A Guide to Safe Navigation for Small Craft and Notes for River Bank Users
The safety of your vessel and those aboard it is your responsibility. Familiarity
with the chart of the river, an understanding of the uses of the aids to
navigation and times and heights of tide is essential for the production
of a meaningful passage plan. The Trustees have produced a small booklet intended
to provide basic information to help boaters wishing to navigate in the Severn
Estuary which may be obtained here
Further useful guidance and information aimed more specifically at vessels wishing to undertake the passage between Sharpness and Bristol, including procedures for navigating in the vicinity of the busy Avonmouth and Portbury docks may be obtained here download the Guidance Notes for Small Craft
Sailing within the Gloucester Harbour.
Many small boats and sailing cruisers enjoy the sailing waters of the River Severn within the confines of the Gloucester Harbour authority.
All owners should therefore be aware that there are a number of obstructions/steel and wooden frameworks that can extend up to 80 metres on both sides of the riverbank. These can not only cause considerable damage to a boat but could result in a small craft becoming stuck on such an obstruction.
If such an event occurs it could be possible that such a small craft may not be able to return to its usual mooring and remains stranded at some place in the river, such as on a drying sandbank.
In this situation it is essential that the master/skipper of such a vessel should make immediate contact with the relevant authorities. The first contact should be with Swansea Coastguard who will be able to monitor the situation and instigate further action if required. Advising Gloucester harbour Trustees will also be prudent as there are resources for verifying the vessels position. Sharpness Radio operates on VHF channel 13 during tidal working hours. They will be able to advise of any commercial shipping movements and inform the pilot accordingly.
For the purposes of compliance with the International Collision Regulations it should be noted that the whole of the Gloucester Harbour area is deemed a ‘narrow channel’ and Rule 9 applies. This states that a vessel of less than 20m in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can only navigate within a narrow channel or fairway.
Shore line obstructions.
Aylburton (south of Lydney) 51° 41’.52N 2° 33’.00W
Aust/Littleton (south of Thornbury SC) 51° 36’.75N 2° 36’.70W
Sheperdine (north of Oldbury Power Station) 51° 40’.20N 2° 33’.20W
Awre (north of Lydney) 51° 45’.95N 2° 25’.00W
Important telephone numbers.
HM Coastguard 01792 366534 or
VHF 16 ‘Swansea Coastguard’
Gloucester Harbour Trustees 01453 811913 or
07774 725270
British Waterways (Sharpness) 01453 511968 or
VHF 13 ‘Sharpness Radio’
It is strongly recommended that all vessels carry a VHF radio as well as a mobile telephone.
On spring tides keep to the main channel and time your transit when inbound
to avoid arriving at Sharpness
too early and avoid the risk of grounding and being overturned on the sandbanks.
Do make sure that you understand the functions of buoys and navigation marks. DO NOT use buoy locations as GPS waypoints. Keep off the buoys and beacons - this narrowboat sank and the owner was presented with a large
bill for recovery work and repairs.
On neap tides keep to the main channel and be aware of the draft of your
vessel and the heights of sandbanks and other obstructions such as the Oldbury
reservoir wall.