Faulty lock gates 'threaten future' of historic ship

The trust which operates a reconstruction of a historic ship says faulty lock gates are affecting its commercial viability and could destroy the ship itself.

The Matthew has been a fixture of Bristol's harbour since 1997, regularly running trips along the Avon Gorge.

However, The Matthew of Bristol Trust said a "lack of proactive investment in essential harbour infrastructure" by Bristol City Council had "contributed to the failure of the lock gates" and had resulted in £25,000 in lost revenue for the trust.

The council said it understood the reduced operation of the lock gate impacted vessels, but said "all available options and arrangements were considered" beforehand.

It added that a dive survey is due to take place this month which will give clarity on the extent of additional repairs needed.

Chair of The Matthew of Bristol Trust Richard Sandwell accused the council of adopting a "fix it when it breaks" approach.

"Last season we had to cancel trips," he said. "We had people on board and we couldn't get out because the swing bridge failed.

"If the dock gates fail when we are between them, and the water level drops, then the ship would be ripped apart and people's lives would be at risk."

Work to repair the harbour lock gates began in June 2025, which the trust said had required a prolonged closure of one of the gates, and had caused "significant disruption to harbour operations".

It said despite efforts to keep going by running tours of the Floating Harbour, it made a profit of just £30 last year.

The trust added that its financial reserves have already depleted by £120,000 since the Covid pandemic, as money has been used to pay back a pandemic loan.

"The council says we get a free mooring so we should be grateful," Sandwell said.

"We can't guarantee our sailing schedule because the council can't guarantee the gates opening, and our insurers won't insure us for other people's failings."

Vice-chair of the trust Mark Boulton added that it was "committed" to ensuring The Matthew "continues to educate, inspire, and contribute to Bristol for many years to come".

Chair of the council's harbour committee, councillor Andrew Brown, said: "Despite the limited access during the urgent repair works, which were completed in mid-November, the harbour authority has continuously met its statutory duties.

"We're acutely aware of the importance of reinstating normal operations of the lock for the summer but ability to do so will be dependent on the results of the survey and the extent of the repairs required."

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