Episode 1 Sea City


Episode 1

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Episode 1. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

On the south coast of Britain lies a city within a city

0:00:070:00:10

that's fighting to keep the nation afloat.

0:00:100:00:12

The port of Southampton is a gateway to the world.

0:00:130:00:16

It's the cruise capital of the UK.

0:00:160:00:19

Hi. Welcome on board.

0:00:190:00:20

Seafarers from across the globe pass through here every day.

0:00:210:00:25

In tough economic times, the port is battling for its share of handling cargo.

0:00:260:00:31

This is how we make our money. This is how the shipping line makes their money.

0:00:310:00:34

Ready for the Christmas market. Batteries not included.

0:00:340:00:37

We are looking for Rolls-Royces

0:00:370:00:39

which are hidden amongst potentially 100 Bentleys.

0:00:390:00:42

Commercial ships and weekend sailors

0:00:420:00:45

wrestle for space in crowded sea lanes.

0:00:450:00:48

Turn round! Go that way!

0:00:480:00:51

It's not rocket science! The big ship is turning!

0:00:510:00:53

Passengers, ships and cargo.

0:00:530:00:56

Shaping the lives of the people that run one of the busiest ports in the world.

0:00:560:01:01

This is Sea City.

0:01:030:01:05

In this episode...

0:01:100:01:12

All I can do is apologise. We've had quite a challenge here today.

0:01:120:01:15

Seven cruise ships and a princess.

0:01:150:01:18

Can Dolly and Alan juggle passengers, royalty and a cake?

0:01:180:01:22

Try not to drop it!

0:01:220:01:23

How a maritime man of the cloth

0:01:230:01:25

keeps homesick seafarers in good spirits.

0:01:250:01:28

Every day I walk up that gangway and never know what's going to happen.

0:01:280:01:31

And motoring advice from an expert car handler.

0:01:310:01:34

For me, it's how pretty they look.

0:01:340:01:35

The engine doesn't really concern me!

0:01:350:01:38

It's 5.00am, and it's an historic day for the port.

0:01:450:01:50

Aurora BTS one cable on the reference line.

0:01:500:01:53

One cable on the reference line. Thank you.

0:01:530:01:56

And it's a historic day for cruise company P&O,

0:01:560:01:59

who are celebrating 175 years of operations.

0:01:590:02:03

All seven ships of the line are in port for a royal review.

0:02:030:02:08

'Think of me as a waterborne parking attendant. That's the nature of the job.'

0:02:080:02:12

Berthing officer Pete McKee

0:02:120:02:15

is one of the first to see the seven ships arrive.

0:02:150:02:17

'What I need to do is actually stand at the most critical point.'

0:02:170:02:20

That's 25 metres to go ahead now.

0:02:200:02:23

25 in. OK.

0:02:230:02:24

'I basically do a countdown for the pilot

0:02:240:02:26

'and then hopefully, they'll park the ship where I tell them.'

0:02:260:02:29

-15 metres ahead now. 1-5.

-15. OK.

0:02:290:02:32

'Southampton is the home port for most of these ships.'

0:02:320:02:35

You just never see the whole fleet in on one day like this.

0:02:350:02:38

I guess when you see so many ships each day,

0:02:400:02:42

the romantic side kind of gets lost on you a little bit.

0:02:420:02:45

But it's nice seeing people go off on their cruises

0:02:450:02:48

and come back if they've enjoyed themselves.

0:02:480:02:50

That side of it's quite nice.

0:02:500:02:52

One metre ahead. One metre.

0:02:520:02:54

In position.

0:02:540:02:56

'In position at the gate now.'

0:02:570:03:00

With seven ships, there are over 15,000 passengers to disembark

0:03:020:03:06

and another 15,000 to get on.

0:03:060:03:08

There's a risk the port could seize up

0:03:080:03:11

so there's a plan for some of them to check in across town.

0:03:110:03:14

A temporary passenger terminal for two of the ships

0:03:160:03:19

has been set up on the edge of Southampton,

0:03:190:03:21

at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground.

