Tall Ships No More at Bristol Borough Docks

One of the most popular draws in Bristol Borough is no more as tall ships or other commercial vessels at the Borough docks along the Delaware River are now banned due to restrictions tied to a $1.3 million grant that funded the dock construction.

The announcement was made at June Council meeting by Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe.

“There will be no more tall ships for Bristol Day or any other event in town,” DiGuiseppe said. “If we do allow them to come because it’s a commercial vessel, they’re going to want us to pay back the $1.3 million that they gave us for the docks.”

An unidentified person reported the borough to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regarding tall ships that come out for community events during warm weather seasons.

DiGuiseppe, genuinely annoyed by the loss had pointed and sharp words for the person reporting to the borough.

“I hope you can live with yourself,”  citing “jealousy” as the motivating factor for the person reporting the issue.

Bristol Borough Docks installed in 2025 on the Delaware River
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source

Borough Solicitor Jeff Garton said he would fight the restriction.

The Delaware River is a federal waterway and the Coast Guard has the obligation to maintain and protect boaters on the Delaware. They can’t be precluded from docking,” he said.

DiGuiseppe said the borough reached out to state and federal officials seeking help on the matter but were unsuccessful and has now gone public with it since those efforts failed.

The $3 million docks  grant project was partially funded through the federal Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program, which is overseen by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The BIG program requires docks to be used for recreational motorboats 26 feet and longer according to federal regulations.

The borough has installed new signage restricting dock use to vessels over 26 feet long in compliance with the guidelines. Jet skis are also prohibited from using the docks.

As to who is going to police the docks for potential violators?

The police can’t do it, DiGuiseppe said.