grounded on the rocky shores of Calve Island off Tobermory, Isle of Mull, at a speed of about 20 knots. On impact, one of the boat’s four occupants was thrown out of the boat onto the rocks and suffered severe head injuries from which he died shortly afterwards.
The accident occurred on the last day of a 5 day diving and fishing excursion after the crew had spent the evening in a public house in Tobermory. It was a very dark night and the grounding occurred 1 to 2 minutes after the RIB’s speed had been increased on clearing the harbour.
The investigation identified several factors contributing to this fatal accident, including:
• The lack of an effective lookout;
• The RIB’s speed;
• The ineffective use of the GPS mapper to plan and monitor the passage; and importantly,
• The coxswain was navigating while under the influence of alcohol.

We actively encourage leisure users to consult this office if they have any queries relating to navigation in the harbour area or beyond.

We welcome queries and comments from all those interested in the Gloucester Harbour and the activities of GHT.