0:00:02 > 0:00:03Around the coast of Britain,
0:00:03 > 0:00:07are cities where lives are shaped by the sea.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11- Whoa, whoa! Turbot, nice turbot. - Lovely job.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Each city is a gateway to the wider world and around each city,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20thousands of people working jobs that touch all of our lives.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Whether it's shipping cars...
0:00:21 > 0:00:25- Just short of £29 million worth here today.- ..or importing fruit...
0:00:25 > 0:00:28What I love about bananas, is they don't answer back.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Jobs that keep the nation afloat...
0:00:30 > 0:00:33This is the tricky bit. This is where the skill comes in.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36..where every day brings fresh challenges.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42These are cities that welcome the Navy, both serving sailors
0:00:42 > 0:00:43and new recruits.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46From clocking on in the morning...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48See me flying a kite, mate. I'm brilliant.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..to relaxing after work.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51It's all part of the warm up.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Around the shores and rivers of people's hometowns,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57water is a way of life.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04In the north-east of England, Newcastle and the River Tyne
0:01:04 > 0:01:07mix a modern port with timeless traditions.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Fire in zone nine.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11As the next generation learns the ropes,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14an older one battles for business.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17You're keeping the faith against impossible odds.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20And there's star spotting at the big race.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- Hello, darling, are you all right? - You're just like Sting.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24- Do you reckon?- Yeah.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45A dawn call for the Port of Tyne's pilot boat.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's heading out to sea to meet a very special visitor.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51It's the Marina.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55It's a cruise liner with all happy holiday-makers on board.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Probably seeing their first view of the entrance to the Tyne.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03The River Tyne is narrow and tricky to navigate.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08The Marina needs all the help she can get.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11And the pilots are here to guide her safely upstream.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16You never lose the thrill.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19It's like steering a big block of flats through the piers,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21so, it's always very interesting.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24He'll have to jump ship in the middle of the sea,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28but he's got boatman, Paul Ridley, to help.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30It would be a real risk if he did slip overboard or anything,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33so, we've got to make sure that never happens.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34All right?
0:02:39 > 0:02:43- OK, thank you. - Another one safely onboard.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50If any of the passengers are up,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53they'll be seeing all my favourite bits now.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57As you come in, you've got the Priory and then the old watch tower
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and then Collingwood Monument.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04I think it's quite a nice entrance for them when they first come in.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I've always had boats since I was a little kid, so, getting to
0:03:09 > 0:03:13ride around on a £1 million one and get paid for it, is not a bad thing.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19A ship full of well-heeled American visitors shows how
0:03:19 > 0:03:22things are changing round here.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25New industries are emerging while old ones are dying.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Can the River Tyne thrive, but still keep its links with the past?
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Near the mouth of the Tyne,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48another boat is on the river at crack of dawn.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51This little ferry potters between North Shields and South Shields.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56There's been a ferry service since 1377.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Chris McGuiness is skipper.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04I've worked here for 25 years of that time and Davey, on his break,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06the tired-est man on the ferry.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09He's been here about six years.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18There's Davey there, look. The tired-est man in the world.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Davey's now coming on to drive the vessel, steer the vessel,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23corner the vessel, whatever you want to call it.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- What do you call it, Davey, when you're driving the boat?- Driving it.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Driving the boat, that's what I do, as well.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33He's got shaving foam on his lugs, look. Tired man.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37This is our lovely Astrid, one of our favourite passengers down here.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41She always likes to give me a little kiss. Hello there. Lovely.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43We allow Astrid in the wheelhouse,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45because she's our favourite passenger.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Because I look after them with teas, coffees and cakes and biscuits
0:04:48 > 0:04:50and bacon sandwiches.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And she's a big Sunderland fan, aren't you?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Oh, I love Sunderland Football Club.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57If we go down, Astrid, will you start supporting Newcastle?
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Absolutely not. Never.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02As long as I draw breath, I will never support Newcastle.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04There aren't enough passengers.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08It's losing money, but the Shield Ferry is an institution,
0:05:08 > 0:05:09like Chris McGuiness.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11He's got more than a passing resemblance to the
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Geordie singer, Sting.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I've done daft little things like open supermarkets.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Would Sting really open a supermarket, you know?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I pronounce this supermarket open.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Don't stand so close to me.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29He doesn't half model himself on him, doesn't he?
0:05:29 > 0:05:33He hired this vessel and he was just like a regular guy, you know.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Just a nice normal guy.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Just before he left, he says, "You look just like my brother."
0:05:39 > 0:05:42And I go, "No, I look just like you. I've made a living out of it."
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Up river, the Marina has reached her berth.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Passenger numbers here are climbing and that's good news for the Tyne,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02as it battles to win business from other UK ports.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Good morning, everyone. Groups one, two and three ready for you there.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11The jacket. A little brisk this morning.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13These cruise passengers, combined with the Tyne's North Sea ferry
0:06:13 > 0:06:18traffic, bring around £55 million into the north-east every year.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Today, they're going to see Hadrian's Wall.
0:06:21 > 0:06:27The latest Roman remains. Then, take a look.
0:06:27 > 0:06:33Quite a lot going to see the Harry Potter...An-week Castle.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34'Alnwick.'
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Alnwick. That's the way you pronounce it. Alnwick.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39I remember, I'm only from Barcelona.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Last Hadrian Wall coach has gone. Number seven is gone, over.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48All right, that was easy. 8:35, everybody on the road.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50MUSIC PLAYS
0:07:02 > 0:07:04A little further towards Newcastle,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08one sign the traditional industries are having a hard time.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Offshore Group Newcastle, OGN, one of only four yards in Britain
0:07:15 > 0:07:18big enough to make oil rigs.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Plater, Stephen Goicoechea, is hard at work.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27I've been a plater since 1976, so my time at Swan Hunter shipyard.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31What's that? Nearly 40 years now.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34These are giant modules for a gas plant in Norway.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Five-storey structures, each the size of a small hotel.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Soon, they have to be loaded onto a barge and sailed off to sea.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46The race is on to finish them.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Putting the handrails on, just as a barrier,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52so no-one can step off or fall off.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Tyneside was a world centre of shipbuilding.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Huge ship hulls would have been lined up in OGN's sheds,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02but almost all the shipyards have closed.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04The most famous was Swan Hunter.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09This is Swan Hunter in Wallsend being demolished.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13The fabrication shed where the Mauritania was built.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16That was it up and running in India.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18It was an outrage at the time
0:08:18 > 0:08:22because when there's slumps in engineering,
0:08:22 > 0:08:27other countries use it to modernise, update machinery and train.
0:08:27 > 0:08:33Here, we just look for somewhere we can level and build houses on it.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37At OGN, Terry Telford's union office is part museum, part library.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41British Trade Unionism. Das Kapital by Karl Marx.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46And a thing that many shop stewards have had recourse to,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48over the years,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52the Bible itself. Sometimes it's all you've got.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It is an anxious time.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59OGN is Tyneside's last major fabrication yard
0:08:59 > 0:09:03and this could be its last contract.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05A lot of lads realise it's come to the end of the job.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07You lose friends, you know.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10You might never see some of the lads again, you know?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Tyneside shipyards may have disappeared,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22but the land they stood on is busy again.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26It's perfect to store cars.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Nissan runs the UK's largest plant in nearby Sunderland.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38And appearing on the horizon, the world's largest car transporter.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46They call this a mother ship.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03The Hoege Target is brand-new and has come from Japan.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It'll take Nissans from Port of Tyne around the world.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Loading 900 for Amsterdam, loading four cars for Maputo, Mozambique.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16It is, very much, a jigsaw puzzle and the poor captain from Norway
0:10:16 > 0:10:18was in overall control of the vessel.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20He must be very good at jigsaws.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Port of Tyne exports 600,000 cars a year.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The majority of them are for Nissan.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38We're loading Australian cars.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43It's quite easy for them because they drive right-hand drive
0:10:43 > 0:10:45all the time.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48They're supposed to be, anyway. These ones are going to Brisbane.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Leadsman, Lenny Palmer, is the man who makes sure every vehicle
0:10:52 > 0:10:55ends up where it's supposed to be.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58MUSIC PLAYS
0:11:10 > 0:11:15We store the cars ten centimetres, from side to side.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17The women drivers tend to be the best, actually,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21because they listen to what the lads are telling them and maybe
0:11:21 > 0:11:25you'll get your young boy racer who thinks he can do everything.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29To have some strange person come and reverse back at you
0:11:29 > 0:11:32with a car, yeah, it can be nerve-racking.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37The Target can carry 8,500 cars with deck space
0:11:37 > 0:11:40the size of ten football pitches.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Every car is precious cargo.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48Each one varies between 15 and 20, £22,000, something like that,
0:11:48 > 0:11:49so...
0:11:49 > 0:11:54we're putting 1,400 of £15-20,000 worth on, so,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57that's quite a lot.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01£29 million worth with the load we're doing today.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03A lot of money.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06If they trust me to handle £28 million worth of cars,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09it's got to be classed as a skilled job.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13With the Brisbane cars on board, Lenny is getting impatient.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17This is not showing a very good side of it, is it?
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Supposed to be like a mini production line.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Finding the right cars is the main problem.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Out here, they're like needles in a haystack.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Obviously, if there's about 10,000 cars in the compound
0:12:30 > 0:12:36and they're looking for 150, say, drags the shift out quite a bit.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Cars found, they're bound for Fremantle in Australia.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44That's how the operation is supposed to work.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47You see how I've got three or four leadsmen there?
0:12:47 > 0:12:51They're all going to put a car in all at the same time.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I suppose that's where your job satisfaction is,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55seeing it operating like that.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Knowing that the cars are going to the other side of the world
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and you've sent them there in one piece.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Put 1,400 cars on and not one car has been damaged. Happy man.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Newcastle city centre on the Quayside.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- Tommy, what time are we kicking off? - 11 o'clock.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Seven teams, all from different marine schools in shipping
0:13:29 > 0:13:34companies, are preparing to do battle in a charity rowing race.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38A bit of competitiveness and it's good. It's team bonding.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42That's what it's all about. That's what it's like on a ship.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44They'll race nine miles from the city centre
0:13:44 > 0:13:46to the mouth of the Tyne.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- Have you put it on, Peter?- Huh? - Have you put them all on?- Aye.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51Good lad, thank you.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Tommy Proctor's organised the event
0:13:55 > 0:13:59but he's more interested in winning it, for the third year in a row.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01It might be third time lucky for you,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- this year and then again - BLEEP- might not, either.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Tommy's coxing the team from South Shields Marine School,
0:14:09 > 0:14:10the naughty boys.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13They're all students at the school.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14Tommy really wants us to win.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Everyone is a bit nervous at the minute, but it should be good.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Everyone's in good spirits. Got all seven crews down here now.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Just waiting for the big kick-off.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26One team has got them worried. They're noisy local rivals.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27Going to win!
0:14:31 > 0:14:35South Tyneside College's General Engineering Department.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Big lumps, all of them. Really good rowers.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41About eight of them did it last year and apart from that, I think
0:14:41 > 0:14:43it'll just be between us and them.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Guys, we've got the draw we wanted.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52They're going to catch wuh, but as long as we can keep with them,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55especially in the second team, you guys can do it.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Just shout, "Go!"
0:14:59 > 0:15:04On your marks, get set, go!
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Together! One, two,...
0:15:06 > 0:15:11- Tommy is the only person you can hear on the water.- Come on!
0:15:11 > 0:15:14We've got a good start. Two, three...