0:03:210:03:23

We're used to doing this in a marquee on the quayside in Cape Town.

0:03:230:03:27

It's not...

0:03:270:03:29

We've got a slightly better environment here!

0:03:290:03:33

Dolly Galliford is one of the masterminds

0:03:330:03:36

behind P&O's big day.

0:03:360:03:37

OK. All you can do is assure them that the taxis are arriving

0:03:370:03:41

and they're on their way.

0:03:410:03:43

'It's been two years in the planning'

0:03:430:03:44

since we planned the itineraries to coincide with the 3rd of July.

0:03:440:03:49

If you think all those ships and all the places they go in the world,

0:03:490:03:52

to plan that had to start two years ago.

0:03:520:03:54

So we're talking about an enormous amount of co-ordination

0:03:540:03:57

to do with this operation here at the Ageas Bowl,

0:03:570:04:00

all the people who work down here at the port,

0:04:000:04:02

the police, all the officers on board the ships.

0:04:020:04:05

To the right there.

0:04:050:04:07

Dolly's preparing for a juggling act with transport, passengers and luggage.

0:04:090:04:15

Whoopsie!

0:04:150:04:17

We've had about 7,000 pieces this morning that need to be picked up between the two ships.

0:04:180:04:23

There's a chap with a saxophone, as you normally do at the Ageas Bowl!

0:04:250:04:29

Back at the port, the seven ships are already attracting an audience.

0:04:320:04:36

The crew are getting ready for new passengers

0:04:360:04:39

with the royal freight review later in the day.

0:04:390:04:41

The pressure's on to have everything in place on time.

0:04:410:04:45

-No defects? All lights are working?

-Yes, sir.

0:04:450:04:47

Can you just check that all the special diets are available at the back

0:04:470:04:52

for the guys that are looking after the special diets

0:04:520:04:54

and show the photographs of the VIPs that are having those.

0:04:540:04:59

Let me know when it's done. Thank you.

0:04:590:05:01

On board the cruise ship Oriana,

0:05:010:05:03

restaurant manager Alan Carr is looking after preparations for a special anniversary reception.

0:05:030:05:09

The Princess Royal is coming for tea and cake.

0:05:090:05:12

No detail is too small.

0:05:120:05:14

We'll have a bottle of water available.

0:05:140:05:16

One chilled and one room temperature.

0:05:160:05:18

The speciality about the china is it's on loan to us.

0:05:180:05:22

It's Royal Albert. All Royal Albert.

0:05:220:05:26

So we've got it just for the day.

0:05:260:05:27

And then it's all going back.

0:05:270:05:30

There's going to be a plaque behind here. Of course I can't unfold that.

0:05:300:05:34

That's Her Royal Highness's job, not mine!

0:05:340:05:36

So she'll be doing unveiling of the plaque there,

0:05:360:05:39

she'll be cutting the celebration cake that's being brought in at 12 o'clock.

0:05:390:05:43

They've spelt "grand" wrong!

0:05:430:05:45

One, two.

0:05:480:05:49

Wonderful. Everything's working... to plan!

0:05:490:05:53

But later in the day,

0:05:540:05:56

not everything goes as smoothly as Alan would have liked.

0:05:560:06:00

More than half a million new vehicles

0:06:160:06:18

ranging from cars to diggers

0:06:180:06:20

are handled by the Port of Southampton every year.

0:06:200:06:23

Every one of them has to be driven on or off the ship.

0:06:230:06:27

I've driven Land Rovers, Range Rovers,

0:06:280:06:32

Minis...

0:06:320:06:34

Georgie Cunningham has been working at the docks for over six years.

0:06:350:06:38

And there's nothing she can't shift.

0:06:380:06:41

BMW X Series. All of them.

0:06:410:06:43

Rolls-Royces. McLarens.

0:06:430:06:45

Whoops! Sorry.

0:06:460:06:48

Aston Martins.

0:06:480:06:50

Bentleys.

0:06:500:06:51

Jaguars.

0:06:510:06:53

A ship like this one can carry as many as 7,000 vehicles

0:06:540:06:57

of all types.

0:06:570:06:59

Like parking a car.

0:06:590:07:00

I can park these better than I can probably park cars, though!

0:07:020:07:05

Ships in dock don't make money,

0:07:080:07:10

so every second counts when it comes to loading them up.

0:07:100:07:13

For me, it's how pretty they look,

0:07:140:07:16

under the engine doesn't really concern me!

0:07:160:07:19

Today, Georgie's task is to unload a batch of 50-grand BMWs.

0:07:200:07:25

There's always a chance of accidents.

0:07:250:07:27

It depends how alert you are

0:07:270:07:30

and making sure you keep to the standards you've been told in the briefs.

0:07:300:07:34

Make sure you keep your distances.

0:07:340:07:37

It's much better than driving my Peugeot!

0:07:370:07:39

But I do like big cars. The bigger, the better.

0:07:390:07:42

I don't see it as a privilege any more. I see it as part of my job.

0:07:430:07:46

But speaking to other people that don't work in these surroundings,

0:07:470:07:51

and they say, "What do you do?" I say, "I drive cars on and off the vessels."

0:07:510:07:55

"Really? Do you drive all those cars?" "Yeah." They say, "I'd love to do that."

0:07:550:07:59

With the BMWs safely off the ship,

0:08:000:08:02

Georgie's next job is to pick up vehicles from the port's most exclusive car park

0:08:020:08:07

and load them on the ship dent-free.

0:08:070:08:09

We're on the most expensive level

0:08:100:08:12

of any multi-deck that we've got.

0:08:120:08:15

Because we are looking for Rolls-Royces

0:08:160:08:18

which are hidden amongst potentially 100, if not more, Bentleys.

0:08:180:08:25

In the history of us shipping out Rolls-Royces,

0:08:250:08:29

there's ever only been one known damage.

0:08:290:08:31

And that was down to the deck heights being given wrong.

0:08:320:08:36

So when we went to load it on a deck, it should have fitted.

0:08:370:08:40

But when the Rolls-Royce went on, it kind of almost made it a convertible!

0:08:400:08:45

Which I think is what gave Rolls-Royce the idea to make the Cabriolet!

0:08:460:08:50

But I can't be sure!

0:08:510:08:52

You can't even hear it!

0:08:570:08:59

Can you?

0:08:590:09:01

No, nothing like my Peugeot!

0:09:020:09:05

No. Much nicer.

0:09:050:09:07

When I first started here,

0:09:090:09:11

there wasn't many 22-year-olds

0:09:110:09:13

that could say they've gone to work and driven a Rolls-Royce today.

0:09:130:09:18

But now I've told the story so many times, people are bored with it

0:09:200:09:24

so I tend not to talk about it very much any more.

0:09:240:09:26

At P&O's temporary cruise terminal at the cricket ground,

0:09:420:09:45

passengers are trying to find their luggage and head home.

0:09:450:09:48

Are you B101?

0:09:480:09:50

I'm not going to North Wales. We're going to Chester.

0:09:500:09:52

Dolly Galliford has helped plan P&O's grand event.

0:09:520:09:55

She's on the front line of customer relations and complaints.

0:09:550:09:59

'It's an absolute shambles. We've now got to go back into Southampton to pick our car up.'

0:09:590:10:05

Right. I will feed that back to head office, you know...

0:10:050:10:08

-Yes, if you will, please.

-I will do.

0:10:080:10:10

There's no...

0:10:100:10:12

There's no rhyme nor reason to the luggage...

0:10:120:10:16

It's laid out in decks, as they would be normally in the port.

0:10:160:10:21

The rain, of course, really doesn't help us today.

0:10:210:10:23

Ooh, look, a bit of sunshine as I said that.

0:10:230:10:25

-Thank you. I hope you have a safe journey home.

-Thank you.

-OK. Bye.

0:10:250:10:29

They're checking down here somewhere.

0:10:290:10:32

If you go down... Through the concourse here. I'll show you where to go.

0:10:320:10:37

-Why did your people tell us to come back again?

-I'm sorry.

0:10:370:10:40

'Passengers want to know where they need to be.

0:10:400:10:43

'We've had to consider all kinds of onward transport.'

0:10:430:10:45

Coaches, taxi, private cars.

0:10:450:10:47

As long as you can focus in what that passenger specifically needs,

0:10:470:10:51

then that's all you can do, really.

0:10:510:10:54

Make sure you focus on them.

0:10:540:10:56

That's all anybody wants to know. Where they're supposed to be and how to get there.

0:10:560:10:59

Across town at the Oriana, they're getting ready for passengers.

0:11:010:11:04

And for a royal visit.

0:11:040:11:07

Just one moment.

0:11:070:11:09

Can we have four of each? So four there and four here.

0:11:090:11:13

Which is front and which is back?

0:11:130:11:15

-Front is this way.

-Right. You're the back way. You're at the back.

0:11:150:11:19

No, I'm at the back, you're at the front.

0:11:190:11:21

Restaurant manager Alan Carr

0:11:230:11:24

has a specially commissioned anniversary cake to get on board.

0:11:240:11:28

I'm going to take it up to the crow's nest.

0:11:280:11:31

And then we'll unpack it.

0:11:310:11:33

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Please try not to drop it!

0:11:330:11:36

Weighing 35 kilos and standing four tiers high,

0:11:380:11:41

the plan is to deliver the cake on the quay

0:11:410:11:44

and then carefully wheel it up a steep gangway.

0:11:440:11:47

It dawns on Alan that the plan might not work.

0:11:480:11:51

-That's going to be steep, coming up with that.

-Hmm.

0:11:510:11:55

That's just a nightmare to get up there.

0:11:550:11:59

But there's another problem. The cake is a security risk

0:12:000:12:03

and must be checked out first.

0:12:030:12:05

-We can't put a dog over it, cos he'll eat it.

-Absolutely.

0:12:050:12:08

-It's not in a box.

-The cake's not in a box?

-No.

0:12:080:12:13

-It's just actually on a...

-There should be a...

-Go and have a look. It's big!

0:12:130:12:18

It's not practical to carry it up here. It's just too big.

0:12:180:12:21

You'll have to go up in the lift on the other side.

0:12:210:12:24

They'll see if they can get it on the Avery and take it through the air bridge.

0:12:240:12:27

Where does the air bridge come out at?

0:12:270:12:29

It'll come out midships.

0:12:290:12:31

-Right.

-Just hold on. They're checking the route first

0:12:310:12:34

-to see if it's viable.

-Is it massive?

-It is massive, yes.

0:12:340:12:38

Back at the temporary terminal at the Ageas Bowl cricket ground,

0:12:410:12:45

passengers just off their ships have finally got away

0:12:450:12:48

and new guests are checking in.

0:12:480:12:50

Despite the unusual surroundings,

0:12:550:12:56

there's a cruise to look forward to.

0:12:560:12:59

Everyone's in a party mood.

0:12:590:13:01

This is a special event, isn't it,

0:13:010:13:03

175 years of P&O.

0:13:030:13:05

We've been on a few, but we always come back to P&O.

0:13:050:13:08

X marks the spot. Well done. Enjoy yourselves.

0:13:080:13:11

We've never done anything like this before.

0:13:110:13:13

I was just trying to think it's the same as any other check-in

0:13:130:13:18

but just in a different location.

0:13:180:13:20

The biggest worry is that everyone gets checked in on time, basically.

0:13:200:13:25

Because the ship sails, no matter what.

0:13:250:13:27

# ..if it ain't got that swing

0:13:270:13:31

# Doo-wa-de-wah Doo-wa-de-wah

0:13:310:13:33

# Doo-wa-de-wah Doo-wa-de-wah #

0:13:330:13:35

But it's not all plain sailing for Dolly.

0:13:350:13:38

In the car park, passengers are having problems trying to drop off their cars and bags.

0:13:380:13:43

Aurora in the right-hand lane, OK?

0:13:430:13:44

-What?

-Aurora, right-hand lane.

0:13:440:13:46

Down here, left-hand lane.

0:13:500:13:52

It's absolute chaos!

0:13:530:13:54

Sorry for your delay. We're just trying to clear the backlog.

0:13:540:13:57

-These lines of vehicles haven't moved in two hours.

-Right.

0:13:590:14:03

-As I say...

-These are constantly going through.

0:14:030:14:06

That is stopping this happening.

0:14:060:14:08

It's happening right in front of your eyes!

0:14:080:14:10

It's these guys munching sandwiches and sipping coffee

0:14:120:14:15

while everybody else is sitting in cars.

0:14:150:14:16

Nothing compares to this. This is a rush.

0:14:170:14:19

Absolutely manic.

0:14:190:14:21

Ain't on top of it at all. Every single last bag.

0:14:210:14:25

-It's on top of us.

-Yeah, on top of us.

0:14:250:14:26

Correct!

0:14:260:14:28

All this luggage getting wet!

0:14:280:14:30

People are pulling up, they're taking their luggage and putting it in the wagon.

0:14:300:14:33

All ours have been stuffed over there.

0:14:330:14:35

So we'll all have wet-suits!

0:14:350:14:37

-That's been sitting there for over two hours.

-We're doing the best we possibly can.

0:14:410:14:45

I hope you're telling P&O.

0:14:450:14:47

Honestly, we're doing the best we can.

0:14:470:14:49

-Can you get some tarpaulins?

-I'll get some of these on the lorry now.

0:14:490:14:53

Otherwise, can you get tarpaulins?

0:14:530:14:55

All I can do is apologise.

0:14:550:14:58

-We've had quite a challenge here today.

-You knew this was going to happen.

0:14:580:15:01

The guys here have been told several times by many people

0:15:010:15:04

how to do this.

0:15:040:15:06

Eventually, the traffic starts flowing again

0:15:070:15:10

and the last passengers can finally check in.

0:15:100:15:13

Here at last!

0:15:130:15:15

It's been a long day for Dolly already.

0:15:180:15:20

And for Alan Carr on the Oriana.

0:15:200:15:23

He's still hoping the special cake will arrive

0:15:240:15:26

before the Princess Royal gets on board for tea.

0:15:260:15:29

Catch you later.

0:15:290:15:30

-It's not in a box and it's not covered.

-It's exposed.

0:15:320:15:34

The tiers are exposed.

0:15:340:15:36

So when you see the cake coming, go and get the lift.

0:15:360:15:39

-Don't let anybody else get into it.

-Yes.

0:15:390:15:41

We need to go all the way to the crow's nest.

0:15:410:15:43

The moment's arrived.

0:15:430:15:45

With the alternative route, the cake's coming through the main passenger door.

0:15:450:15:49

That'll go underneath, won't it?

0:15:490:15:51

That'll pass, pass, pass.

0:15:510:15:53

Take it easy! Take it easy!

0:15:530:15:55

You've got it. You've got it.

0:15:550:15:57

OK, can we x-ray it, please?

0:15:570:16:00

The Princess Royal is making more stately progress

0:16:010:16:04

as she heads towards the VIP reception on board ship.

0:16:040:16:07

But Alan's still steering the cake

0:16:090:16:11

towards the restaurant upstairs.

0:16:110:16:13

That's going to go in. Just.

0:16:150:16:17

I hope she's hungry, because there's plenty to go round.

0:16:210:16:24

One final lift to get the cake safely into position.

0:16:250:16:29

One, two, three, lift.

0:16:290:16:30

Is that OK?

0:16:300:16:32

Let's have a look.

0:16:360:16:38

That's fine. Excellent. Well done, guys. Thank you very much.

0:16:380:16:41

Well done. Excellent.

0:16:410:16:43

Relieved!

0:16:450:16:47

The scene is now set for a royal review of the fleet.

0:16:470:16:51

Sometimes, we're the only friendly face that goes onto a ship.

0:17:140:17:18

Because other times, people want things. But I don't want anything when I go on board.

0:17:180:17:22

Except to offer a hand of friendship and a warm smile

0:17:220:17:27

to the people who visit our shores.

0:17:270:17:28

GREETS MAN IN TAGALOG

0:17:280:17:30

Good man. Good man. There we are. Chocolate.

0:17:340:17:37

Dozens of ships arrive in the port of Southampton every week.

0:17:370:17:40

Each one brings a small crew who are often far from home.

0:17:400:17:44

How long have you been on board now?

0:17:440:17:46

-I already five months and 15 days.

-And counting!

0:17:460:17:50

-How long is your contract?

-Six months.

-Six months.

0:17:500:17:54

Reverend Roger Stone works for a charity called Apostleship of the Sea.

0:17:540:17:59

It supports seafarers who visit our shores.

0:17:590:18:01

Every day, walk up a gangway and never know what's going to happen.

0:18:020:18:05

It's great to meet people from so many different countries.

0:18:050:18:08

GREETS MEN IN TAGALOG

0:18:080:18:10

Welcome to Fawley.

0:18:110:18:12

What have you done to your glasses?

0:18:120:18:14

-It's not broken.

-Isn't it?

0:18:140:18:16

Oh, they're magnetic!

0:18:170:18:19

Today, Roger is on board the Bodil Knutsen at the Fawley oil refinery

0:18:190:18:24

on the outskirts of Southampton.

0:18:240:18:26

I'll tell you what's available in Fawley.

0:18:260:18:28

Right. I've finished that!

0:18:280:18:30

Nothing, basically. There's nothing here, OK?

0:18:300:18:33

Southampton is 30 minutes away by car.

0:18:340:18:38

'It's information sharing and making sure they feel welcomed.

0:18:380:18:42

'The most important word for them is homesickness.'

0:18:420:18:44

They really feel homesick such a lot of the time.

0:18:440:18:47

I'll leave that with you, Captain.

0:18:470:18:49

You are the captain, aren't you?

0:18:490:18:51

-You should be the captain!

-Captain of the galley.

0:18:520:18:55

Captain of the galley, yeah!

0:18:550:18:57

Lovely. That's traditional Filipino food!

0:19:020:19:05

My goodness me!

0:19:070:19:09

'I bring faith materials with me onto the ship.

0:19:090:19:12

'That's not to push it down their throats.

0:19:120:19:14

'But it's there on offer'

0:19:140:19:17

and if they'd like something, a prayer book or a Bible, whatever,

0:19:170:19:20

then we supply them, all free of charge.

0:19:200:19:22

It's in English and in Tagalog.

0:19:220:19:24

So you can read in both languages at the same time.

0:19:240:19:27

Get the translation.

0:19:270:19:29

I'll leave my contact details here.

0:19:290:19:32

It's got my "pangalang", my number, and my email and Facebook address.

0:19:320:19:36

Then we can stay in touch, if you want.

0:19:360:19:39

I don't know what drives me to do this, really. I just know that I love it.

0:19:410:19:45

Whoa, crikey!

0:19:480:19:50

Roger's charity provides a bus service into town

0:19:500:19:53

and a base where seafarers can let off steam

0:19:530:19:56

and relax away from their ship.

0:19:560:19:58

'About 560,000, would you believe it,

0:19:580:20:01

'seafarers come into the Port of Southampton every year.

0:20:010:20:05

'This building exists so that they've got somewhere safe to come.'

0:20:060:20:11

Help yourself to a beer. Do you want the laptop?

0:20:110:20:13

I spend a lot of time listening to seafarers.

0:20:130:20:16

That's probably the most important thing of all that I do.

0:20:160:20:19

"Two of these, one of these", our motto as it were.

0:20:190:20:23

'They're away from home for such a long time, sometimes.

0:20:280:20:30

'Eight, nine months at a time.'

0:20:300:20:33

Working every day. Never have a day off.

0:20:330:20:36

Never a day off.

0:20:360:20:38

There's a saying which I've heard many seafarers use.

0:20:380:20:40

"Every day is Monday."

0:20:400:20:42

Willie Persigas has been away from his family for over six months.

0:20:440:20:48

-You're all seafarers?

-Yes.

0:20:530:20:55

-Oh, really?

-Yes.

0:21:010:21:03

How old was he?

0:21:030:21:05

-Very young.

-Yes.

0:21:070:21:09

Oh, Lord.

0:21:210:21:22

Were you able to go home for his funeral?

0:21:220:21:24

-No.

-No.

0:21:240:21:26

'We see the ships coming in,

0:21:440:21:46

'but we don't actually see the seafarers on the ships. Very rarely.

0:21:460:21:50

'But it's not ships that bring things to this country.

0:21:500:21:54

'It's seafarers on the ships.'

0:21:540:21:57

Cruise company P&O is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

0:22:040:22:09

The entire fleet has gathered to take a salute from the Princess Royal.

0:22:090:22:14

Restaurant manager Alan Carr

0:22:160:22:18

has been worrying about getting a big cake on board his ship

0:22:180:22:21

for a VIP reception with Princess Anne.

0:22:210:22:23

Take it easy!

0:22:230:22:25

That'll go in. You've got it.

0:22:250:22:26

After finally getting it in place,

0:22:260:22:29

it's got the royal thumbs-up.

0:22:290:22:31

I can relax now. Have a cup of tea!

0:22:330:22:35

Across town at the temporary passenger terminal for some of the ships,

0:22:370:22:42

celebrations planner Dolly Galliford has had a testing day, too.

0:22:420:22:46

All I can do is apologise. We've had quite a challenge here today.

0:22:460:22:50

You knew this was going to happen.

0:22:500:22:52

'It's been quite challenging. It's the rain as well,

0:22:520:22:55

'it always makes an event harder to deliver.

0:22:550:22:58

'But everybody's been checked in, and they're all on the ships'

0:22:580:23:01

or on their way on buses to the ships.

0:23:010:23:04

So it looks like we're on schedule to sail the ships as planned.

0:23:040:23:07

We've had a very long day!

0:23:100:23:12

Already!

0:23:120:23:14

Dolly's heading for a small inflatable boat

0:23:150:23:18

to watch the royal review from a grandstand position.

0:23:180:23:21

'Give us a shout when you approach

0:23:240:23:26

'and we'll do a quick swap-over here.'

0:23:260:23:28

OK?

0:23:300:23:32

Also on the water is marine officer John Highland.

0:23:320:23:35

He's been keeping the sea lanes clear at the port for 25 years.

0:23:350:23:39

He'll be at the front of the fleet of seven giant ships

0:23:400:23:43

and escorting them safely out to sea.

0:23:430:23:45

There's been a lot of planning. A lot of people have put a lot of input.

0:23:450:23:50

I think it's all coming together.

0:23:500:23:53

Touch wood we've had no incidents.

0:23:530:23:57

Everyone's behaved themselves.

0:23:570:23:59

There are plenty of spectators, too,

0:24:010:24:03

despite the awful weather.

0:24:030:24:05

A day out in sunny Southampton!

0:24:050:24:08

I told you it were going to be nice!

0:24:100:24:13

We're British. We don't get put off by the weather!

0:24:140:24:16

-Do we?

-No.

0:24:160:24:18

I've never seen rain like it. But this is a one-off thing, so... We had to come and see.

0:24:180:24:24

Red Eagle, BTS. Afternoon, Captain.

0:24:240:24:26

This is the duty watch manager.

0:24:260:24:28

Due to the conditions, I would prefer it if you would stay south of dock head.

0:24:280:24:31

Everyone at the port is pulling together to make the grand event happen smoothly.

0:24:310:24:36

Nathan Rousle and his team in the traffic control tower

0:24:360:24:39

are in charge of shipping movements today.

0:24:390:24:42

It's a bit like a winter's day, really.

0:24:420:24:43

Almost getting into our reduced visibility protocols!

0:24:430:24:47

We don't want that.

0:24:470:24:49

Your level of security for the Port of Southampton?

0:24:490:24:51

It's not just the weather that Nathan's team have to deal with.

0:24:510:24:54

A wayward radio transmission may scupper a smooth operation.

0:24:540:24:58

Someone's got their VHF set permanently transmitting

0:24:580:25:02

which is blocking out our port control frequency.

0:25:020:25:04

Particularly for this day and the cruise ships,

0:25:040:25:06

it could cause absolute chaos because they could be trying to call us and we can't hear them.

0:25:060:25:12

The control tower puts out a call on the emergency frequency.

0:25:140:25:17

All stations, all stations, all stations.

0:25:170:25:20

This is Southampton BTS.

0:25:200:25:22

All stations are requested to check their equipment...

0:25:220:25:25

There's probably thousands of boats out there watching. We're not sure who it is.

0:25:250:25:29

John Highland has seen something that's got him worried.

0:25:370:25:40

I'm not too sure what this yacht is doing here.

0:25:400:25:43

I'll just go and investigate.

0:25:430:25:45

I'd prefer it if he was out the other side of the channel.

0:25:470:25:50

Just the sight of John in his patrol boat is enough to get the yacht moving.

0:25:500:25:55

As long as you can catch these incidents early,

0:25:550:25:57

you know, everything's fine.

0:25:570:26:00

Come on, let's get our champagne out!

0:26:020:26:05

At last, Dolly can start celebrating

0:26:060:26:09

the end of nearly two years' hard work and planning.

0:26:090:26:12

It's funny. It's all sort of calmed down.

0:26:120:26:15

It's really sad that it's over, actually.

0:26:150:26:17

I've been thinking about it for so long.

0:26:170:26:20

It's been fantastic. Really fantastic.

0:26:200:26:22

And even the radio gremlin seems to have gone,

0:26:250:26:27

which is a relief for Nathan.

0:26:270:26:29

Thankfully, the interfering frequency disappeared

0:26:290:26:32

without any intervention.

0:26:320:26:34

So obviously our broadcast, touch wood, has cleared it.

0:26:340:26:38

For P&O and its passengers on the seven ships, this has been a day to remember.

0:26:410:26:46

A unique display that's relied on hundreds of people pulling out the stops.

0:26:460:26:51

But the port takes it in its stride.

0:26:510:26:53

It's all in a day's work for Britain's cruise capital.

0:26:530:26:57

I've worked in the port for many years, 25-odd years.

0:27:000:27:04

You get a bit blase about it. You think, "Oh, more ships."

0:27:040:27:07

But actually, looking at it, it is actually quite a sight.

0:27:070:27:12

DOLLY: It's been exhilarating,

0:27:130:27:15

it's been exasperating, it's been fantastic.

0:27:150:27:18

I honestly feel so proud. Looking back on those ships

0:27:180:27:21

as we were coming back into Southampton,

0:27:210:27:23

I had a real lump in my throat.

0:27:230:27:25

We're going to go and have a party, now!

0:27:340:27:36

They love that, don't they? Look at them!

0:27:420:27:44

I often do that. Go round the stern and wave, and they wave back.

0:27:470:27:50

You think, "That's nice. They're on holiday."

0:27:500:27:52

Next time, on Sea City...

0:28:080:28:11

My God!

0:28:110:28:13

It's Cowes Week and John's back on the water,

0:28:130:28:15

saving sailing boats from certain disaster.

0:28:150:28:18

They think we're the bad guy, but we're only trying to avoid collisions, that's all.

0:28:180:28:23

And how guiding in big ships

0:28:240:28:26

can make even the experts anxious.

0:28:260:28:28

A wet and windy blowy night, you're not human if you're not a bit nervous!

0:28:280:28:33

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:28:530:28:56

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS