Episode 7 Channel Patrol


Episode 7

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It's the busiest waterway in the world.

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Come on, skipper! Get a move on that way!

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A gateway to our nation.

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Over 90% of the world's trade travels by sea.

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It's not just TVs and refrigerators. It's everything around us.

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Protected by a multi-agency task force,

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it's a unique stretch of water.

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This is Warship Tyne, Warship Tyne. Channel 1-2. Over.

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RADIO COMMUNICATION

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It's very difficult to police the Channel,

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to board every vessel is an impossible task.

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It's a place where swimmers and Sunday sailors

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fight for space with cruise liners...

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..and cargo ships.

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It's like trying to get across the M25 during rush hour.

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For some, the English Channel is their place of work.

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If my mum came out here and saw what I was doing up here,

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she'd tell me to get off!

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-For others, it's a playground.

-Whoo-hoo!

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But for those who venture onto its unpredictable waters...

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We're just going to assess the moving of the casualty now.

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Port control, Dover lifeboat.

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..it can mean life or death.

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Just drag him onto the boat!

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I hope my babies get to see this and see what Daddy does for a living.

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Today on Channel Patrol, a rookie sailor learns the ropes.

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Much harder than that, it'll be slave labour!

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Harbour Patrol has its hands full.

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Get a move on!

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I wasn't happy

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with your manoeuvre earlier on, sir.

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The Navy inspects a fisherman's catch.

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And a band of crane-operating brothers feel the strain.

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But if something does happen,

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it could mean someone's life at stake, really.

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Today, holiday-makers from all over the UK flock to the Channel

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to be carried on ferries and cruise ships to the Continent and beyond.

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I'd like to welcome you on board the Belle Seaways for the 16.00 sailing.

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The weather on the Channel this afternoon, a light westerly breeze.

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These sturdy steel vessels are a common sight on the seaway.

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But for hundreds of years,

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magnificent wooden ships like these

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were carrying men and women around the world.

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Back then, they were the quickest form of mass transportation.

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Tall ships are a traditionally rigged sailing vessel,

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over 30 foot long,

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with masts towering 100 foot into the sky.

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Today, 46 of these vessels, from all four corners of the globe,

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have come to Falmouth

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to race to the Isle of Wight for the Tall Ships Regatta.

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All ships in the tall ships fleet stand by for the start of class B.

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They are taking part in a race of over 200 miles

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up the English Channel.

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-Can we go?

-Yeah, go!

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The race to the Isle of Wight aims to engage young people

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in the art of sailing.

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One rookie looking to spend more time on the water

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is 19-year-old council worker Joseph Nickless.

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I don't want to work in an office nine-till-five

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for the rest of my life.

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Constantly working towards budgets and deadlines.

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I'd rather be out on the sea, taking it all in,

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rather than sat in front of a computer typing away.

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He hopes, one day, to build his own boat.

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But for now, he has to learn the ropes

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on board the 100-year-old Kapitan Borchardt.

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I don't know what to expect, really,

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because I've only been on a small yacht before.

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And I've not had much experience on that. Excited. Really excited.

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Training up Joseph is officer's mate Katarzyna Szarecua.

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The biggest challenge is learning the technical terms,

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learning how to do things properly.

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I'm going to go full steam ahead,

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trying my best to soak it all in like a sponge, if I can.

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Rigging these relics from the past

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is far more complex than modern vessels.

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Their giant masts and wooden timbers are heavy

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and their sails complicated.

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Yeah. More or less.

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All the boats in the regatta will be racing under wind power alone.

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So just to get out of the harbour to the starting line...

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This?

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..involves Joseph and his fellow trainees

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hauling these heavy canvas sails 92 foot to the top of the mast.

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You can have all the strength in the world

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but if the technique isn't there,

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you're not moving anywhere with that sail, it just won't go up.

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Phew!

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Hopefully, that's one of the harder ones.

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Much harder than that, it'll be slave labour!

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It's a tradition of the Tall Ships Race

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that as these grand old dames of the sea

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make their way slowly out of Falmouth Bay,

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smaller, more modern boats rally round

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and escort them out.

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Set port lever ahead one to starboard lever stern two.

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The race line is set between the naval boat HMS Severn

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and a cruise ship.

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James, do you want to be out there looking to make sure

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there isn't an early cross?

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It is being closely monitored by race officials,

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who are running the operation from the navy vessel's bridge.

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On my sign, we'll set more sails, we split up,

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and then we go to cross the start line.

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It's a timed race and the boat skippers need to make sure

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they're in position and their mainsail set,

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ready to get a good start.

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This is us.

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And all the other ships are ships from our group,

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heading towards the start line.