0:15:14 > 0:15:18The Marine School pulls away, but by the first bend in the river,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21they've been reeled in by General Engineering.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Never mind them. Concentrate on us. One, two, three...
0:15:28 > 0:15:34One... Put your backs into it. One, two, three, four...
0:15:34 > 0:15:39We've got about two cables to go until the changeover. One, two...
0:15:39 > 0:15:40Tommy could have a problem.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43The crews change over in the middle of the river.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45For other teams, it's going like clockwork,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49but the speedboat carrying Tommy's new crew hasn't shown up.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53The crews are just going to have to row a little bit further
0:15:53 > 0:15:54and then we'll get a crew swap.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- Three, four... I don't want any of you- BLEEP- enjoying yourselves.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00- You've got another- BLEEP- leg to row.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05The tired crew is slipping further behind to fourth place out of seven.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Come on, boys, we're not beat yet.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11- Tanya, what's happening to the - BLEEP- changeover?
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Finally, the relief crew arrives.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Four, standby to take your oars in.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20One, two... Take your oars in.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22One off, one in!
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Two out, two in!
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Three out, three in!
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Four, come on! Come on, Andrew!
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Standby to row. Altogether. Row.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43One, two...
0:16:43 > 0:16:47We cannot win it, but we can get second. Come on!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51One, two, three.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Dig deep, boys. One, two, three...
0:17:03 > 0:17:06At South Shields, an expectant crowd watches on.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13- You can't hear Tommy, so, I guess, General Engineering.- Is it?- Yeah.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- Oh, no!- Tommy's going to be absolutely gutted.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27- Amazing.- Great.- Tired.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31General Engineering has won by more than half a mile.
0:17:31 > 0:17:37- Tommy's team is in a sprint for third.- Two, three, four...
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Come on, you're nearly there. You've got them. You've got them, come on.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42One, two, three...
0:17:42 > 0:17:47Can you smell the barbecue? Come on, come on.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51One, two, three... Come on, man.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54One, two, three... Come on!
0:17:54 > 0:17:59One, two, three, four...
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Yes, you've done it. Well done.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Well done. Magnificent.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- A third-place finish.- Tommy, come on.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Rubbing salt in the wounds,
0:18:12 > 0:18:17Tommy's having to present the winner's trophy to his rivals.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19It's taken them three year to do it.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28But, by God, when they did it, they did it in style.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33- This year's champions. - CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Of course you're disappointed.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47It's not the end of the world, it's not the end of the world.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49We'll be back next year, hopefully.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Ships need crews and there's a global shortage of officers.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14South Shields Marine School is the oldest in the world,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17training the seafarers of the future.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19The first half is all about calculations.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23The second part is operations.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Ryan Bird, from Derby, and Chris Falconer, from Suffolk,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28are in the last year of their course.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30They want to become deck officers
0:19:30 > 0:19:34and Chris is not your typical student.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Turned up wearing chino shorts, yacht club polo top,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41stuff like that and they were a bit like, right, he's a bit posh.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44When he first started at college, yeah, he got a lot of stick.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48He carried around a briefcase, instead of a normal schoolbag.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51I just thought, if you dressed in uniform, you might as well look
0:19:51 > 0:19:53official, professional, so that was it.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Briefcase, uniform, every single day.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59I got the nickname, Boris, rather quickly, after Boris Johnson.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04ALL: Oh!
0:20:04 > 0:20:09Ryan and Chris are training to work on the ship's bridge.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11They're being sponsored through college by shipping companies.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13They get a small wage now.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17If they qualify this summer, it'll become a big one.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20When I was at school, when we did careers,
0:20:20 > 0:20:22we did work experience, this wasn't even considered.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26It wasn't even mentioned. You do higher education for free.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29It's a massive thing, nowadays. Universities are charging a fortune.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Where else do you get paid to travel the world?
0:20:32 > 0:20:36You sit at school while you're doing your GCSEs, grafting away,
0:20:36 > 0:20:40not going to any parties and you think, actually, yeah,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44I'd love to go and do that.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- 130 degrees.- 130 degrees.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52To become deck officers, the boys are about to go through exams,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55but, first, a tough simulator assessment.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58130.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02An 18-year-old and a 20-year-old in charge of a huge cargo ship.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- Starboard, yep?.- Yeah.- Next one.- 130 again.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11They don't know it, but they're about to face a drama at sea.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13The exercise for the cadets is twofold.
0:21:13 > 0:21:18It's a navigation exercise and the second part is anti-collision work.
0:21:18 > 0:21:23- Going to cross my stern at 0.1 miles.- You've got a guy after port.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28- Yep, just coming on six miles.- Yep. - He's just come back on radar now.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29No problems.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33This is the people on our bridge at the moment,
0:21:33 > 0:21:38and you can see that in just a little under 12 minutes' time,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41they're going to be in a very close quarter situation.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43A boat that's not following the rules, is heading
0:21:43 > 0:21:44straight for their ship.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49We've really got to see how long before they take some kind of
0:21:49 > 0:21:51collision avoidance.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Zero now.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56If he doesn't alter soon, I'm going to have to alter to starboard.
0:21:56 > 0:21:586.1 minutes. Yes, we're going to have to take action.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Five short blasts.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03They've sounded warning blasts on the horn.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Less than six minutes now. If it hits five, were going to have to go.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- Take a full turn.- OK, full turn.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14And they're going to turn in a circle to let the other vessel pass.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21- Ferry looks clear. - Also looks clear out the window.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23The danger has passed.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26I'm happy to come back to the original course.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30But another emergency is looming.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35Give them a fire alarm in one of the fire zones.
0:22:35 > 0:22:36Oh, we have a fire.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- Fire?- Zone ten.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Bosun, we've got a reported fire alarm in zone ten.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Could you check and report back, please?- RADIO:- Zone ten.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I'll check it down for you.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Bosun better get back to us soon.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59The bosun has gone missing.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03The right thing to do is to assume he's injured and sound a full alarm.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07- Will the boys cotton on? - No call-back from the bosun?- No.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Give it two more minutes and I'll call him.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13OK, Sir, I've just heard shouting from the mesh room.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15There is an actual fire in zone ten
0:23:15 > 0:23:20and it is not the toaster which we sent the bosun to investigate.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21Full fire alarm, sir.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Everyone on board, everyone on board,
0:23:24 > 0:23:30a fire in zone nine and zone ten. Muster stations.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32It's, surprisingly, even quite senior people
0:23:32 > 0:23:34can fall at the first hurdle.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37So these guys have done very well.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Another big step closer to qualifying.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Fortunately, we've lost a crew member but that,
0:23:44 > 0:23:45unfortunately, happens.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50This is more realistic to what we do and so that's what reminds me, no,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54I need to finish my exams, knuckle down, I need to get back out there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It's Midsummer.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13The Mouth Of The Tyne Music Festival is on all weekend.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20At the North Shields Fishquay, the historic fishing port
0:24:20 > 0:24:22is one of the fringe venues.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26I'm going to have to brush...
0:24:26 > 0:24:29You better not be taking this, cos I'm looking like the
0:24:29 > 0:24:32mad woman of Borneo, but that's because I've been in
0:24:32 > 0:24:33since six o'clock.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38Pearl Saddington runs the Old Lowlight, a new visitor centre,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40celebrating the port and the River Tyne.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Terry, do you want to do the stocks? We've got some stocks.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49Stocks that you put your legs in and you throw sponges at people.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52It's the biggest day since we've opened
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and we only opened in Easter, right?
0:24:55 > 0:24:57We're concentrating on heritage skills,
0:24:57 > 0:25:01so, outside, there's all the skills associated with the Fishquay,
0:25:01 > 0:25:06historically, so blacksmiths and fishermen making nets
0:25:06 > 0:25:08and all the woodwork.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11The Old Lowlight is a charity with targets to meet,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13but Pearl is quite the entrepreneur.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16If we don't, as a team, generate income,
0:25:16 > 0:25:21then we can't pay bills and we can't pay wages and we can't survive.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25What we have to do today, Jean, we're getting as much money
0:25:25 > 0:25:28- as we can through the till, right? - Right.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33So, just push everything because I know you can.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37- I've got to get £1,000 through the tills today.- Right.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39If I don't get that £1,000 through the till,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42they're putting me in the stocks. You can have this, right?
0:25:42 > 0:25:45£10 and then you'll become a member for the year.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Does it look as though I'm being threatened, here?
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Every penny they make today, will help them
0:25:55 > 0:25:57preserve this area's history.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05The Old Lowlight was built in 1726.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08The light helped ships steer a safe path into the river.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11The building has been saved from dereliction
0:26:11 > 0:26:15as a reminder that the Tyne was always a bustling port.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16North Shields Fishquay.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's a fishing community and it was actually the Fishquay
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and fishing, that actually were the origins of the town, so, the river
0:26:23 > 0:26:28has had a massive, massive cultural influence in the north-east.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Park your bus and then come round. Right.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35A busload of tourists, just what they need.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37This is Maggie, another member of the crew
0:26:37 > 0:26:39and she'll be taking money off you.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42She's strong arming me something terrible.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46You know, Pearl definitely press gangs people around here.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Getting people to spend and part with their money. We are a charity.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Donations, donations, donations. - But that's part of her charm.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Tell her that, will you?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58- £2 each. Come on.- Right, go on, then.- Thank you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- You'll have a lovely time.- I'm sure. - I know you will.- Thanks very much.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04It's as easy as that.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07As with other parts of the river, here, keeping tradition alive
0:27:07 > 0:27:11means fighting for every penny.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15It's not like we've had £100 million from some quango to say,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18right, you know, let's regenerate the Fishquay.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23People are wanting to do it themselves, hence the Old Lowlight.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- But has the hard sell paid off? - How much have you made, Cheryl?
0:27:29 > 0:27:34- 336.- So, that's 336. Follow us, follow me.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute!
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Nearly, nearly.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51With the raffles and games, she's taken just over a grand.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54That's it, sorted. I'm not going in the stocks.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00# Off to the Lowlight and the quays we'll go. #
0:28:11 > 0:28:15From the old port to the new one on the south side of the river.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21The Tyne has one of the fastest-growing ports in the UK.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27It imports millions of tonnes of coal and wood pellet.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33And a third of all tea drunk in Britain, arrives here.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43A multi-million pound business needs engineers to keep things
0:28:43 > 0:28:45running smoothly.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Jordan Gibson is a new recruit.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50I've always been hands-on since a kid.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52To be honest, I was a bit of a devil child.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56I used to take all my toys apart and my mum used to go crazy about it.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57Just wanted to see how it worked.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59It's interesting seeing how things work
0:28:59 > 0:29:03and the principles behind why things work.
0:29:03 > 0:29:04It ended up with motorbikes.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07My mum didn't like that part, either.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11My dad bought us a motorcycle for my eighth birthday
0:29:11 > 0:29:14and from there, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17We're about to go up and check the brakes on the container crate,
0:29:17 > 0:29:18prior to the ship coming in.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21We're on the sixth flight of stairs, Steve.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24So, just before the ship comes in, we'll check that.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26We'll check the linings and we'll check the disc.
