News / floating harbour
Historic boat sinks in early hours of morning
One of the most historic and popular boats in Bristol’s docks is awaiting retrieval from the bottom of the Floating Harbour after sinking in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Greenshank – owned by the Bristol Packet – was operating as a cafe.
Bristol24/7 understands that Greenshank had a “catastrophic failure” around 3am on Tuesday, causing her to sink and pull a neighbouring barge down with her.
is needed now More than ever
Greenshank was originally built to be a butty boat (a non-motorised narrowboat) and carried general cargo across England’s canal system.
Nick Gray brought Greenshank and its sister boat Redshank to Bristol in 1974 and Bristol Packet boat trips was born.
Luke Dunstan from the Bristol Packet told Bristol24/7 that both vessels now need to be retrieved as quickly as possible from their temporary resting place close to the SS Great Britain, probably within the next couple of days.
“The only good news is they’re not burnt to the ground,” he said. “We know where they are.”
Dunstan is also hoping to arrange a crowdfunder in the hope of bringing the historic boat back into service.
Greenshank and Redshank in 1974 – photo: Bristol Packet
Greenshank, pictured to the left of the barge that also sank – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
Read more: Investment of close to £900,000 in Bristol’s 250-year-old Floating Harbour
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