Gloucester’s last remaining shipwrights are raising alarm over a growing threat to their craft: the relentless buildup of silt in the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. This problem is increasingly restricting access for large vessels at the Docks, causing concern among those dedicated to preserving historic wooden ships.
Tommi Nielsen, whose firm T. Nielsen and Company has earned a global reputation for restoring and building traditional wooden ships since 1988, is among those deeply worried. Along with Sarah White, Nielsen’s company specializes in shipbuilding, rigging, and restoration, but the increasing silt accumulation is posing serious challenges.
The primary cause lies in the water management system: a substantial volume of water is pumped from the River Severn into the Docks to supply about half of Bristol’s drinking water. Bristol Water, holding a long-term, controversial contract, extracts roughly 200 million litres daily from Sharpness. This process inadvertently introduces around 50,000 cubic metres of silt into the Docks annually.
READ MORE: Plans to Transfer Schools and College Approved, Sparking Hope for Vital Revamp
In response, the Canal and River Trust has committed significant funds to dredging efforts. Gloucester draws approximately one-third of the Trust’s national dredging budget, currently engaged in a £4.5 million recovery programme aimed at reversing the damage caused by an unprecedented influx of silt last summer during dry weather conditions.
Historically, dredging was conducted using the bucket dredger Thomas Fletcher until the year 2000. This vessel could clear 24 buckets per minute, each holding around half a tonne of mud. The dredged material was then transported by barge and disposed of in the river at Purton. However, changes in environmental regulations have halted this practice, complicating the dredging process and limiting disposal options.
While Nielsen acknowledges the Canal and River Trust’s hard work and values their efforts, he fears the battle against silt may be losing ground. The shipyard has seen a shift in how vessels arrive; more are delivered by road rather than water due to restrictions caused by silt.
“Fifteen years ago, we could bring in large three-masted tall ships for restoration work. Now, that’s simply impossible,” Nielsen explains. “The vessels we service must be smaller and smaller. We’ve become increasingly reliant on road transport to bring ships to us.”
Adding to the community’s relief, plans to develop land at West Quay, which would have severely impacted the shipyard’s outdoor workspace, have been withdrawn. “That development would have been catastrophic,” Nielsen says. “We’re grateful for the strong local support for the shipyard.”
A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust reaffirmed their commitment: “We’re halfway through a £4.5 million programme to recover from the exceptional silt levels introduced last summer. So far, 37,000 tonnes of silt have been removed. Our dredging plans aim to maintain the operability of Gloucester Docks, and we continue to work closely with T. Nielsen and Company and other businesses.”
Despite these efforts, the situation remains precarious for Gloucester’s historic shipbuilding tradition, underscoring the ongoing fight against natural and regulatory challenges threatening the vitality of the Docks.