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Sharpness is the most inland harbour in the UK and is a gateway into the canal network. Consequently it has two harbour masters. .
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Mike Johnson is HM of Gloucester Harbour Trustees, and controls 120 miles of waterline, the upper Severn, the river Wye and the whole of the tidal area up to Gloucester. He is responsible for all the vital navigation aids in the river and has slowly replaced all navigation aids in the Severn from being floating buoys to fixed latticework towers which last much longer in the strong currents.
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Lewis Kneale is HM and Operations Manager of the Canal and River Trust which controls the massive canal locks between the river and the Gloucester and Sharpess canal. One of his most unexpected roles is to clean out the mud which accumulates at the bottom of the 11 metre lock gates. Ships of up to 160 m long can enter the harbour basin to deliver fertiliser, animal feed and cement. Grain and scrap metal are the main cargoes shipped out of Sharpness. .
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It has a very industrial feel about it, but as you can see from the photos historic ships and canal boats live side by side with the industry. The first photo shows the 1913 square rigger brig “Marjorie” owned by my friends Inky and Hamish who kindly piloted me up and down the Severn from Portishead. She is moored in Sharpness Shipyard which provides repairs and maintenance to ships of all ages and employs craftsmen who still have the traditional shipwrighting skills – a fascinating place to visit.
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The final video shows just how strong the current of the river is as you enter or exit the harbour!
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About the Harbour Master Sailing Challenge: I am circumnavigating #GB attempting to visit every #harbour with a #harbourmaster #fundraising to #support @Seafarers_UK and their work in the #martime industry, supporting #seafarersand their #families. You can #sponsor my #challenge by visiting the link in my bio. Thank you for your support!
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