0:00:07 > 0:00:10On the south coast of Britain lies a city within a city
0:00:10 > 0:00:12that's fighting to keep the nation afloat.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16The port of Southampton is a gateway to the world.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It's the cruise capital of the UK.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20Hi. Welcome on board.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Seafarers from across the globe pass through here every day.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31In tough economic times, the port is battling for its share of handling cargo.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34This is how we make our money. This is how the shipping line makes their money.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Ready for the Christmas market. Batteries not included.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39We are looking for Rolls-Royces
0:00:39 > 0:00:42which are hidden amongst potentially 100 Bentleys.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Commercial ships and weekend sailors
0:00:45 > 0:00:48wrestle for space in crowded sea lanes.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Turn round! Go that way!
0:00:51 > 0:00:53It's not rocket science! The big ship is turning!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Passengers, ships and cargo.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01Shaping the lives of the people that run one of the busiest ports in the world.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05This is Sea City.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12In this episode...
0:01:12 > 0:01:15All I can do is apologise. We've had quite a challenge here today.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Seven cruise ships and a princess.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Can Dolly and Alan juggle passengers, royalty and a cake?
0:01:22 > 0:01:23Try not to drop it!
0:01:23 > 0:01:25How a maritime man of the cloth
0:01:25 > 0:01:28keeps homesick seafarers in good spirits.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Every day I walk up that gangway and never know what's going to happen.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34And motoring advice from an expert car handler.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35For me, it's how pretty they look.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The engine doesn't really concern me!
0:01:45 > 0:01:50It's 5.00am, and it's an historic day for the port.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Aurora BTS one cable on the reference line.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56One cable on the reference line. Thank you.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59And it's a historic day for cruise company P&O,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03who are celebrating 175 years of operations.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08All seven ships of the line are in port for a royal review.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12'Think of me as a waterborne parking attendant. That's the nature of the job.'
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Berthing officer Pete McKee
0:02:15 > 0:02:17is one of the first to see the seven ships arrive.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'What I need to do is actually stand at the most critical point.'
0:02:20 > 0:02:23That's 25 metres to go ahead now.
0:02:23 > 0:02:2425 in. OK.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26'I basically do a countdown for the pilot
0:02:26 > 0:02:29'and then hopefully, they'll park the ship where I tell them.'
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- 15 metres ahead now. 1-5.- 15. OK.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'Southampton is the home port for most of these ships.'
0:02:35 > 0:02:38You just never see the whole fleet in on one day like this.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42I guess when you see so many ships each day,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45the romantic side kind of gets lost on you a little bit.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48But it's nice seeing people go off on their cruises
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and come back if they've enjoyed themselves.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52That side of it's quite nice.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54One metre ahead. One metre.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56In position.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00'In position at the gate now.'
0:03:02 > 0:03:06With seven ships, there are over 15,000 passengers to disembark
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and another 15,000 to get on.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11There's a risk the port could seize up
0:03:11 > 0:03:14so there's a plan for some of them to check in across town.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19A temporary passenger terminal for two of the ships
0:03:19 > 0:03:21has been set up on the edge of Southampton,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We're used to doing this in a marquee on the quayside in Cape Town.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29It's not...
0:03:29 > 0:03:33We've got a slightly better environment here!
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Dolly Galliford is one of the masterminds
0:03:36 > 0:03:37behind P&O's big day.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41OK. All you can do is assure them that the taxis are arriving
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and they're on their way.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44'It's been two years in the planning'
0:03:44 > 0:03:49since we planned the itineraries to coincide with the 3rd of July.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52If you think all those ships and all the places they go in the world,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54to plan that had to start two years ago.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57So we're talking about an enormous amount of co-ordination
0:03:57 > 0:04:00to do with this operation here at the Ageas Bowl,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02all the people who work down here at the port,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05the police, all the officers on board the ships.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07To the right there.
0:04:09 > 0:04:15Dolly's preparing for a juggling act with transport, passengers and luggage.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Whoopsie!
0:04:18 > 0:04:23We've had about 7,000 pieces this morning that need to be picked up between the two ships.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29There's a chap with a saxophone, as you normally do at the Ageas Bowl!
0:04:32 > 0:04:36Back at the port, the seven ships are already attracting an audience.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39The crew are getting ready for new passengers
0:04:39 > 0:04:41with the royal freight review later in the day.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45The pressure's on to have everything in place on time.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47- No defects? All lights are working? - Yes, sir.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52Can you just check that all the special diets are available at the back
0:04:52 > 0:04:54for the guys that are looking after the special diets
0:04:54 > 0:04:59and show the photographs of the VIPs that are having those.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Let me know when it's done. Thank you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03On board the cruise ship Oriana,
0:05:03 > 0:05:09restaurant manager Alan Carr is looking after preparations for a special anniversary reception.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The Princess Royal is coming for tea and cake.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14No detail is too small.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16We'll have a bottle of water available.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18One chilled and one room temperature.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22The speciality about the china is it's on loan to us.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26It's Royal Albert. All Royal Albert.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27So we've got it just for the day.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30And then it's all going back.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34There's going to be a plaque behind here. Of course I can't unfold that.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36That's Her Royal Highness's job, not mine!
0:05:36 > 0:05:39So she'll be doing unveiling of the plaque there,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43she'll be cutting the celebration cake that's being brought in at 12 o'clock.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45They've spelt "grand" wrong!
0:05:48 > 0:05:49One, two.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Wonderful. Everything's working... to plan!
0:05:54 > 0:05:56But later in the day,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00not everything goes as smoothly as Alan would have liked.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18More than half a million new vehicles
0:06:18 > 0:06:20ranging from cars to diggers
0:06:20 > 0:06:23are handled by the Port of Southampton every year.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Every one of them has to be driven on or off the ship.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32I've driven Land Rovers, Range Rovers,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Minis...
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Georgie Cunningham has been working at the docks for over six years.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And there's nothing she can't shift.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43BMW X Series. All of them.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Rolls-Royces. McLarens.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Whoops! Sorry.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Aston Martins.
0:06:50 > 0:06:51Bentleys.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Jaguars.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57A ship like this one can carry as many as 7,000 vehicles
0:06:57 > 0:06:59of all types.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00Like parking a car.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I can park these better than I can probably park cars, though!
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Ships in dock don't make money,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13so every second counts when it comes to loading them up.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16For me, it's how pretty they look,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19under the engine doesn't really concern me!
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Today, Georgie's task is to unload a batch of 50-grand BMWs.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27There's always a chance of accidents.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30It depends how alert you are
0:07:30 > 0:07:34and making sure you keep to the standards you've been told in the briefs.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Make sure you keep your distances.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39It's much better than driving my Peugeot!
0:07:39 > 0:07:42But I do like big cars. The bigger, the better.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I don't see it as a privilege any more. I see it as part of my job.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51But speaking to other people that don't work in these surroundings,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55and they say, "What do you do?" I say, "I drive cars on and off the vessels."
0:07:55 > 0:07:59"Really? Do you drive all those cars?" "Yeah." They say, "I'd love to do that."
0:08:00 > 0:08:02With the BMWs safely off the ship,
0:08:02 > 0:08:07Georgie's next job is to pick up vehicles from the port's most exclusive car park
0:08:07 > 0:08:09and load them on the ship dent-free.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12We're on the most expensive level
0:08:12 > 0:08:15of any multi-deck that we've got.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Because we are looking for Rolls-Royces
0:08:18 > 0:08:25which are hidden amongst potentially 100, if not more, Bentleys.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29In the history of us shipping out Rolls-Royces,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31there's ever only been one known damage.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36And that was down to the deck heights being given wrong.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40So when we went to load it on a deck, it should have fitted.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45But when the Rolls-Royce went on, it kind of almost made it a convertible!
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Which I think is what gave Rolls-Royce the idea to make the Cabriolet!
0:08:51 > 0:08:52But I can't be sure!
0:08:57 > 0:08:59You can't even hear it!
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Can you?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05No, nothing like my Peugeot!
0:09:05 > 0:09:07No. Much nicer.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11When I first started here,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13there wasn't many 22-year-olds
0:09:13 > 0:09:18that could say they've gone to work and driven a Rolls-Royce today.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24But now I've told the story so many times, people are bored with it
0:09:24 > 0:09:26so I tend not to talk about it very much any more.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45At P&O's temporary cruise terminal at the cricket ground,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48passengers are trying to find their luggage and head home.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Are you B101?
0:09:50 > 0:09:52I'm not going to North Wales. We're going to Chester.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Dolly Galliford has helped plan P&O's grand event.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59She's on the front line of customer relations and complaints.
0:09:59 > 0:10:05'It's an absolute shambles. We've now got to go back into Southampton to pick our car up.'
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Right. I will feed that back to head office, you know...
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- Yes, if you will, please.- I will do.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12There's no...
0:10:12 > 0:10:16There's no rhyme nor reason to the luggage...
0:10:16 > 0:10:21It's laid out in decks, as they would be normally in the port.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23The rain, of course, really doesn't help us today.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Ooh, look, a bit of sunshine as I said that.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Thank you. I hope you have a safe journey home.- Thank you.- OK. Bye.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32They're checking down here somewhere.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37If you go down... Through the concourse here. I'll show you where to go.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- Why did your people tell us to come back again?- I'm sorry.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43'Passengers want to know where they need to be.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45'We've had to consider all kinds of onward transport.'
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Coaches, taxi, private cars.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51As long as you can focus in what that passenger specifically needs,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54then that's all you can do, really.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Make sure you focus on them.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59That's all anybody wants to know. Where they're supposed to be and how to get there.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Across town at the Oriana, they're getting ready for passengers.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07And for a royal visit.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Just one moment.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Can we have four of each? So four there and four here.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Which is front and which is back?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Front is this way.- Right. You're the back way. You're at the back.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21No, I'm at the back, you're at the front.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Restaurant manager Alan Carr
0:11:24 > 0:11:28has a specially commissioned anniversary cake to get on board.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31I'm going to take it up to the crow's nest.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33And then we'll unpack it.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- Happy?- Yes.- Please try not to drop it!
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Weighing 35 kilos and standing four tiers high,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44the plan is to deliver the cake on the quay
0:11:44 > 0:11:47and then carefully wheel it up a steep gangway.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51It dawns on Alan that the plan might not work.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- That's going to be steep, coming up with that.- Hmm.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59That's just a nightmare to get up there.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03But there's another problem. The cake is a security risk
0:12:03 > 0:12:05and must be checked out first.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- We can't put a dog over it, cos he'll eat it.- Absolutely.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13- It's not in a box.- The cake's not in a box?- No.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18- It's just actually on a...- There should be a...- Go and have a look. It's big!
0:12:18 > 0:12:21It's not practical to carry it up here. It's just too big.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24You'll have to go up in the lift on the other side.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27They'll see if they can get it on the Avery and take it through the air bridge.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Where does the air bridge come out at?
0:12:29 > 0:12:31It'll come out midships.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- Right.- Just hold on. They're checking the route first
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- to see if it's viable. - Is it massive?- It is massive, yes.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Back at the temporary terminal at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48passengers just off their ships have finally got away
0:12:48 > 0:12:50and new guests are checking in.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Despite the unusual surroundings,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59there's a cruise to look forward to.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Everyone's in a party mood.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03This is a special event, isn't it,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05175 years of P&O.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08We've been on a few, but we always come back to P&O.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11X marks the spot. Well done. Enjoy yourselves.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13We've never done anything like this before.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18I was just trying to think it's the same as any other check-in
0:13:18 > 0:13:20but just in a different location.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25The biggest worry is that everyone gets checked in on time, basically.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Because the ship sails, no matter what.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31# ..if it ain't got that swing
0:13:31 > 0:13:33# Doo-wa-de-wah Doo-wa-de-wah
0:13:33 > 0:13:35# Doo-wa-de-wah Doo-wa-de-wah #
0:13:35 > 0:13:38But it's not all plain sailing for Dolly.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43In the car park, passengers are having problems trying to drop off their cars and bags.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Aurora in the right-hand lane, OK?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- What?- Aurora, right-hand lane.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Down here, left-hand lane.
0:13:53 > 0:13:54It's absolute chaos!
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Sorry for your delay. We're just trying to clear the backlog.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- These lines of vehicles haven't moved in two hours.- Right.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- As I say...- These are constantly going through.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08That is stopping this happening.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It's happening right in front of your eyes!
0:14:12 > 0:14:15It's these guys munching sandwiches and sipping coffee
0:14:15 > 0:14:16while everybody else is sitting in cars.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Nothing compares to this. This is a rush.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Absolutely manic.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Ain't on top of it at all. Every single last bag.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26- It's on top of us. - Yeah, on top of us.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Correct!
0:14:28 > 0:14:30All this luggage getting wet!
0:14:30 > 0:14:33People are pulling up, they're taking their luggage and putting it in the wagon.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35All ours have been stuffed over there.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37So we'll all have wet-suits!
0:14:41 > 0:14:45- That's been sitting there for over two hours.- We're doing the best we possibly can.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47I hope you're telling P&O.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Honestly, we're doing the best we can.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- Can you get some tarpaulins?- I'll get some of these on the lorry now.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Otherwise, can you get tarpaulins?
0:14:55 > 0:14:58All I can do is apologise.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- We've had quite a challenge here today.- You knew this was going to happen.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04The guys here have been told several times by many people
0:15:04 > 0:15:06how to do this.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Eventually, the traffic starts flowing again
0:15:10 > 0:15:13and the last passengers can finally check in.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Here at last!
0:15:18 > 0:15:20It's been a long day for Dolly already.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23And for Alan Carr on the Oriana.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26He's still hoping the special cake will arrive
0:15:26 > 0:15:29before the Princess Royal gets on board for tea.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30Catch you later.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34- It's not in a box and it's not covered.- It's exposed.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36The tiers are exposed.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39So when you see the cake coming, go and get the lift.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- Don't let anybody else get into it. - Yes.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43We need to go all the way to the crow's nest.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45The moment's arrived.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49With the alternative route, the cake's coming through the main passenger door.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51That'll go underneath, won't it?
0:15:51 > 0:15:53That'll pass, pass, pass.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Take it easy! Take it easy!
0:15:55 > 0:15:57You've got it. You've got it.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00OK, can we x-ray it, please?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04The Princess Royal is making more stately progress
0:16:04 > 0:16:07as she heads towards the VIP reception on board ship.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11But Alan's still steering the cake
0:16:11 > 0:16:13towards the restaurant upstairs.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17That's going to go in. Just.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I hope she's hungry, because there's plenty to go round.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29One final lift to get the cake safely into position.
0:16:29 > 0:16:30One, two, three, lift.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Is that OK?
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Let's have a look.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41That's fine. Excellent. Well done, guys. Thank you very much.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Well done. Excellent.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Relieved!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51The scene is now set for a royal review of the fleet.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18Sometimes, we're the only friendly face that goes onto a ship.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Because other times, people want things. But I don't want anything when I go on board.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27Except to offer a hand of friendship and a warm smile
0:17:27 > 0:17:28to the people who visit our shores.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30GREETS MAN IN TAGALOG
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Good man. Good man. There we are. Chocolate.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Dozens of ships arrive in the port of Southampton every week.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Each one brings a small crew who are often far from home.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46How long have you been on board now?
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- I already five months and 15 days. - And counting!
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- How long is your contract? - Six months.- Six months.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59Reverend Roger Stone works for a charity called Apostleship of the Sea.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01It supports seafarers who visit our shores.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Every day, walk up a gangway and never know what's going to happen.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It's great to meet people from so many different countries.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10GREETS MEN IN TAGALOG
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Welcome to Fawley.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14What have you done to your glasses?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- It's not broken.- Isn't it?
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Oh, they're magnetic!
0:18:19 > 0:18:24Today, Roger is on board the Bodil Knutsen at the Fawley oil refinery
0:18:24 > 0:18:26on the outskirts of Southampton.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I'll tell you what's available in Fawley.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Right. I've finished that!
0:18:30 > 0:18:33Nothing, basically. There's nothing here, OK?
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Southampton is 30 minutes away by car.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42'It's information sharing and making sure they feel welcomed.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44'The most important word for them is homesickness.'
0:18:44 > 0:18:47They really feel homesick such a lot of the time.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49I'll leave that with you, Captain.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51You are the captain, aren't you?
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- You should be the captain! - Captain of the galley.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Captain of the galley, yeah!
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Lovely. That's traditional Filipino food!
0:19:07 > 0:19:09My goodness me!
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'I bring faith materials with me onto the ship.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14'That's not to push it down their throats.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17'But it's there on offer'
0:19:17 > 0:19:20and if they'd like something, a prayer book or a Bible, whatever,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22then we supply them, all free of charge.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24It's in English and in Tagalog.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27So you can read in both languages at the same time.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Get the translation.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32I'll leave my contact details here.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36It's got my "pangalang", my number, and my email and Facebook address.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Then we can stay in touch, if you want.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45I don't know what drives me to do this, really. I just know that I love it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Whoa, crikey!
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Roger's charity provides a bus service into town
0:19:53 > 0:19:56and a base where seafarers can let off steam
0:19:56 > 0:19:58and relax away from their ship.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01'About 560,000, would you believe it,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05'seafarers come into the Port of Southampton every year.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11'This building exists so that they've got somewhere safe to come.'
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Help yourself to a beer. Do you want the laptop?
0:20:13 > 0:20:16I spend a lot of time listening to seafarers.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19That's probably the most important thing of all that I do.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23"Two of these, one of these", our motto as it were.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30'They're away from home for such a long time, sometimes.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33'Eight, nine months at a time.'
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Working every day. Never have a day off.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Never a day off.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40There's a saying which I've heard many seafarers use.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42"Every day is Monday."
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Willie Persigas has been away from his family for over six months.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- You're all seafarers?- Yes.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- Oh, really?- Yes.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05How old was he?
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Very young.- Yes.
0:21:21 > 0:21:22Oh, Lord.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Were you able to go home for his funeral?
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- No.- No.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46'We see the ships coming in,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50'but we don't actually see the seafarers on the ships. Very rarely.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54'But it's not ships that bring things to this country.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57'It's seafarers on the ships.'
0:22:04 > 0:22:09Cruise company P&O is celebrating its 175th anniversary.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14The entire fleet has gathered to take a salute from the Princess Royal.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Restaurant manager Alan Carr
0:22:18 > 0:22:21has been worrying about getting a big cake on board his ship
0:22:21 > 0:22:23for a VIP reception with Princess Anne.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Take it easy!
0:22:25 > 0:22:26That'll go in. You've got it.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29After finally getting it in place,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31it's got the royal thumbs-up.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35I can relax now. Have a cup of tea!
0:22:37 > 0:22:42Across town at the temporary passenger terminal for some of the ships,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46celebrations planner Dolly Galliford has had a testing day, too.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50All I can do is apologise. We've had quite a challenge here today.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52You knew this was going to happen.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55'It's been quite challenging. It's the rain as well,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58'it always makes an event harder to deliver.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01'But everybody's been checked in, and they're all on the ships'
0:23:01 > 0:23:04or on their way on buses to the ships.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07So it looks like we're on schedule to sail the ships as planned.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12We've had a very long day!
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Already!
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Dolly's heading for a small inflatable boat
0:23:18 > 0:23:21to watch the royal review from a grandstand position.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26'Give us a shout when you approach
0:23:26 > 0:23:28'and we'll do a quick swap-over here.'
0:23:30 > 0:23:32OK?
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Also on the water is marine officer John Highland.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39He's been keeping the sea lanes clear at the port for 25 years.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43He'll be at the front of the fleet of seven giant ships
0:23:43 > 0:23:45and escorting them safely out to sea.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50There's been a lot of planning. A lot of people have put a lot of input.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I think it's all coming together.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57Touch wood we've had no incidents.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Everyone's behaved themselves.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03There are plenty of spectators, too,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05despite the awful weather.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08A day out in sunny Southampton!
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I told you it were going to be nice!
0:24:14 > 0:24:16We're British. We don't get put off by the weather!
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- Do we?- No.
0:24:18 > 0:24:24I've never seen rain like it. But this is a one-off thing, so... We had to come and see.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Red Eagle, BTS. Afternoon, Captain.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28This is the duty watch manager.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Due to the conditions, I would prefer it if you would stay south of dock head.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36Everyone at the port is pulling together to make the grand event happen smoothly.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Nathan Rousle and his team in the traffic control tower
0:24:39 > 0:24:42are in charge of shipping movements today.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43It's a bit like a winter's day, really.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Almost getting into our reduced visibility protocols!
0:24:47 > 0:24:49We don't want that.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Your level of security for the Port of Southampton?
0:24:51 > 0:24:54It's not just the weather that Nathan's team have to deal with.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58A wayward radio transmission may scupper a smooth operation.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Someone's got their VHF set permanently transmitting
0:25:02 > 0:25:04which is blocking out our port control frequency.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Particularly for this day and the cruise ships,
0:25:06 > 0:25:12it could cause absolute chaos because they could be trying to call us and we can't hear them.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The control tower puts out a call on the emergency frequency.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20All stations, all stations, all stations.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22This is Southampton BTS.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25All stations are requested to check their equipment...
0:25:25 > 0:25:29There's probably thousands of boats out there watching. We're not sure who it is.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40John Highland has seen something that's got him worried.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43I'm not too sure what this yacht is doing here.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45I'll just go and investigate.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I'd prefer it if he was out the other side of the channel.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55Just the sight of John in his patrol boat is enough to get the yacht moving.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57As long as you can catch these incidents early,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00you know, everything's fine.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Come on, let's get our champagne out!
0:26:06 > 0:26:09At last, Dolly can start celebrating
0:26:09 > 0:26:12the end of nearly two years' hard work and planning.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It's funny. It's all sort of calmed down.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17It's really sad that it's over, actually.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I've been thinking about it for so long.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22It's been fantastic. Really fantastic.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27And even the radio gremlin seems to have gone,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29which is a relief for Nathan.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Thankfully, the interfering frequency disappeared
0:26:32 > 0:26:34without any intervention.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38So obviously our broadcast, touch wood, has cleared it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46For P&O and its passengers on the seven ships, this has been a day to remember.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51A unique display that's relied on hundreds of people pulling out the stops.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53But the port takes it in its stride.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57It's all in a day's work for Britain's cruise capital.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04I've worked in the port for many years, 25-odd years.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07You get a bit blase about it. You think, "Oh, more ships."
0:27:07 > 0:27:12But actually, looking at it, it is actually quite a sight.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15DOLLY: It's been exhilarating,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18it's been exasperating, it's been fantastic.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21I honestly feel so proud. Looking back on those ships
0:27:21 > 0:27:23as we were coming back into Southampton,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25I had a real lump in my throat.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36We're going to go and have a party, now!
0:27:42 > 0:27:44They love that, don't they? Look at them!
0:27:47 > 0:27:50I often do that. Go round the stern and wave, and they wave back.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52You think, "That's nice. They're on holiday."
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Next time, on Sea City...
0:28:11 > 0:28:13My God!
0:28:13 > 0:28:15It's Cowes Week and John's back on the water,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18saving sailing boats from certain disaster.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23They think we're the bad guy, but we're only trying to avoid collisions, that's all.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26And how guiding in big ships
0:28:26 > 0:28:28can make even the experts anxious.
0:28:28 > 0:28:33A wet and windy blowy night, you're not human if you're not a bit nervous!
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd