Purpose

The Bristol Floating Harbour Team manages
harbour water levels to approximately ± 20 cms by
controlling water ingress at Netham Lock and expelling water as
necessary at Underfall Yard. Water from the River Avon carries a
high level of silt that enters the harbour at Netham and is carried
to the lower end of the harbour around Cumberland Basin. Further
silt deposits enter the harbour from the River Frome. Approximately
every three years it is necessary to carry out dredging, to ensure
the navigable channel throughout the harbour remains usable to all
vessels.

Content

Approval to award a contract to Bullo Ltd to
carry out dredging to achieve specific water depths in five
nominated areas of Bristol Harbour. The work to be undertaken
between 2 March 2026 and 1 June 2026.

Alternative options considered

The need to remove silt from Bristol Floating
Harbour has been a necessity since it was created over 200 years
ago. Originally, this was achieved by using a deep culvert in
Underfall Yard, with sluice gates at either end, allowing silt to
be washed into the New Cut. The condition of this culvert is now
not good enough to support its use, and dredging is the only viable
option to maintain the harbour in an operational state.