PILOTS AND LEISURE CRAFT  

Owners of leisure craft and narrowboats who may lack the confidence to tackle the River Severn are strongly advised to make use of persons with appropriate local knowledge. For some craft (e.g. narrowboats) operating in tidal waters and specified rivers, there may be implications for the vessel’s insurance.  

When engaging persons with local knowledge to assist or conduct such passages, owners of leisure craft should satisfy themselves that the person is sufficiently competent.  

Gloucester Pilots’ Partnership have three Pilots authorised by the Gloucester Harbour Trustees to operate in the Gloucester District.  

The Pilots are usually available to provide services to leisure craft. It should be noted that it is customary for a pilot to advise or conduct only the vessel upon which he is embarked. Pilots acting in a professional capacity are not usually expected to take responsibility for the conduct of other vessels which may choose to follow a piloted craft.
Bookings for authorised Gloucester Pilots may be made directly to the Duty Pilot on 07774 226143 between 0800-1800 (weekdays) and 0900-1200 (Saturdays).

Regardless of whether or not a pilot is embarked, it is strongly recommended that the skipper of the vessel produces a passage plan for the voyage. This will include checking local Notices to Mariners and other relevant information. A guide for small craft is published here. Please take the time to read it. We welcome feedback and suggestions on the content.

Further information and a helpful checklist is published here for the trip between Sharpness and Bristol.

If travelling as part of a group, it remains essential for the skipper of each boat to plan their passage in order to familiarise themselves with the route and make contingency plans to cope with any unexpected events (e.g. breakdown or poor weather conditions). In other words, your safety and that of your vessel and crewmembers is your responsibility - please take it seriously and do not think that you might be able to rely on others in a convoy to get you out of trouble.