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All ships in the Tall Ships race, 20 seconds to the start of class A.

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Ten,

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nine,

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eight,

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seven, six,

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five,

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four, three,

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two, one...

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Now!

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HORN BLARES

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So we are almost on the line.

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Yeah, nervous.

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A bit worried about something happening

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and being stranded in the Channel somewhere.

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Then again, I could always swim back. I've got my wetsuit.

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Each tall ship now has just two days

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to reach the finish line at the Isle of Wight.

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And as they leave the safety of Falmouth Bay,

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they soon have to vie for space

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with other vessels on the Channel.

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The most dangerous in travels is traffic.

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Between Europe and the rest of the world, it's very dangerous.

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All these big ships are much bigger than ours,

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they are much faster than we,

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so if there would be a collision,

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probably, they just crush us.

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The GPS shows they are on a collision course

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with another vessel.

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RADIO COMMUNICATION

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Good morning, sir.

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This is Kapitan Borchardt,

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the sailing vessel on your port side.

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I would like to ask you to go off our stern

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because we are on sails and have limited manoeuvrability.

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RADIO: Please keep your course and speed

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and I will alter my course to port.

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OK. Thank you very much.

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You see over there, there is the big vessel, the cargo ship.

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And they are, for now, a bit collision course with ours.

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And as we are on sails, very close to the wind,

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we have much less possibility to manoeuvre than they have.

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It takes time for them to change course,

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but it's much more easier than for us,

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because they don't have to change the sails.

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SHIP'S HORN BLARES

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They are passing us

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and I think they will correct their course in a few minutes

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and back on their way.

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The potential collision is averted.

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But when it comes to sailing on the Channel,

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there's one thing that is completely out of Katya's control.

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The Isle of Wight is 100 miles away.

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With limited wind,

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the Kapitan Borchardt is slipping behind other, bigger-sailed ships.

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The wind's not picked up like we expected, I think.

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So, at the minute, we're not going at any speed.

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We're doing about two knots, I think.

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I guess it will pick up eventually.

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Finishing the race within the official two-day time limit

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looks in doubt.

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We have to practise our patience for this.

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The Channel is a lifeline to the UK's economy.

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The majority of our imported goods,

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from exotic fruits to foreign cars,

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come in through this stretch of water

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on board towering, majestic shipping vessels.

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Southampton is the most productive port in Europe

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and 38 million tonnes of freight

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pass through its container terminal every year.

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The crew here turns around container ships

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faster than anywhere else in the UK.

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And when it comes to container ships,

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they don't get much bigger than the Marco Polo.

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This super-vessel was once the largest man-made object

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to move across the planet,

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with her vast decks the size of four football pitches,

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carrying more than 16,000 containers.

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And unloading such a giant is no easy job.

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Hold it there. Hold it there.

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It's a dangerous environment.

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Containers can weigh up to 40 tonne apiece.

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Shift Ops Manager, Colby Squibb,

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must ensure the monster ship's hefty cargo

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is unloaded quickly...and safely.

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Right, good morning, gentlemen.

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The sheet, as it stands, is crane 21 is out for maintenance.

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Today, in amongst the thousands of containers on board the Marco Polo,

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there's a particularly challenging cargo.

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Crane 41, discharging four wind generators.

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There's about 96 boxes before we get there on that one.

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The spare parts for a wind turbine, weighing nearly 40 tonnes apiece.

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So getting them onto land safely will be no mean feat.

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Any questions?

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To add to the pressure,

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the Marco Polo needs to be unloaded as quickly as possible

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so it can get under way to its next destination.

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Colby has just the crack team for the job -

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his brothers,

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Steve and Jay Squibb.

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I suppose you could say, although I don't like to say it,

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I'm their boss.

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Well, I don't like to see it that way.

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And I'm sure they don't see it that way, either.

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Following in their father's footsteps,

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the brothers have been working at the docks for the past 20 years.

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Ships are so much bigger now than when I started.

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It's incredible, really.

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It's frightening that they are getting even bigger.

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I think this place is a good barometer for the economy.

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When we went through our lull,

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the volumes on the ships was so much down.

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We sort of noticed that things were picking up

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a long time before anyone else did,

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just with the amount of business that we were doing.

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The youngest of the three brothers is crane operator Jay.

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And one of his job requirements is a serious head for heights.

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And when he reaches the control cab, 160 feet up,

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he has a glass floor looking all the way down.

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No, it's a lovely view, isn't it?

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Especially on a nice day like today.

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If it gets too windy, we've got wind alarms.

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Fog as well. You get quite a bit of fog down here.

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You have to stop for fog,

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as soon as your visibility goes - it's a safety thing.

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Unlike the rest of the cargo,

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the generators have not been shipped in a container.

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We have to look at how we're going to lift it.

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We've got loads of different lifting equipment.

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What the weight is, what the size of it is.

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Because we've got lifting gear

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that can lift heavier stuff and lighter stuff,

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so we have to make sure we use the right gear.

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It's a lot slower.

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You know, normal containers, the spreader just locks on,

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takes them on or takes them off. Very quick operation.

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There's lots of uncontainerised loads

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that come through on the ships.

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It can be wind turbines. It can be yachts.

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It can be Airbus wings.

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Hold it there.

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Unloading uncontainerised goods is much more dangerous,

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because it requires a crew on the ground

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directly below the heavy load.

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The most important aspect,

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when you're doing a lift like that, is communication.

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Jay will probably be well-versed in what he has to do beforehand.

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And he'll have to take explicit instructions

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from Steve at all times.

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OK, Jay, just wait there, mate. Rich will bring the trailer under.

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It's vital.

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If the crane driver doesn't hear you stop,

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you could cause untold damage.

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Or, you know, accidents or whatever.

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So, yeah, good communication is paramount.

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Just hold it there, mate.

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They're my eyes down there.

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I don't do anything until they say. And you don't want any doubt.

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You need everything to be fixed and in place.

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OK.

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I can hear you loud and clear now, Jay.

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-I'm more or less ready.

-OK, mate.

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Each wind generator has to be moved individually.

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And with the crane itself weighing over 1,000 tonnes...

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Come down. Come down now, Jay. Come down now.

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..it's a risky business for Jay and Steve.

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Yeah, go on. It's a bit flat, mate.

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But big brother is watching.

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I monitor the channel, so I can listen to what's going on.

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But I don't have any input.

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To begin lifting the wind generator,

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Jay has to position his cab and the winch over the hold of the ship.

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OK, Jay, come on down. You're stopping just short there.

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And just hold it there. Can you just go aft for me again a touch?

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I think we're there now.

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So far, I've got it down far enough for him to shackle on.

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Obviously, you don't want there to be any errors.

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I suppose it's just unforeseen circumstances,

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things that happen out of the ordinary.

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But if something does happen, you know,

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it could mean someone's life at stake, really.

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Because you know, that's a big, heavy thing we're lifting there.

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And if anything were to go wrong, you know, anything could happen.

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We're just going to take the weight, just to see what it does,

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just as we lift it a little bit,

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as long as there's not a lot of movement.

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OK, Steve, I'll just take the weight

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and then I'll wait for you to give me a shout.

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OK, mate.

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How heavy is it? Over 38 tonne.

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So, you know, if 38 tonne were suddenly to fall off,

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you know, it's disastrous.

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All right, Jay, if you just want to take it off.

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OK, mate.

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So where I've got a load and they're suspended,

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you don't want to just steam back. You want to just go nice and steady.

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You don't want 38 tonne just swinging about.

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This is a time when you do drive a crane just nice and slowly.

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With time of the essence,

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the crew needs to balance efficiency with safety.

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We got to be careful with everything we lift.

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You know, we treat a container, a bit of un-con,

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everything with the same respect.

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They're not particularly fragile

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but we've got to treat them with the utmost care.

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You have to have good depth perception.

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You have to judge height well.

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All right, don't trolley back any more, Jay.

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-Just come down like that, mate.

-OK, mate.

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Keep coming, Jay. Just hold it there, mate. Hold it there.

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Jay, just trolley back for us, please, mate. Trolley back.

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As the ground crew go about their work 160 foot below Jay...

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Just a couple of inches, Jay, just to get it right.

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..it's the ultimate exercise in brotherly trust.

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Getting into position now to turn it.

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One false move

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and nearly 40 tonnes of heavy metal could come crashing down.

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Steve obviously knows his role really well.

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Just square it up, lads, and I'll land it.

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Just come this way, Rich.

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Most of the pressures

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and the difficulties that they would face.

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And, in turn, Jay is a skilled operator.

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So, yeah, and them being brothers,

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I suppose there's that relationship and that trust.

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All right, just, just...

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Just, come down about a foot, mate.

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Perfect.

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No, he's got a steady hand. Yeah, he's good.

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No-one wants to make a mistake.

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Right, hold it there, Jay. Just hold it there.

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Let's get the rubber down, lads.

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You just trust each other.

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Yeah. Bit of slack, mate.

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Beautiful.

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That's landed now.

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Cheers, mate.

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As well as trust,

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the brothers share the experience of operating the cranes.

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I've spent some time up the crane.

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So, on how good he is, I would say he's definitely better than me.

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Whether Steve would say he's better than him,

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I don't know - you'd have to ask Steve that.

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To be honest, I think, out of the three of us,

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we're all pretty good up the crane.

0:20:530:20:56

I think Jay's probably the best out of the three of us.

0:20:560:20:58

With all four 40-tonne loads

0:21:150:21:16

safely disembarked from the giant freighter,

0:21:160:21:20

the Marco Polo is ready for its next assignment.

0:21:200:21:23

You OK, Jay?

0:21:230:21:25

-Yeah.

-Come on down, mate.

0:21:250:21:27

Keeping the flow of freight coming in to the Squibb brothers

0:21:380:21:42

and other crews at the container terminal

0:21:420:21:44

is the job of Southampton Harbour Patrol.

0:21:440:21:47

Paul Black escorts these freighters

0:21:470:21:49

through the dense harbour traffic of fishing and leisure craft.

0:21:490:21:53

His job is to prevent accidents and collisions.

0:21:530:21:57

We're at Dock Head now,

0:21:570:21:59

where the River Test and River Itchen join.

0:21:590:22:02

We have a six-knot speed limit

0:22:020:22:03

in the whole of the docks area

0:22:030:22:06

because often you've got divers working on ships

0:22:060:22:08

and you can never be sure whether they are or not.

0:22:080:22:10

The flags are not that prominent.

0:22:100:22:12

You've got mooring areas.

0:22:120:22:14

You've got people getting into dinghies.

0:22:140:22:16

You've got people walking about in small boats.

0:22:160:22:18

So generally, we try and keep the wash down.

0:22:180:22:21

We've got a guy coming down the river here - it's not excessive,

0:22:210:22:24

but it's just a bit too fast.

0:22:240:22:27

So I'm going to have a quiet word with him

0:22:270:22:30

and just advise him of the speed limit.

0:22:300:22:32

SIREN SOUNDS

0:22:320:22:34

Hello, skipper!

0:22:340:22:35

Just to advise you, we've got a six-knot speed limit in the port.

0:22:370:22:40

No problem at all.

0:22:420:22:43

I think they took it quite well.

0:22:430:22:45

He made a point of saying he was aware of the rules

0:22:450:22:48

but saw the fast catamarans going in excess of that.

0:22:480:22:52

They have a dispensation.

0:22:530:22:54

They call up every time as they approach the docks.

0:22:540:22:57

And they're given permission, if it's safe to do so.

0:22:570:22:59

We obviously can't do that for every single small boat.

0:22:590:23:02

To police his 30 square miles of water,

0:23:020:23:05

Paul has various tools at his disposal.

0:23:050:23:08

We've got blue flashing lights.

0:23:080:23:10

We've got two tones.

0:23:100:23:12

We've got a tannoy system.

0:23:120:23:14

And, as a last resort, go right alongside the yacht

0:23:140:23:18

and actually blocking the path.

0:23:180:23:20

The yacht on my starboard bow, sir, are you happy to go astern of him?

0:23:210:23:24

You've got commercial shipping, yachting,

0:23:270:23:29

a unique tidal regime, sandbanks.

0:23:290:23:32

You know, what is there to go wrong(?)

0:23:320:23:35

Paul's first job of the day

0:23:380:23:40

is to guide a massive oil tanker safely into port.

0:23:400:23:44

We have a precautionary area.

0:23:460:23:49

It's an imaginary box, if you like,

0:23:490:23:52

about 1,000 metres ahead of each ship and 100 metres either side.

0:23:520:23:55

And the idea is that that box is definitely a no-go area.

0:23:550:23:59

There's a reason why Paul's job is so crucial.

0:24:010:24:03

In 2011, a yacht breached this exclusion zone

0:24:030:24:07

around a 120,000-tonne tanker

0:24:070:24:10

before Harbour Patrol had time to intervene.

0:24:100:24:14

Its crew narrowly escaped with minor injuries.

0:24:170:24:21

But the skipper was fined

0:24:210:24:22

and ordered to pay legal costs of over £100,000.

0:24:220:24:26

Five to starboard. OK. Thanks very much.

0:24:360:24:38

We've got a 260-metre crude oil carrier behind us,

0:24:380:24:44

the Navion Britannia.

0:24:440:24:47

You're talking, for this particular crude carrier,

0:24:470:24:50

100,000 tonnes upwards.

0:24:500:24:53

Big freighters like this take a long time to stop or change course.

0:24:530:24:58

So it is crucial the smaller traffic gives way.

0:24:580:25:00

If we can turn that one back or make sure he doesn't come

0:25:020:25:04

to the south, please.

0:25:040:25:05

-RADIO:

-We'll send them down...

0:25:050:25:07

Thank you.

0:25:070:25:08

You don't need a licence to go behind the wheel of a boat.

0:25:100:25:13

So Paul is always on the lookout for yachtsmen behaving badly.

0:25:130:25:18

The yacht that's motor sailing, I guess, fine on your starboard bow,

0:25:190:25:23

just keep an eye on that one, we might have to turn him back.

0:25:230:25:26

Yeah, we will do. I see him. Over.

0:25:260:25:29

The yacht continues on its path,

0:25:290:25:32

aiming straight between Harbour Patrol

0:25:320:25:34

and the 100,000-tonne tanker -

0:25:340:25:37

a major breach of navigational safety.

0:25:370:25:41

-What are they doing?

-He's still coming.

0:25:420:25:45

SIREN SOUNDS

0:25:450:25:48

The yacht is now in the prohibited zone.

0:25:480:25:51

Paul has to manoeuvre his boat 180 degrees to try and block their path.

0:25:520:25:58

Come on, skipper! Get a move on!

0:25:580:26:00

Get a move on that way!

0:26:020:26:04

That really is a no-no.

0:26:110:26:13

"I'm going that way," he said. "Are you really?"

0:26:210:26:24

Make sure he gets a piece of paper.

0:26:240:26:26

What was it? Sun Seeker, wasn't it?

0:26:260:26:28

We've taken his name.

0:26:280:26:30

I think we'll definitely need to have a word with him.

0:26:300:26:32

Quite why he felt he needed to get across in front of that ship,

0:26:320:26:36

so close to it, I really don't know.

0:26:360:26:39

After successfully guiding the tanker into port,

0:26:440:26:47

Paul is now on the hunt for the Sun Seeker's skipper.

0:26:470:26:51

He has on board what we call AIS,

0:26:550:26:58

automatic identification system,

0:26:580:27:01

so as long as he keeps that switched on,

0:27:010:27:03

we should be able to find out where he is

0:27:030:27:05

and then go and have a polite word.

0:27:050:27:08

-There he is.

-That is him.

0:27:200:27:22

We've got some information here.

0:27:220:27:24

Some bedtime reading for him.

0:27:240:27:26

-Hello, sir.

-You all right?

-Yeah.

0:27:300:27:32

I wasn't happy with your manoeuvre earlier on, sir.

0:27:320:27:35

I thought you were too close to the big ship.

0:27:350:27:38

The thing is, you leave no margin for error.

0:27:490:27:51

If you have a mechanical problem, there's nowhere you can go

0:27:510:27:54

and there's no way that ship's going to go.

0:27:540:27:56

There's the paperwork that relates to it. Have a little read.

0:27:560:27:59

I'm not upset. But have a safe one.

0:28:040:28:07

Well, I thought for a moment, he was going to be argumentative.

0:28:090:28:12

You know, if something goes wrong, you've got nowhere else to go

0:28:120:28:15

and the ship's certainly got nowhere else to go.

0:28:150:28:17

And his face, his whole attitude changed.

0:28:170:28:19

I don't think he'd thought of that side of it,

0:28:190:28:23

which is when he stuck his hand out and shook my hand.

0:28:230:28:26

-So, yeah, good result, really.

-Excellent.

0:28:260:28:29

Paul's busy shift is over

0:28:290:28:31

and the Port of Southampton has been kept accident-free for another day.

0:28:310:28:35

Southampton's harbour officers

0:28:390:28:41

aren't the only ones patrolling the Channel.

0:28:410:28:43

This is Dover Coastguard Information Centre.

0:28:430:28:45

The Royal Navy is also tasked with defending these waters -

0:28:500:28:55

and not just in times of war.

0:28:550:28:56

This is Protection Vessel Severn on channel 1-6. Over.

0:28:580:29:01

During peacetime,

0:29:010:29:03

they adopt crucial roles protecting the UK's interests.

0:29:030:29:07

And safeguarding the country's £500 million fishing industry

0:29:080:29:12

falls under their remit.

0:29:120:29:13

Overfishing has threatened sustainability,

0:29:150:29:17

so the government has introduced fishing limits and regulations

0:29:170:29:21

to conserve stocks.

0:29:210:29:22

To ensure fishing vessels stay within the law,

0:29:240:29:26

the navy patrols the fisheries up to 200 miles off the UK coast.

0:29:260:29:31

HMS Severn is part of this Royal Navy task force.

0:29:360:29:39

In position 5-0.

0:29:400:29:42

5-0.

0:29:420:29:43

0.03.

0:29:430:29:44

0.03.

0:29:440:29:46

HMS Severn is an offshore patrol vessel. She was built in 2003.

0:29:460:29:50

There are three of her in her class -

0:29:500:29:53

HMS Severn, Mersey and Tyne.

0:29:530:29:55

All are used for marine enforcement tasking around the UK.

0:29:550:29:57

Today, she is tasked with patrolling the Channel

0:29:590:30:01

off the coast of Falmouth,

0:30:010:30:02

with orders to board and search fishing vessels

0:30:020:30:06

suspected of flouting the strict regulations.

0:30:060:30:09

These cover everything from how much fish you can catch,

0:30:090:30:11

what type of fish you can catch,

0:30:110:30:13

to the equipment that you can use, areas in which you can fish in.

0:30:130:30:17

And our role is to board and inspect these vessels

0:30:170:30:20

and ensure they are compliant with all of the rules,

0:30:200:30:23

which will allow fish stocks

0:30:230:30:25

to remain sustainable for the foreseeable future

0:30:250:30:27

and will support the fishing industry in British fishery limits.

0:30:270:30:30

Every fishing vessel operating in UK waters

0:30:320:30:35

is required to carry a tracker,

0:30:350:30:37

which the navy can use to identify it.

0:30:370:30:40

One boat in particular has caught their attention.

0:30:430:30:47

Fishing vessel Imogen, fishing vessel Imogen.

0:30:500:30:53

This is Protection Vessel Severn calling on channel 1-6. Over.

0:30:530:30:56

All craft are required to be available for radio contact

0:30:570:31:01

at all times via a specific VHF channel.

0:31:010:31:05

You can see somebody in the wheelhouse.

0:31:070:31:09

When you're steady, try again. And then blast with the siren.

0:31:100:31:13

This is Protection Vessel Severn calling you on channel 1-6. Over.

0:31:140:31:18

Yes, please.

0:31:240:31:25

SHIP'S HORN BLARES

0:31:260:31:29

Keep an eye on his course. He's coming to port slightly.

0:31:450:31:47

So make sure we don't hit them.

0:31:470:31:49

Fishing vessel Imogen, call sign Foxtrot Yankee 470,

0:31:530:31:57

this is Protection Vessel Severn on your port beam at two cables.

0:31:570:32:01

Calling you on channel 1-6. Over.

0:32:010:32:02

RADIO: Yes, OK.

0:32:100:32:12

Fishing vessel Imogen, request channel 1-0.

0:32:140:32:17

-Yeah, you're on this one now.

-Good afternoon, sir.

0:32:180:32:21

Just some routine questions for you this afternoon, please.

0:32:210:32:24

Yes, OK, fire away.

0:32:240:32:26

Where was your last port of call and when, please?

0:32:260:32:30

Yeah, it was Zeebrugge.

0:32:300:32:31

Before deciding to mount a boarding mission,

0:32:310:32:34

the skipper is asked a set of questions.

0:32:340:32:37

Roger, skipper. That's all copied.

0:32:380:32:40

And how much fish have you on board at this time?

0:32:400:32:42

Not very much.

0:32:450:32:46

About 30 kilo of weight here.

0:32:470:32:49

This boat has not long set sail and has little catch

0:32:490:32:53

so, despite their initial suspicions,

0:32:530:32:55

the navy is happy with the skipper's answers and decides not to board.

0:32:550:33:00

Roger, skipper. All copied. Thanks for answering my questions.

0:33:000:33:04

I request that you answer the VHF

0:33:040:33:07

a little bit earlier next time, if possible.

0:33:070:33:09

In the meantime, we wish you good fishing.

0:33:090:33:11

Listening at channel 1-6.

0:33:110:33:13

Yeah, OK. Thanks a lot. Cheers.

0:33:130:33:15

HMS Severn can now continue its patrol.

0:33:210:33:25

We've got all these vessels in the vicinity here.

0:33:270:33:29

As part of their work,

0:33:290:33:31

the marine management team carry out routine on-the-spot inspections

0:33:310:33:35

of fishing vessels in the area.

0:33:350:33:36

We've got eight vessels in the vicinity, sir.

0:33:370:33:39

Manx Ranger looks like she's the most likely.

0:33:390:33:41

She's a scallop dredger, last boarded on 26th July by myself.

0:33:410:33:45

OK, where's the Manx Ranger?

0:33:450:33:46

The Manx Ranger is down here, sir. 12 miles away at the minute.

0:33:460:33:49

OK, so we'll proceed down there at best speed.

0:33:490:33:52

Close to a mile, hail, and then we'll board as soon as we can.

0:33:520:33:55

Aye-aye, sir.

0:33:550:33:56

Fishing vessel Manx Ranger, fishing vessel Manx Ranger,

0:33:560:33:59

this is Royal Navy Fishery Protection Vessel Severn.

0:33:590:34:02

Yes, Fishery Protection Vessel Severn, you're calling Manx Ranger.

0:34:020:34:06

Stand by on channel 10, please.

0:34:070:34:09

The team decide to board the vessel

0:34:090:34:11

to carry out routine checks on its catch.

0:34:110:34:13

The plan at the moment is, having called the vessel,

0:34:130:34:15

it is a viable target.

0:34:150:34:16

Therefore, my intention will be to board the vessel.

0:34:160:34:19

Boarding team at Bravo Charlie.

0:34:210:34:23

Sea surface temperature is 70 degrees.

0:34:230:34:25

Survival time in the suits, four hours, in excess of.

0:34:250:34:28

As per usual, team.

0:34:280:34:30

Coxswain, your decision as to when you're in the water

0:34:300:34:33

and whether you make the approach.

0:34:330:34:35

Boarding officer, your decision about getting on board.

0:34:350:34:38

Have a good look at the boarding ladder.

0:34:380:34:40

Anybody have any questions?

0:34:400:34:43

OK, boarding and boat ops authorised as briefed, 13.43.

0:34:430:34:46

The Manx Ranger catches scallops

0:34:540:34:56

that reside on the bottom of the Channel.

0:34:560:34:59

Consumption of this mollusc in the UK

0:34:590:35:01

totals over 650 tonnes a year,

0:35:010:35:04

with a retail value of £13 million.

0:35:040:35:07

My name is Dave. I'm the marine enforcement officer. This is Sam.

0:35:080:35:11

She's my assistant.

0:35:110:35:13

Have you got all your paperwork, documentation and stuff?

0:35:130:35:16

That's great. Cheers.

0:35:180:35:19

The penalties for flouting regulations can be severe.

0:35:190:35:22

In 2012, two vessels were ordered to pay £1.62 million

0:35:220:35:28

for illegal overfishing of ling and hake.

0:35:280:35:31

Commercial scallops smaller than 100 millimetres

0:35:310:35:35

should be thrown back into the sea to protect the mollusc's population.

0:35:350:35:39

The landing gear is also inspected to ensure it meets legal criteria.

0:35:420:35:46

Bravo Charlie, that's gear inspection complete.

0:35:470:35:50

Most fishermen support the inspections,

0:35:510:35:54

respecting the need to preserve the diversity of species

0:35:540:35:57

in the marine environment for future generations.

0:35:570:36:00

It's definitely a good thing.

0:36:020:36:04

As long as you keep within the law and all that, it's not a problem.

0:36:040:36:07

It's never been a problem for us, anyway.

0:36:070:36:09

We, you know, just keep within the law and that's it.

0:36:090:36:12

With the inspection complete,

0:36:130:36:15

David is happy to report back that everything is in order.

0:36:150:36:19

Boarding complete. We're nearly finished. Over.

0:36:200:36:24

-RADIO:

-Roger.

0:36:240:36:25

With hundreds of square miles still to patrol...

0:36:380:36:41

Fishing vessel Milly Jean, fishing vessel Milly Jean,

0:36:410:36:44

this is Protection Vessel Severn on channel 1-6. Over.

0:36:440:36:47

..HMS Severn continues its important mission

0:36:470:36:50

to protect the Channel's fisheries.

0:36:500:36:53

From its mouth at the North Atlantic Ocean,

0:37:000:37:02

the Channel gradually narrows from 112 miles to 21 miles.

0:37:020:37:06

And 53 ports and harbours feed it with 500 vessels a day.

0:37:080:37:12

SHIP'S HORN BLARES

0:37:140:37:15

In the 1970s,

0:37:150:37:17

catastrophic collisions in this overcrowded waterway led to

0:37:170:37:20

the world's first radar-controlled traffic separation system.

0:37:200:37:24

Joining the swarm of vessels this week

0:37:270:37:29

is a flotilla of imposing tall ships,

0:37:290:37:32

racing from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight.

0:37:320:37:35

Crewing the century-old Kapitan Borchardt

0:37:580:38:02

is a group of young novice sailors,

0:38:020:38:05

including 19-year-old Joseph Nickless,

0:38:050:38:08

who wants to leave the nine-to-five and spend more time at sea.

0:38:080:38:11

A couple of months ago,

0:38:130:38:14

I would never have dreamt I would've had the chance to do this.

0:38:140:38:17

You know, so... A lot of hard work. You've got to work as a team.

0:38:170:38:21

And it's good for your biceps!

0:38:210:38:23

Why not?

0:38:230:38:24

The crew's attempt to get to the Isle of Wight

0:38:260:38:29

within the two-day time limit is being hindered by the lack of wind.

0:38:290:38:32

The ship is losing its position in the race

0:38:340:38:36

to its competitors with bigger sails.

0:38:360:38:40

We've only been cruising at about two to three knots. So...

0:38:400:38:44

But I think the captain decided

0:38:440:38:46

to go out and try and catch the sea breeze coming from France

0:38:460:38:51

and then go back in and up through the Channel to the Isle of Wight.

0:38:510:38:56

I don't know how that's going to work,

0:38:570:38:59

because, obviously, I'm a novice, so I wouldn't know.

0:38:590:39:01

But, erm...the captain will know what he's doing.

0:39:010:39:04

So...I guess the crew all puts their faith in the captain and that's it.

0:39:040:39:09

As night falls, the captain's gamble pays off.

0:39:090:39:13

OK. OK.

0:39:140:39:15

And the sails start to catch the wind.

0:39:170:39:19

The next morning, the wind picks up further.

0:39:230:39:26

And to gain every bit of speed,

0:39:280:39:30

the trainees opened the outer jib sail on the front of the boat.

0:39:300:39:34

So...you've got an extra sail up so you're getting more sail area.

0:39:360:39:40

So, in effect, you're getting more speed out of the wind

0:39:400:39:42

and it's pushing you more cos it's catching the wind.

0:39:420:39:44

Changing sails on these old boats is quite an undertaking,

0:39:450:39:49

and perilous for the uninitiated -

0:39:490:39:52

especially in these conditions.

0:39:520:39:53

The worst thing is the risk of falling off

0:40:040:40:06

because, obviously, you're not in a catch or a schooner,

0:40:060:40:08

you're on netting.

0:40:080:40:10

And if you're not clicked on with the harness,

0:40:100:40:12

then there's a chance that you can fall into the sea.

0:40:120:40:14

So it is risky.

0:40:140:40:16

It's all right. Loosen.

0:40:270:40:28

Loosen.

0:40:290:40:31

More loose. More loose.

0:40:310:40:32

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

0:40:360:40:38

Is it usually that hard?

0:40:510:40:52

Mind your leg! Leg! Leg!

0:41:060:41:08

With the movement of this wind and with the pressures on those lines,

0:41:130:41:16

it's very dangerous what these guys have to do,

0:41:160:41:19

because if they weren't careful,

0:41:190:41:20

they can actually fetch one of them over the side.

0:41:200:41:23

So you truly need one hand for yourself and one for the ship.

0:41:230:41:26

With the crew battling to get the sails up,

0:41:280:41:30

the Kapitan Borchardt makes the most of the wind

0:41:300:41:33

and gains good speed on her last leg of the race.

0:41:330:41:36

But as the Isle of Wight and the finish line come into view,

0:41:410:41:45

the skipper has some bad news for his valiant team of trainees.

0:41:450:41:48

As you see, the Isle of Wight here, we are passing south of it.

0:41:500:41:54

Actually, now we are crossing the real finish line.

0:41:540:41:59

We have not crossed it on time.

0:41:590:42:02

But, in accordance with the racing rules,

0:42:020:42:05

for the ships who are not able to cross the line on time,

0:42:050:42:10

they finish at sea.

0:42:100:42:11

But it's not all bad news.

0:42:110:42:13

The lack of wind has affected the whole Tall Ships race

0:42:130:42:17

and the boats will still rank in the regatta.

0:42:170:42:20

I anticipate sixth position out of 45.

0:42:200:42:24

This is what we can make.

0:42:240:42:27

We will see.

0:42:270:42:29

For me, I feel the experience,

0:42:330:42:35

I enjoyed more than anything in the race,

0:42:350:42:38

actually being out on the sea.

0:42:380:42:40

I've gained insight into what I want to do.

0:42:400:42:43

I want to do a lot more sailing, be on the sea a lot more.

0:42:430:42:46

I'll try my hardest to get better at doing that.

0:42:460:42:49

I've never sailed up to the Isle of Wight before.

0:42:520:42:55

So it's all a new experience.

0:42:550:42:58

Yeah, I wish I could go back and start it all over again.

0:42:580:43:01

As the Kapitan Borchardt continues east,

0:43:010:43:04

it joins the ranks of the hundreds of other pleasure boats

0:43:040:43:07

getting away from it all on the Channel.

0:43:070:43:10

This is what we keep this old lady alive for -

0:43:110:43:14

to give people enjoyment.

0:43:140:43:16

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