The shipping platform

Location: Bristol is located on the W coast of England at the head of the Severn Estuary. General overview: The Bristol Port Company operates two separate enclosed dock systems serviced by two locks, The Royal Portbury Lock and the Avonmouth Lock. Avonmouth Dock is on the Northern Bank of the River Avon at its confluence with the Severn Estuary. On the South Bank, is the Royal Portbury Dock. The City Docks, 7nm upstream, are operated by Bristol City Council. The Floating Harbour in the City of Bristol is entered through a set of entrance locks. The harbour is mainly for pleasure craft, however occasional commercial traffic uses the Docks. A wide range of facilities are available within the port to handle cargoes including dry and liquid bulks, forest products, containers, cars and traditional general cargo including fresh produce. Traffic figures: Approx 2,000 vessels, 9,000,000t and 46,000TEU handled annually. Load line zone: North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size: Royal Portbury Dock: LOA 300m, beam 41m, draught 14.5m. Avonmouth Dock: LOA 210m, beam 30.1m, draught 11.0m. City Docks: LOA 99m, beam 15m, draught on application to the Haven Master, Avonmouth. Largest vessel handled: LOA 289.5m, beam 40.5m (Royal Portbury Dock).