0:29:26 > 0:29:27We'll get a bit of rag.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Jordan is one of 18 apprentices at the port.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33They're picked from the best of their generation, so, we've
0:29:33 > 0:29:36never had a bad one, but I have a soft spot for Jordan, I think.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40To be honest, but don't tell him.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42I think I'm a bit more like his big brother.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44I'm far too young to be his father.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47But, we've got a system, whereby, I ask him what to do
0:29:47 > 0:29:50and he tells us where to go. And it's always worked well for wuh.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53My favourite toy to play with, actually, isn't in the port.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55It would be the Swing Bridge in Newcastle.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Jordan and the Port of Tyne's engineers look after
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Newcastle's quirkiest bridge.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10The Swing Bridge is 140 years old.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14William Armstrong actually built the superstructure
0:30:14 > 0:30:19and the hydraulic machinery and he paid for it, as well.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23The point was to get ships to Armstrong's munitions factory.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27The middle section rotated, so boats could pass either side.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30It works on the principle of generating and storing water
0:30:30 > 0:30:34under pressure and it uses the energy in that pressurised
0:30:34 > 0:30:38water to drive machinery, which then propels the bridge around.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41It's old and temperamental.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Something's not right there. You can hear it.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46It's got a knock on it normally when it's running right.
0:30:46 > 0:30:47It's an airlock, I think.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50We're just having some problems with the pump at the minute.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52We can't get the accumulator right,
0:30:52 > 0:30:56so, it's fault-finding now, seeing where the problem is.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59They can't build enough water pressure to drive the bridge.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01There's definitely water coming out of there now?
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Aye and it's white, so it's been...
0:31:06 > 0:31:09There you go.
0:31:11 > 0:31:12Problem solved.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18Every month, the engineers turn the bridge 180 degrees,
0:31:18 > 0:31:22to check it still works and today, it's Jordan's big moment.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25It's the first time he's swung it.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27He's built up a lot of knowledge over the years
0:31:27 > 0:31:30he's been an apprentice, so now we're at the stage where he's going
0:31:30 > 0:31:33- to do it with me standing back. - Have you got a radio?- Yes.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36- Give me a shout when it's all clear and we're ready to go.- Will do.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Make sure you follow the right sequence to get the bridge to turn.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42For starters, that's the hard part and after that,
0:31:42 > 0:31:43it's getting it parked.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47It's got no brakes, so, it's just how good of a driver you are.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Very few manage to park the bridge first time.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Getting it wrong would mean holding up busy city centre traffic.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57Turn the water pressure on.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02From there, we need to get the bolts out.
0:32:05 > 0:32:06This one, yeah?
0:32:08 > 0:32:11That is ramps down, which then...
0:32:13 > 0:32:15When that finishes...
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Clear the blocks.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22That's right.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Two ends of the bridge are now floating on nothing.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30- There's no edges, there's nothing for it. Left ten, Clyde.- Left turn.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Give it some welly.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40- And that's the bridge away. - Away we go.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04But can Jordan park it?
0:33:04 > 0:33:07If you get it first time, I won't speak to you again, mind.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10- You do understand that, don't you? - I do understand.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12The lads will take the mickey out of us.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15It's a challenge, that, isn't it? That's what that is, Steve.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22Why aye, bring it home nice and gentle. Slow down, Jordan.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25It's going to come to a stop.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Mega, mega, mega, quick one.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30That's it, that's it. And again.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Right, straight off, straight off, Jordan. Perfect.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41RADIO SOUNDS
0:33:41 > 0:33:46That's the bridge parked correctly. Surprisingly, we've done it.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52- I've just got to turn the water supply off.- Well done.
0:33:52 > 0:33:53And that is it.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57Hopefully, get these barriers up and get the traffic across.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00I know it's not an easy thing to do, but I'm quite proud how it went.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04You can only blame your teacher, can't you?
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Better parker than me, man.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20There's trouble at OGN.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24The slump in oil prices is good news at the pumps, not here.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Oil companies are scaling back big projects.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Less than a year ago, OGN's workforce was more than 2,000.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37Now, it's fewer than 400.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39The yard's plight has hit the headlines.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Unhappy reading for Stephen Goicoechea.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45I don't think it's telling ya anything that we don't know
0:34:45 > 0:34:46here, anyway, you know?
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Other than how much it costs to get it done in the Middle East,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52which we all know it's going to be cheaper.
0:34:53 > 0:34:59Well, it's nice to have a bit of action in the papers, isn't it?
0:34:59 > 0:35:03This is the last main place on the river, now, for us,
0:35:03 > 0:35:07and if this closes, everybody will be working away.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Well, I'm 57 in December.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17I've got my kids are grown-up and I live by myself. I'm a widower.
0:35:17 > 0:35:23I've got no ties. Going away wouldn't bother us but, you know...
0:35:24 > 0:35:29Just don't want to. I want to see my grand bairn grow up. You know?
0:35:29 > 0:35:32MUSIC PLAYS
0:35:54 > 0:35:57We're Newcastle United supporters in here, we've got
0:35:57 > 0:36:02very much experience in keeping the faith against impossible odds.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07We believe the company has a future, we just need a little bit of help.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16There's that many places going on the River Tyne, now.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20If Julius Caesar was to float back up in his galleon,
0:36:20 > 0:36:22he would recognise it as he left it.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Green banks with a few sheep grazing.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39When I first started here 25 year ago, and there were still
0:36:39 > 0:36:42shipyards over here, Smith's Dock, it was heaving, crammed.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44150 people, like, you know?
0:36:44 > 0:36:48Almost every crossing. It was a busy hive of activity, you know?
0:36:49 > 0:36:53The death of traditional industries has hit Shields Ferry
0:36:53 > 0:36:54passenger numbers.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57From her office on high, manager, Carol Timlin,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00is cracking the whip to try and get new customers.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04I can keep an eye on things, you know.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07I see a ferry looks like it's leaving a minute late,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09I'll be asking questions as to why that's happening.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13First woman on the ferry since 1377.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Erm, aye, she's OK, yeah.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19They say I spy on them with my binoculars all day
0:37:19 > 0:37:21and they're nearly right.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Carol's having to bring in extra money for the ferry.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Today, they've sold all the tickets for a river cruise featuring
0:37:28 > 0:37:29a local singer.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34- We've got Carol Lee this afternoon. How many have we got on?- About 110.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37I mean, I know it's a nice day, but if it's a sing-along,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- they like to be with her, don't they?- They do.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- Is there a bar?- Eh?- A bar.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47Aye, downstairs. You going to have a couple, are you? Why not.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Oh, I think you're getting your warnings there.
0:37:50 > 0:37:51I think you've had it.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56There's a story where he was on one of the river trips.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59They were short of a stripper,
0:37:59 > 0:38:05so the rest of the lads convinced him to get in his undies and do it.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06Aye.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10Luckily, for me, I had my black thong on with the gold studs.
0:38:10 > 0:38:11I mustn't have known, eh?
0:38:13 > 0:38:16I wore a pair of sunglasses, actually, black sunglasses,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19so they couldn't see the fear in my eyes, you know?
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Sweetest feeling.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- Hiya, love.- Nice to see you, Carol. How are you?- Really good.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26- Got quite a few on again. - Absolutely.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Honestly, all the time, applicants are just going up and up.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- Oh, that's lovely. - I'll catch up with you later.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Thank you, Carol, I'll catch up with you. Thank you.
0:38:34 > 0:38:40I've got my glamorous outfit that was kindly donated by a very
0:38:40 > 0:38:43lovely lady at the charity shop. I'm going to go now and get changed.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47You might see a big difference. OK? Thank you.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51La-la-la-la-la-la-la.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55I've come from a very, very posh area called Scotswood, Newcastle.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- CHEERING - Oh, yes.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07# Diamonds are forever
0:39:07 > 0:39:10# They are all I need to please me
0:39:12 > 0:39:16# They can stimulate and tease me
0:39:16 > 0:39:19# I won't sleep in the night
0:39:19 > 0:39:24# I've no fears that they might desert me
0:39:27 > 0:39:29# Diamonds are forever... #
0:39:29 > 0:39:31'I've always done it.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33'My mum discovered me when I was three years old.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35'She said, "Carol," she says,'
0:39:35 > 0:39:38"You are really good." I just worked my way up into different places.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41You know, look where I am on the ferry. I can't believe it.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43# I can see every part
0:39:43 > 0:39:48# Nothing lies in the heart to hurt me... #
0:39:50 > 0:39:53I was called to go for the X Factor, so I thought, I don't know,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56I'll give it a go, see what it's all about.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Cheryl looked at me and she said,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01"Carol, you sang that song very close to my heart."
0:40:01 > 0:40:04She says, "You've done me proud and you've done the north-east proud"
0:40:04 > 0:40:06I'll never forget her words. Amazing.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Bye, lasses! Bye.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12MUSIC: I Hear You Knocking by Dave Edmunds
0:40:15 > 0:40:16A successful trip.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Vital cash.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21But the biggest money-spinner is yet to come.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36At the port, they're gearing up for the world's biggest half marathon -
0:40:36 > 0:40:37The Great North Run.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42This warehouse, temporarily, is a gym.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45HE PANTS
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Right, so, you can start off full press ups.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52You can start off however you want actually to do them.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55But you've got to hit 50. 50's what your target is.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Paul Ridley, who works on Port of Tyne's pilot boat,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00has a big role on Great North Run Day.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05The port sponsored the race,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07and the team had a nice idea
0:41:07 > 0:41:11for a team from the port to raise some money for local charities.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14As the captain of the team, hopefully,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17the idea will be to inspire people to come to the training.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Any of them that haven't done it before, try and keep their spirits up
0:41:20 > 0:41:22and make sure they have a nice day and enjoy it.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25It's a really fun day, totally different to any other running that people will ever do.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27It's too hard!
0:41:29 > 0:41:31What's your pulse at now?
0:41:31 > 0:41:32Do you know what it is?
0:41:35 > 0:41:36About 200.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38It knocks you out.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41You're not... You're not used to a lot of this steady endurance.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45This is why this is so good for you because it's short and sharp,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48which is going to improve your speed, your strength in them races.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52The training I do, the shortest intervals I ever do are 400 metres.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54So, it's completely different to this.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58But...it certainly feels like it's done something good!
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Five weeks and counting.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12- Have you got heavy-lift? - Heavy-lift? Easy.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15It's exam time at South Shields Marine School.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19Cadets Chris Falconer and Ryan Bird have nearly finished theirs.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22But the most important exam of all,
0:42:22 > 0:42:23a face-to-face grilling,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25is yet to come.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Chris, have you got any more washing up in your room?
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Last week, me and Chris went down and booked our orals.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34So, someone's just sort of took three steps out the ladder
0:42:34 > 0:42:36and now it's time to knuckle down.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39What you need to do is you need to be confident with your answers.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Know exactly what you're going to do, what you're going to say, and how you're going to do it.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44And then just go ahead with it.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46And it's one guy that says, "Yes, you can go to sea."
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Or, "No, you can't."
0:42:49 > 0:42:51It's make or break, at the end of the day.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56The oral exam strikes fear into the heart of anyone who trains
0:42:56 > 0:42:58to navigate ships.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02Answering questions from a Maritime And Coastguard Agency examiner
0:43:02 > 0:43:05is like the worst driving test you can ever imagine.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09The exam is so secret only the candidates are allowed in.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13How did you get on?
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Well, I've passed!
0:43:15 > 0:43:19I have this signature here saying that I've passed.
0:43:19 > 0:43:20Oh, my God.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Next, Chris' turn.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36I was hoping today to be able to walk out.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39Pass, celebrate, that would be me completed everything,
0:43:39 > 0:43:40qualified officer.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42But that's not the case.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44He stumbled on one section.
0:43:44 > 0:43:46He has to go through it all again tomorrow.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49It is, yeah, just, you only have a resit.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52So, it's competently on the edge.
0:43:52 > 0:43:53Very nerve-racking.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00One last chance to revise and get it right.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23It's been a stressful 24 hours.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27For Chris and his girlfriend, Sarah.
0:44:30 > 0:44:31He didn't sleep at all.
0:44:31 > 0:44:33He just kept tossing and turning.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35He's panicking, I think.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37Which is the worst thing you can do.
0:44:45 > 0:44:46How did it go?
0:44:50 > 0:44:52- Yeah.- You've passed?- Yeah.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Oh!
0:44:56 > 0:44:58Well done, baby.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07It was a good exam.
0:45:07 > 0:45:09Well, it is now. Now I've passed.
0:45:09 > 0:45:13That's it. Last thing done, send this off, get my certificate,
0:45:13 > 0:45:15go to sea as an officer.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18Before he does, the little matter of graduation day.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22- Hello, how are we?- Hi! - You look lovely.- Thank you.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24How are you doing? Oh, look at this.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26We all brush up very well.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28Hello, darling. How are you?
0:45:33 > 0:45:35He's always dressed very smartly.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38From the age of three, if he had an official photograph,
0:45:38 > 0:45:40he insists on having a tie.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42So, from that to him in his gown.
0:45:42 > 0:45:43Very proud mum.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Three...two...one...go!
0:45:58 > 0:46:00THEY CHEER
0:46:11 > 0:46:16Offshore Group Newcastle, OGN, is threatened with closure.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20There's been manufacturing at this yard for more than 100 years.
0:46:20 > 0:46:22But the last big order is finished.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Now, the gas modules need to be delivered.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28The problem?
0:46:28 > 0:46:31How can you get these giant structures onto a boat?
0:46:31 > 0:46:33The process is called the loadout.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36I think it's the most exciting part of the job.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38I certainly don't get nervous.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40OK, take it up to 90 bar all round.
0:46:40 > 0:46:4290 bar all round.
0:46:42 > 0:46:43The module must first be weighed.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46General Foreman Peter Duffy is in charge.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Vitus is the loadout coordinator,
0:46:48 > 0:46:51and he's going to be stood at the back here with his laptop,
0:46:51 > 0:46:55and he will coordinate the weighing of the module.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58To weigh the module, traders lift the giant structure.
0:46:58 > 0:47:03Then lower its feet onto six load cells. They're like scales.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06Hold on. No, no. Not yet. Leave that there, please.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09Are we OK to put that load cell now on?
0:47:09 > 0:47:11Yeah, if it fits.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14617.3.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18617 tonnes.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21Now they just need to move it.
0:47:25 > 0:47:27It's done with a joystick.
0:47:27 > 0:47:32Like using a video game controller to move a tower block.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39That's the easy bit.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42Tomorrow, they'll have to load it onto a barge.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17Just a few safety points that we have to follow.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21Anybody that's going under the barge has to have their T card, yeah?
0:48:21 > 0:48:25If you're not involved in the specific point of the operation,
0:48:25 > 0:48:27do not get in there.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40The barge needs to be level with the quayside
0:48:40 > 0:48:42before the module can be driven onto it.
0:48:42 > 0:48:46The team must now wait for the barge to rise with the incoming tide.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51I need this tide to hurry up.
0:48:51 > 0:48:52Five minutes.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54And I've got your guarantee on that?
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Once the weight of the module goes onto the barge,
0:49:07 > 0:49:09it'll want to tilt, like this.
0:49:09 > 0:49:14So, at the other end of the barge we'll draw water from the river,
0:49:14 > 0:49:17via the pumps, then we tuck it into the ballast tanks,
0:49:17 > 0:49:19and that'll even the barge out.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Yes, that'll do for Alfa Bravo. Just lift Charlie Delta a touch.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34One false move, one miscalculation...
0:49:34 > 0:49:37Go two degrees to your left, Piers. Two degrees.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41..and a year's work could end up in the river Tyne.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46We're going to travel up the barge, which is
0:49:46 > 0:49:47slow going a lot of the time.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49The module's safely aboard.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52Now it needs to be welded into place
0:49:52 > 0:49:54for the long sea journey to Norway.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57Lining it up takes great precision.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00You've got to be, as a rule, within a few millimetres.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02So, just takes a good eye
0:50:02 > 0:50:04and get in the right place, hopefully, every time.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Just a culmination of 12 months' work, or 18 months' work.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19We're proud of what we've achieved in the last 12-14 months here.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21It's normally a time for celebration.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24But, today, there's sadness.
0:50:24 > 0:50:29For everyone on the project, including plater Stephen Goicoechea.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31A bit of a downer because of the way the work is, you know?
0:50:31 > 0:50:35There's nothing else to follow after this. So...
0:50:35 > 0:50:38people are looking at it as losing jobs now.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40That's where the situation is at the minute.
0:50:40 > 0:50:4418 months on this project now and when it goes...
0:50:44 > 0:50:47we're virtually going down to zero, you know?
0:51:28 > 0:51:30It's Sunday.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33But, at the Shields Ferry, everyone's at work.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35I don't know what the heck's going on at all.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37I really don't know what's going on!
0:51:37 > 0:51:40- Just tell us what to do. - That's what I'm telling you.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43Put two of them here. Tie them to the fence ...
0:51:43 > 0:51:46- ..for the Great North Run. - Massive, massive for us.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49Ten. We'll get about 10,000 passengers on the ferry today.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53It's a huge day for us. Busiest day of the year.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56A few butterflies. Nervousness, but not stressed.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03It's the world's biggest half marathon, starting in Newcastle,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06and ending here, in South Shields.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10So, these are the people, obviously, the people who are
0:52:10 > 0:52:12going to watch the runners come in at the finish line.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15There'll be 50,000 runners, and their families,
0:52:15 > 0:52:17needing to get home afterwards.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19Many choose the ferry.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23Normally, the problem for ferry manager Carol Timlin
0:52:23 > 0:52:25is too few passengers.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27- There's too many, though, isn't there?- No, not at all.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30The more, the merrier.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33The Great North Run brings much needed revenue.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36But someone's trying to pinch Carol's customers.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Hiya. I'm the ferry manager.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41What we've heard, the guy's going to be picking up here.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43He's been advertising on his Facebook...
0:52:43 > 0:52:47He's trying to use his fishing boat as an illegal ferry
0:52:47 > 0:52:49from this jetty nearby.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52Could they not just put a padlock between there and there?
0:52:52 > 0:52:55What we'll do is, when he actually comes,
0:52:55 > 0:52:57we'll give you a call, and come back down.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00I think that's going to be the easiest way.
0:53:00 > 0:53:02Problem solved.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05Now, the calm before the storm.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14Over in Newcastle, the runners are gathering for the start of the race,
0:53:14 > 0:53:17including the Port of Tyne team,
0:53:17 > 0:53:20captained by Paul Ridley, who works on the pilot boat.
0:53:20 > 0:53:25- At least a pint of Highland port last night.- Did you?- Yeah.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28- It was my wedding party.- Oh, no!
0:53:28 > 0:53:30I woke up at 6am, I thought I'd already done the race.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33I was going to check my time on the internet.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37Good luck, everybody. Good luck, everybody.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Everybody in, group hug.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43- We can do it!- Do well, everybody. Training's all done.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45Today's the easy bit. See you all at the end.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54THEY LAUGH
0:53:54 > 0:53:55Go in.
0:53:55 > 0:53:58- In there.- Where?- In there.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00Up.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02We're getting on, you know.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05- Up a bit?- Aye.- There you are.
0:54:23 > 0:54:27You can tell how long it's going to be before it gets busy.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30By the time the public get to the end of the finish line,
0:54:30 > 0:54:33it's only about 20 minutes, half an hour later after Mo Farah,
0:54:33 > 0:54:35that's what I think. How long do you think it is?
0:54:36 > 0:54:38Before the rest of the public
0:54:38 > 0:54:42gets to the finishing line after Mo Farah crosses, if he crosses?
0:54:42 > 0:54:44Quarter of an hour?
0:54:53 > 0:54:55The runners are well on their way to South Shields
0:54:55 > 0:54:59and their families are on their way to meet them at the finish.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Mo Farah wins.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11But there's another race on -
0:55:11 > 0:55:15one man's personal challenge to be the first runner back on the ferry.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19It's a tradition now that he makes a race back for the ferry,
0:55:19 > 0:55:20so he's always first back.
0:55:20 > 0:55:24Hey! You did it again, huh?
0:55:25 > 0:55:27- How are you doing?- Good.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32I always come to see my old pal, I only see him once a year
0:55:32 > 0:55:34and that's when I finish the Great North Run.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36Third or fourth time, I think it is.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Excellent, well done.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42Thousands have now crossed the finish line.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49Hiya, Paul, how was it?
0:55:49 > 0:55:51Hard, very hot.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54Hey, it's over now.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56- Well done.- Well done, you all right?
0:55:56 > 0:55:59Well done. What time did you get?
0:55:59 > 0:56:01- 1:43.- Well done. Yourself?
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- 2:20.- 2:20?
0:56:03 > 0:56:06WATCH BEEPS
0:56:06 > 0:56:08- 2:32.- How much?- 2:32.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14More than three hours since the race started
0:56:14 > 0:56:16and the ferry queue is building.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19The two boats are flat out going back and forth.
0:56:19 > 0:56:20You close the gate behind them
0:56:20 > 0:56:23and I'll let the 2:50 in, then get them the other side of the gate.
0:56:23 > 0:56:26It's a bit like herding sheep, we're putting them all in pens and
0:56:26 > 0:56:28then sending one pen down at a time
0:56:28 > 0:56:30for the right numbers to get on the boat.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33The queue is stretching hundreds of metres
0:56:33 > 0:56:35and is about to get even longer.
0:56:35 > 0:56:40Word is there is a big delay on the Metro train system.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43- There is a power outage between the lines...- Really?
0:56:43 > 0:56:45..down to South Shields,
0:56:45 > 0:56:48they say they have seven trains waiting but they can't get past,
0:56:48 > 0:56:53so you have about 10,000 people in the queue looking annoyed.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56That'd be a nightmare, that.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58There's no Metros because one's broken down,
0:56:58 > 0:57:00which I can understand, something breaks down, but there is no
0:57:00 > 0:57:04information being given out, queues stretching now down South Shields.
0:57:04 > 0:57:08Passengers who'd normally get the train home are coming here instead.
0:57:08 > 0:57:09Could you just wait here, please?
0:57:09 > 0:57:12So if you're standing there, you've got to stop them,
0:57:12 > 0:57:13physically stop them.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16The runners are having to wait for up to two hours,
0:57:16 > 0:57:19so the staff turn on the charm.
0:57:19 > 0:57:20Hello, darling, you all right?
0:57:20 > 0:57:23That's not neat enough, come on, sort yourselves out, yous lot.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26It's not as though you've been doing anything all day.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28Oh, have you got a medal?
0:57:28 > 0:57:30Daddy got it, did he?
0:57:30 > 0:57:32Did you clap really hard when he came over the line?
0:57:32 > 0:57:33Yeah? Did you cheer?
0:57:33 > 0:57:35You look just like Sting.
0:57:35 > 0:57:37- You reckon?- Yeah.- Get away!
0:57:37 > 0:57:39I was thinking more like Bobby Davro!
0:57:39 > 0:57:40THEY LAUGH
0:57:42 > 0:57:45It has been a 12-hour shift, but worth it.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47HE YAWNS
0:57:48 > 0:57:51There's been a record number of passengers.
0:57:54 > 0:57:57But one tired runner won't have to wait.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Special treat, I'm getting a lift in the pilot boat across.
0:58:01 > 0:58:02Perks of the job.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10Makes you feel a bit like James Bond, doesn't it, getting on that?
0:58:10 > 0:58:12It's great.