0:00:04 > 0:00:09Aberdeen Harbour on the north-east coast of Scotland.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11SHIP HORN BLARES
0:00:11 > 0:00:14One of Britain's oldest businesses.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17It's just like a conveyor belt, it just never just stops.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20And one of Europe's most modern ports.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24- You've got clearance to sail now. - This is a glimpse into a hidden world...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26On our way. He's under the bell now.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28..of men and women who keep the harbour running.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32It's what you would call a typical woman.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I'm a poor, defenceless female so watch it.
0:00:34 > 0:00:3524 hours a day...
0:00:35 > 0:00:37- Things change like... - HE CLICKS HIS FINGERS
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It's getting on for a force 10 now.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47- Hang fire on that bell. - This is just madness.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49..365 days a year.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Goodbye, cruel world.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53God, just when he greeted me.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- Jimmy!- How are you, my friend?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It has been my pleasure.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00The Harbour.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03SHIP HORN BLARES
0:01:12 > 0:01:15The sheltered estuary of the River Dee
0:01:15 > 0:01:17has always been a natural harbour.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Quickly now, in position, come.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23More than 8,000 ships pass through its waters every year.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27And nearly all of them rely on the boatmen...
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Hey! Slack.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33..whose job it is to tie and untie the vessels heading out to the North Sea.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34I've done it for 30 years now
0:01:34 > 0:01:37so about another 30 years wouldn't be too bad.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41When they're not on the quayside, they're in the boatmen's bothy,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44waiting for the next vessel to arrive.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50I was at MI before this. I was a male stud before that.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52BOTH LAUGH
0:01:52 > 0:01:56- Alcoholic before that. - Aye, alcoholic before that!
0:01:56 > 0:01:59On shift today are Alan Cowper and Norman Campbell,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02who've lived in the city all their lives.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Jeremy Kyle and what do you cry him? In America?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- Oh, your mate, Springer. - Aye, Jerry Springer's magic.
0:02:12 > 0:02:13Mind, there was a whole weekend of him,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Jerry Springer was on for a whole weekend, long ago.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Never went out the whole weekend.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29The offshore oil and gas industry accounts for 15% of Scotland's entire economy.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And the harbour's crucial to its success.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37The main centre of activity for all its marine support operations.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Out in the bay is the Bibby Sapphire,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46a dive support vessel, which services the region's oil rigs.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51And Hugh Jones, the ship's master, is looking forward to dry land.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55It's nice to see good, old Aberdeen every now and then. That's for sure.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Two weeks out, back in, even if it's only for 12 hours.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05The underwater channel at the harbour's entrance is only 33 metres wide.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11And larger vessels have to be brought in by an experienced hand known as a pilot.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17The vessels are relatively big compared to the size of the harbour, and getting bigger all the time.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21The pilot cutter heads out to open water.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Bibby Sapphire, pilot.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Hello, boat Sapphire.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32That's a pilot boat on its way out to you.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37Boarding a ship in conditions like these is always a challenge.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40They have a ladder hanging out over the side of the boat.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Once we are alongside that,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44we'll try and jump from here on to the ladder.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48It's the most dangerous part of a pilot's job.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Pilot to the starboard side.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54It's not high-tech, no.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Same way they've done it the last 2,000 years, I suppose.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02He has to time it exactly so that he jumps onto the ladder
0:04:02 > 0:04:04at the top of the swell.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09If he miscalculates, he could fall back,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13be crushed by the boat, or plunge into the North Sea.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23But Finn Froekjaer-Jensen's an old hand at this.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- Hi, long time, no see. - Yeah, how are you?
0:04:26 > 0:04:28- How are you doing, big man?- Yeah.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Bit bumpy coming out there. - Ah, bit rough, like, but...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- You Scandinavians can cope with it, can't you?- Exactly.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- Will you be doing the steering yourself?- Yeah.- That's magic.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The good part is it only takes 28 minutes to half an hour.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43So before they get fed up with me, I'm off again!
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Keeping a watchful eye on her approach
0:04:48 > 0:04:50is the harbour's control tower,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53or VTS, as it's called.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54'VTS, Bibby Sapphire.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:58That's fine, you're cleared to proceed. Call again as you approach the bottom of the river.
0:04:58 > 0:05:05VTS, or Vessel Traffic Services, coordinates all activities within the harbour.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Steady as she goes.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13It takes between two and three years' training to become a pilot.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15What we do know is local knowledge,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18as you can say. Anybody can read a chart, like,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20but we know the currents, and what to expect.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23The master, he puts his faith in us.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25As the ship progresses,
0:05:25 > 0:05:31there's a constant dialogue between the skipper, the pilot and VTS.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36Nice and slowly, there's one vessel coming across into Victoria Dock.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- Just keep it coming, Captain. - A 6,000-tonne ship like the Bibby Sapphire can be tricky to manoeuvre,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45especially if the port is full, as it is today.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- INTERCOM:- Yeah, go ahead.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Afternoon, lad.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It's OK, vessel's coming up to you now. We'll adjust this.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55As soon as we're all by the berth we'll stay off about 10, 15 metres.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58OK then, Finn, standing by, waiting.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00'Cheers, buddy.'
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Well, it's a diving boat that goes out and inspects the pipelines, rigs
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and things like that. I don't know too much about them.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09As I say, my job's just tying them up.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12He's also an extra pair of eyes on the quayside.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Yes, Alan, that's correct. All the way up to the east end.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18OK, I'll go up to the east end and give you a shout
0:06:18 > 0:06:20when your bow's clear to come in.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Cheers, buddy.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The ship's thrusters can turn through 360 degrees,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29so Hugh can push the boat in any direction he wants.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32All I am doing is pushing on with the thrusters
0:06:32 > 0:06:33at each end of the ship now
0:06:33 > 0:06:36straight on to the quayside. Keeps us steady on the quay.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42It helps if the boatmen are steady on their feet.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Grrr, you swine!
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- FINN ON INTERCOM:- Bibby Sapphire alongside.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Another one under our belt, and everybody happy. That's a good thing.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00As long as the harbour's busy and the boats are still coming in,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02there'll still be a job for me.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Now, I need to check to see if that looks OK.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Make sure my boobs look OK for the night.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28This is mascara and you go quick as you like.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30It's Halloween.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34And over in Torry, Val Morrison is getting ready for work.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Now, I wonder if that looks scary enough.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Like Alan, she's an Aberdonian, born and bred.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Look at that.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47Valerie, you look phenomenal. Sex on legs.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Sex on legs, maybe...
0:07:50 > 0:07:52FLAILING TRUMPET PLAYS
0:07:52 > 0:07:54..but a witch's hat in the gusty North East
0:07:54 > 0:07:58is probably not the best choice of headwear.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Val is just one of more than 11,000 people
0:08:02 > 0:08:05who keep the harbour running 24 hours a day.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07'It's been my life for 20 year
0:08:07 > 0:08:11'and from the day I went in it, I just said to myself,'
0:08:11 > 0:08:14"Oh, this is just for you."
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Val's the harbour's best-known barmaid.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21CHEERING
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Aye, hear him. "She worked here during the First World War!"
0:08:28 > 0:08:29You idiot!
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Over the years, Val's become a favourite with the sailors
0:08:32 > 0:08:35and has her own unique way of dealing with them.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37SLAP Yeah, I got hit.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Speak proper, you little sod.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40Vodka coke.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43- Can I pay you next week?- No.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Just to keep Val company,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47many of the pub's customers have dressed up too.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- LAUGHS - Hello, Derek!
0:08:52 > 0:08:54- You leave him alone, you fat- BLEEP.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59I thought I'd make a bit of effort for young Val here.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Well, I think she's a little gem actually.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04A bit of a rough diamond, I would say.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09She knows how to stop them in their tracks.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- I'm going home now. - Do I phone Frances and telling what you're saying, you fat git?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Terrible.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- And as for you... - SLAP
0:09:19 > 0:09:24Her boss, Jill, also knows that it's Val's particular people skills
0:09:24 > 0:09:27that bring the customers back for more.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Lick it off!
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Jill says she's going to keep me there until I'm 92.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37And she says, "Valerie, God forgive you never will, but if you ever die I'll get you stuffed,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40"put you in the corner of the bar and when you come in,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- "just shout, 'Oi, you little- BLEEP, - where have you been?' "
0:09:49 > 0:09:54Whenever she's in dock, the Bibby Sapphire stocks up with supplies.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00There are around 95 crew members on board,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03and diver Terry Dearlove is one of them.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08While he's on board, this is where Terry will be living.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12This one's like the Hilton, this one.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16That one there is like Travelodge and the one at the end is like B&B.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Locked away in this sealed unit,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22the divers can be kept at just the right pressure
0:10:22 > 0:10:25to work at depths of up to 185 metres.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- I've seen much smaller ones than these.- Yeah, there's been some terrible ones.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35This is like a DFS showroom compared to some of them.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38And when divers can spend up to 28 days
0:10:38 > 0:10:43living in such close proximity, it helps if they get on.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45You have two types of saturation diving.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48One where you're in with another two guys and as soon as you get out
0:10:48 > 0:10:51you never want to see them again or the other type
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- where you don't want to separate from them when you come out.- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- It's like that, isn't it? - We'll use this one.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Come on then, let's go to bed.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03One person who always knows which ships are arriving and leaving
0:11:03 > 0:11:06is Val in the Crown and Anchor.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10We had the Skandi Buchan in, the Skandi Marstein was down here.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11We had the Skandi Rona.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14I just ken what boats are in the harbour all the time.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16'It's just my life.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21'The boats and the boat guys and the pub. It's my life.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:29# I fall to pieces... #
0:11:31 > 0:11:35On the quayside, the Bibby Sapphire's ropes are untied
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and she heads out to the North Sea.
0:11:38 > 0:11:45# ..You tell me to find someone else to love
0:11:47 > 0:11:55# You walk by and I fall to pieces. #
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- WHOOPING AND WHISTLING - Well done, eh!
0:11:58 > 0:12:01INDISTINCT SHOUTING
0:12:12 > 0:12:14As sun rises over the harbour,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17it's another busy day for all those who work at the quayside.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20You're OK there, that's fine there, Ralph.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Hey, sort your hair!
0:12:24 > 0:12:27For a frustrated sailor like Alan,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31this is as close as it gets to a life on the ocean wave.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33When I left school I tried to go to sea
0:12:33 > 0:12:36but I failed my maths test.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37I don't know why you needed maths.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41I can count like hell now, cos ever since I started drinking and playing darts
0:12:41 > 0:12:43I can count backwards, forwards, everywhere!
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Only person that's never been to sea, I suppose, and loves the boats, you know.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52That's him away, another happy customer.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58REM Supplier, VTS, good afternoon.
0:12:58 > 0:13:06VTS controller Barry Standerline spent 27 years at sea before he came to work at the harbour.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09In comparison to working on cargo ships,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11this is an absolute breeze.
0:13:11 > 0:13:18As well as the life aquatic, there's another thing Barry and Alan have in common -
0:13:18 > 0:13:21a competitive love affair...with boats.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- You can let go of the spring. - Alan?
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- Quiet afternoon until he comes on duty. - PHONE RINGS
0:13:28 > 0:13:30OK, boys.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Barry takes pictures of boats and I take pictures of boats.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34It's like a busman's holiday.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Alan's on the docks all day handling boats,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40while Barry has a bird's eye view from the top of VTS.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Proper ship.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Little cargo boat, nice ship.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48They're the perfect jobs for boat spotters.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Dinnae put porn up, for the lassies are here.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Here's my pictures of boats, you see.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Now there's a good-looking ship, that is a good-looking boat.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Wait a minute, here's a lassie naked... Oh, no, it's nae.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05Fine figure of a lady. Yeah, very well proportioned.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07And the two of them can compare notes -
0:14:07 > 0:14:09or trade insults - over the intercom.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Pervert! Boat pervert.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Alan, do you nae see enough boats at your work without having to look at them on a computer?
0:14:18 > 0:14:20- BLEEP,- what's it got to dae with you?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22BOTH LAUGH
0:14:27 > 0:14:29There's a lull in his busy day
0:14:29 > 0:14:31so Alan takes the opportunity to visit VTS
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and see who has photos of the most recent ships.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36We don't get time for coffee, that's why.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- Blue Fighter, have you got him? - No, not yet.- Oh!
0:14:40 > 0:14:45- I got...- Olympic Commander, New Olympic Commander?- No, I haven't got Olympic Commander.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47- Oh, you're falling behind.- I know.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- Grampian Dawn?- No.- Oh!
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It's 3-1 to Alan, but Barry has other things on his mind.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57We can just see the south breakwater.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01A thick fog is creeping across the harbour
0:15:01 > 0:15:04and visibility has dropped to less than a quarter of a mile.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06- WALKIE TALKIE:- I'm just not certain of the wisdom
0:15:06 > 0:15:07of going at the moment.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Harbour office, magic.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21It's taken the Bibby Sapphire 13 hours to reach the Janice FPU,
0:15:21 > 0:15:26or Floating Production Unit, 175 miles out at sea.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34Saturation diver Terry Dearlove is getting ready for another day on the sea bed.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- HIGH VOICE:- Terry, getting coffee in bed.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Yeah, for a change.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39HIGH-PITCHED CHUCKLES
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Once Terry has adapted to the pressure of working at depth,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47his body needs to maintain that pressure.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51So he lives in a pressurised chamber,
0:15:51 > 0:15:55and breathes in a mix of helium and oxygen
0:15:55 > 0:15:57that makes him sound like Donald Duck.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Once they're kitted up, they make their way to a dive bell
0:16:09 > 0:16:11through a tunnel attached to their living chamber.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19Dave Marsh, or Swampy, is the dive controller in charge of operations.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Roger that, and we have a seal, you can take out five, please.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28You don't normally have to think of so many things at the one time.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Right, I'm good to come up on the cylinders. Coming up.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Swampy is also responsible for controlling the dive bell,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40which is slowly moved over an opening in the ship's hull.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42They'll trolley across the deck,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44go down through the moon pool to the working deck.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Say when. OK, Bob, coming down. Hello, guys, on our way.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04He lowers the bell, until it reaches a cradle at the bottom
0:17:04 > 0:17:09of the ocean, which is attached to the ship by guide wires.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14The guide wires guide the bell up and down.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18If there were no wires, it'd just be swinging around the breeze and disaster.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Getting close.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Red 47, bell at depth.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Before Terry can leave the bell,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34there's a rigorous process of safety checks.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Check the diver's umbilical's secured to the harness.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Diver's bail-out and function test is proven from the panel.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43On at the bottle, off at the hat,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and the pressure is 280. Roger.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51That's Terry there now, just going out the bell.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58He's under the bell now in the water.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02OK, then. Good for leaks? Good for leaks, Terry.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Finally, Terry can start work -
0:18:05 > 0:18:08installing a pipeline from an underwater well to the rig above it.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16It costs in excess of £100,000 per day
0:18:16 > 0:18:20to charter a ship like the Bibby Sapphire.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22The entire vessel with its 95-strong crew
0:18:22 > 0:18:26exist for one reason only -
0:18:26 > 0:18:29to support Terry and his buddy.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40It's another day at The Crown & Anchor,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43where Val's discovered a softer side to the sailors she serves.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Oot in that harbour, we've got hundreds of guys
0:18:47 > 0:18:50that gives me a lot of respect really.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55But as they say, "Well, Val, you give us respect, cos you look after us."
0:18:55 > 0:18:59One of her regulars is Lee Pooley, a 25-year-old deck hand.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Well, darling, I'm everybody's mother in here, I think.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Have I never challenged you at pool, my darling?
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Oooh, I feel a challenge coming on here.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23'Lee is such a lovely guy.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28'He turned round and says to me that I was the mother that he never had.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Two shots to me, sod off!
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Some mum she is, isn't she(?)
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Get off till I play my shot. Move!
0:19:36 > 0:19:40But, for Val, it's not really about winning.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- Chris, play pool cos he's a cheating little- BLEEP!
0:19:44 > 0:19:48'When you're a barmaid, you have to be a wife, a mother, a sister,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50'an agony aunt and everything.'
0:19:52 > 0:19:55You all right, Lee?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58But Lee isn't all right. He's due back at work in 40 minutes -
0:19:58 > 0:20:00and he shouldn't be drinking.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03He's... You're on watch at six o'clock.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06I know. I've just telt him, he's on his way back,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- you cannae get off with nae back. - No, you cannae, no.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17OK, Terry, I'm going to hand you over to Rob now.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19You've been very semi-professional all the way.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23On the Bibby Sapphire, it's crew change time -
0:20:23 > 0:20:26and Rob Jones has joined at a critical juncture.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30They're about to lower a work basket of tools down to the divers,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32and where they put it is crucial.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34No, that's fine, mate.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Take your time cos we need to obviously get this right.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39The nearer to the job, the better.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43Yeah, dive control, that's the main crane changed over to whip line
0:20:43 > 0:20:45and it's ready to over-board.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48But not so close that they injure the divers or damage the well head.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Right, coming down all the time, Terry.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01It's Rob's job to co-ordinate the whole process.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03You've got a visual on that.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05As the basket's lowered,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Terry's responsible for making sure it's positioned correctly.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11OK, you want me to put that move in, Tel? Roger.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Ford now, bridge.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Five metres ahead, bridge, you're clear to move.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Right, bridge. Let's move. - On the move, guys.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23In the crane, down easy, just watch your umbilicals, guys,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26we obviously don't want to lay this on top of anyone's umbilical.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29The umbilical is the divers' lifeline.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35It connects them to the ship, and supplies the gas they're breathing.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38The main thing we have to worry about is,
0:21:38 > 0:21:39we've got two guys on the sea bed
0:21:39 > 0:21:43and everything we do...
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I would like to think, is geared up for them.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54The divers, the crane and work-basket are constantly monitored.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08That's the frame out the water.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Mission accomplished.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15The crane is all stopped - vessel move, stop, please.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18'All is stopped, vessel move complete.'
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Vessel move is complete, guys.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23OK, nice one, fellas.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Lee's still in the Crown & Anchor -
0:22:46 > 0:22:48and struggling to tear himself away.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52I've told him, I've just finished telling him
0:22:52 > 0:22:54he's on shift at 6 o'clock.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Back on the boat.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Get your butt round here,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01get your bag and get back on that boat, darling.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03He's a rare lad.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- Good night, Val.- See you later on.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09There's a zero tolerance policy on drinking -
0:23:09 > 0:23:11something Lee should already know.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14You have to be here for them because they've got naebody else.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18There is a lot of lonely people... a lot.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Sea fog - or haar, as it's known in the North East -
0:23:30 > 0:23:35is an occupational hazard for those that work at the harbour.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40Visibility, I'd estimate, is about half a mile from our station.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45It happens when a parcel of warm air passes over the notoriously cold North Sea.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Fog plays tricks on people and you don't really know
0:23:51 > 0:23:52what they are going to do.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55People do strange things in fog, probably things
0:23:55 > 0:23:58they wouldn't do otherwise, when they can see something.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Even VTS is helpless if they can't see what's going on.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I hate fog, I hated fog when I was at sea.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I don't like it any more now.
0:24:19 > 0:24:25At home, after another shift, Val's had news of Lee - and it's not good.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29He never went on his shift and he actually got the sack.
0:24:29 > 0:24:37I just think he needs somebody there to show him a bit of love, I think.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41I just like to show him it when he is here in the pub with us.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Hearing about Lee makes Val reflect on her relationship with her own son.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Me and my son kind of parted ways for a while.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58A lot of things, fault on both sides, not just his, mine, as well.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02I was standing at Marks & Spencer's and this old neighbour
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I used to have fae North Anderson Drive came up and she says to me,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09"I thought you were dead, your son said you were dead".
0:25:09 > 0:25:14And I said, "Pardon? As you can see, I'm very much alive".
0:25:14 > 0:25:16That really, really hurt
0:25:16 > 0:25:21and I thought, "Oh, my God, does my son really think that of me?"
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Maybe that's why I mother a' the guys that come out the boats now,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33because they all cry I mother them, but...
0:25:33 > 0:25:34Me and my son'll sort it oot.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54In the icy depths of the North Sea, Terry's approaching the end of his dive.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03He's worked without a break since he left the dive bell.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07And hasn't eaten since breakfast. But there's only one thing on his mind...
0:26:09 > 0:26:13X Factor, yeah, I'll get you back for that.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15Ah, it's Saturday night, isn't it?
0:26:19 > 0:26:23And we have a slight improvement in visibility from our station here.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28As quickly as the fog arrives, it lifts.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34That's fine, you have traffic clearance inwards following the Maersk Forwarder.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Beautiful evening now.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51His buddy pulls Terry back into the dive bell,
0:26:51 > 0:26:52which returns to the ship.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11And when a diver's social life is so restricted,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13it's the little things that matter...
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I've just been through and spoke to the chef.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19He's fine with the steaks, omelettes, eggs.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22He is a little bit confused if you want beans and chips with it,
0:27:22 > 0:27:27or a jacket potato, or... Chips and beans, is that OK?
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Installing the pipeline is a non-stop 24-hour operation.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38There are four sets of divers on the Bibby Sapphire,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41each working a six-hour shift.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53'If you can pull it astern of the wheel station, clear of the diver.'
0:27:53 > 0:27:58The oil industry pumps out 3.2 million barrels of oil a day.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03The Bibby Sapphire is an essential part of that process.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12- IAN:- Scary thing looming up the darkness.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Almost another day over. Another day in paradise!
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Coming up next week, a storm lashes the harbour...
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Whatever you do in this weather, don't mess about.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39..and saturation diver Terry makes a startling observation.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd