Bristol Port Company

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that DREDGING OPERATIONS are carried out within the Port of Bristol in the following areas:

AREA 1           The entrances to the enclosed docks of Royal Portbury and Avonmouth;

AREA 2           Within Avonmouth Docks;

AREA 3           Within Royal Portbury Dock, and

AREA 4           The River Avon.

This work is carried out by the following dredgers:

                Type of Dredger                               Operational Area          Method of Working

a)       Cutter Suction Dredger                               1, 2, 3 & 4               Moored using spuds and pedestal.

(MALAGO and workboat GORDANO)                                    Floating hose to shore (Area 2 & 3)

No hose (Areas 1 & 4)

b)      Cutter Suction Dredger                                1, 2 & 4                  Moored using spuds and pedestal.

          (EVENLODE and workboat COLLITER)                                  Floating hose to shore (Area 2)

No hose (Areas 1 & 4)

c)         Trailer Suction Dredgers                            1, 2, 3 & 4              Trailing operations. No hose.

(UKD DOLPHIN)                                                                   Disposal by bottom dumping

(UKD BLUEFIN)                                                                    at designated disposal sites.

The Cutter Suction dredgers can operate on a daily basis. The Trailer Suction dredgers generally carry out a continuous 48 hour dredging campaign once every four weeks. Bristol VTS will keep vessels informed of current dredging operations.  

Signals Displayed by Dredgers

Dredgers will display the signals prescribed by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 Rule 27 sub-paragraphs (b) and (d) as appropriate and will maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 12.

Workboats, when towing the floating hose, will display the signals prescribed by Rule 24 of the Regulations. International Code Flags RY (“You should proceed at slow speed when passing me”) will be displayed when this is particularly necessary, whether or not dredging craft are engaged in dredging operations at the time.

Conduct of vessels in the vicinity of Dredgers and Workboats 

1.      ALL VESSELS ARE WARNED TO KEEP CLEAR OF THE DREDGERS AND TO PASS AT SLOW SPEED.

2.      When it is necessary to pass a Cutter Suction Dredger this should be done on the side marked by green lights (night) or diamond shapes (day). The ‘foul’ side may be totally obstructed by floating dredge pipe.

3.      A signal on the Cutter Suction dredger’s whistle consisting of three blasts (viz two short blasts followed by one prolonged blast) indicates that an approaching vessel is standing into danger and SHOULD NOT PROCEED.

Notice to Mariners No.3 of 2004 is hereby cancelled.

Niels Westberg

Haven Master

Marine Department

Avonmouth Docks