Episode 6 The Harbour

Aberdeen Harbour...

Yes, so you can pick up to a speed of five or six knots, please.

..a multi-million-pound business

at the cutting edge of maritime technology...

That bridge is on the move, Bob.

Roger, on the move, guys.

..where everyone works together...

I can't slap these guys, you know. I'd like to.

HE LAUGHS

Well, you've got to be on the ball. You've got to be alert.

..in the most challenging conditions...

If your feet get caught in that, it'll drag you over the side.

-BLEEP

-happened there, man?

..to keep the harbour running...

-Oh, my God! Get off me.

-Come on!

-Urgh!

THEY CHEER

..every single day of the year.

You're looking good on starboard side.

No, we don't drive a submarine.

Over the course of a year, the harbour becomes shallower.

Easterly gales, and the River Dee's spates,

deposit silt - which becomes hard and compacted.

So every spring, it's dredged.

UKD Marlin VTS.

That's all clear up at the ice plant.

Peter Thomson is the ship's master.

Good to go, thank you very much. Clear to go.

They've been dredging for over three weeks now -

and are in the final few days.

We've got some runs to do down the middle of the basin.

There's a little few high spots that we need to remove.

We're nearly pumped dry now.

Phil Kershaw is dredge master.

So we'll shut the top doors.

OK, Phil. I'm going to back up now.

Phil will lower a pipe to suck up the silt.

But not until the captain tells him to.

Just listening to what Peter says.

If he starts backing up and I haven't heard him,

he could crunch the pipe up. Not very friendly then.

We'll take the port pipe, Phil, please.

-OK, Phil, let's go.

-Down, down, down.

-Yep.

On the bottom.

The pipe's on the bottom.

Ready to start dredging now.

Howard Drysdale is port chaplain.

This gangway wasn't built for the fat.

HE LAUGHS

And it's part of his job

to visit the ships that come in to the harbour.

-How you doing? Enjoying the sunshine?

-Yes.

-Almost like home.

-Yeah. THEY LAUGH

Today, however, he's here for a very special reason.

-How you doing?

-I'm fine, thank you. How are you?

Very well, thanks.

-When are you sailing?

-Sailing? Today.

-You're sailing today?

-Yeah, I think so.

We have a very special visitor coming to the Seafarers Centre -

HRH Princess Royal is coming to the centre.

And she wants to meet with real seafarers.

Can you not get your charterers to delay you?

THEY LAUGH

On to the next ship,

which shouldn't be leaving until tomorrow evening.

-You're looking smart. Did you shave for me?

-Yep.

THEY LAUGH

How's things with you?

I hear you're getting a charter tomorrow, is that right?

-Yeah, we're leaving tomorrow morning at six.

-This cannot happen.

This is happening.

We have Princess Anne coming to the Seafarers Centre,

and I was going to invite you over to meet with her.

It's a blow.

The Princess Royal has specifically asked to meet seamen,

and Howard's not having much luck.

I know it's a working day, and you're all busy and stuff,

but if any of you guys can get off then,

we'd love to see you over at the Seafarers Centre.

-Any special dress code?

-Come as you are.

The last thing she wants to is to see a seafarer in a suit.

It'll be good fun.

-We'll spread the word.

-Nice to have met you. Have a good day.

-Yeah, the same.

-Bless you, now.

See you later, boys.

The harbour may be efficiently run,

but a lot of work goes on behind the scenes

to make sure it stays that way,

as Andy Watson and Rory Forbes know only too well.

Good morning, DCO. PHONE RINGS

See, it's all go. Hello.

-See that, two phone calls when the telly's there. Ta-da.

-Problem.

They are DCOs - or Dock Control Officers.

-Oh, not the booms.

-Aye.

-Boom, boom, boom.

-That's Christmas trees coming 0600 Sunday.

-And the booms are on the way?

Aye.

Both pieces of equipment are connected to the oil industry.

-There's a boom. Boom, boom, boom.

-I just said that.

-Did you?

-You just killed that joke. You actually just killed that joke.

And that's a Christmas tree. So they're a secret.

You don't get to see them at Christmas.

We'd have to kill you if you saw it.

We'll see how much room we need.

It's their job to make sure the booms are moved

so the Christmas trees can be delivered as scheduled.

No, you're not taking your music I refuse to listen to your music.

THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER

Enya.

No, we're not listening to Enya. I'll fall asleep when I'm driving.

-My coffee's cold. Again.

-Good.

MUSIC: "Orinoco Flow" by Enya

I'm not listening to that music any more.

HE LAUGHS

You see these two booms here.

This one ideally would have been back in the same place as this,

but unfortunately it can't come back because of this rack of pipes.

The only problem is - getting hold of the agents to move them.

OK, super. Thank you. Ta-ta.

Gone for lunch.

-Phone his mobile.

-He's going to phone back.

-It's OK, I'll phone his mobile.

-You are harsh.

-Aye, I know.

You are harsh.

He's not answering his mobile. He's avoiding us.

When he knew we were going to phone him back, he's gone out to lunch.

Cos he's scared.

There's just one more thing niggling Rory.

What does a Christmas tree do?

Here we go, Google knows everything.

It is an assembly of valves,

spools and fittings used for oil wells.

So now we know, I will never need to ask that again.

Look, I'm no' listening to old-man music.

Look, I'm no' listening to... I'm no' listening to....

I'm not listening to old-mannie music. You'll like this one.

Listen to this one. Listen to this. Let me play you this one.

LOUD HIP-HIP MUSIC

See there you go, much better music.

Ian Still and Jean Claridge are preparing to celebrate.

So you're a professional at this decorating?

At blowing up balloons, yes.

As one of the few sandwich shops in the harbour, they're always busy.

Some of the boat guys,

you get a few guys off the ships when they're in docks.

You get a lot of people like that.

The good thing with a lot of the offices nearby, it's word of mouth.

We get lots of people from all over now.

Even Val Morrison, barmaid at the Crown and Anchor, is a customer.

It's just about two minutes along the road from the pub,

which is fine for me.

Because you nip along, and you come back within two minutes

and you've got your dinner.

The shop's been given a face-lift -

and they've decided to have a re-launch.

And that's why we thought, well,

-why don't we get somebody to cut the ribbon?

-Yeah.

The first person that came to mind was Val, our local celebrity.

-When I mentioned it to her, she jumped at the chance.

-Yeah.

She was delighted that we asked.

It's an honour for me.

I'd never have thought three, four years ago,

that I would be going to open a shop.

Never in my lifetime.

And they're expecting a big turn-out.

Shall it go here? That might cover a wee corner up.

How does that look?

Now, I think I look fine. Joan Collins, eat your heart out.

The seagulls have been naughty again. Wee terrors.

The joy of being at the harbour-side.

Aberdeen is legendary for its predatory seagulls.

When we're loading the vans in the morning, they come down

and if there's not a couple of people outside they swoop down

-and take butteries and sandwiches...

-Everything. Flying off with it.

-See if this bird

-BLEEP

-on my head after me being dressed...

If the harbour becomes silted up,

it's trickier for ships to move in and out.

So they're restoring Albert Basin to its designer depth of 7.5m.

I'm looking now at the yellow.

That's the end of the pipe there - that red square.

And that's the depth at which it's dredging.

The screen also shows how much silt they still need to remove.

What we're trying to do is to make all these yellow squares...

Turn them blue, which changes them from a depth of 7.2m to 7.5.

It's a bit like playing Space Invaders.

The worst thing we can get is something in the pump.

You lose all your flow and everything.

The pump starts rattling about and you have to take whatever's in out.

Got a sheep last week.

We've had bags of cats and dogs and all sorts.

It's industrial...whang, isn't it? It's pretty bad.

HE LAUGHS

As well as being port chaplain, Howard is also

superintendent of the Seafarers Centre.

I'm printing photographs out to put on a display board

so that when Her Royal Highness comes tomorrow,

there'll be something for her to look at.

David Kenwright is the centre's chairman of trustees.

We'll put it on this way around so everyone can see.

In the interim period, we'll put it in the chaplain's room with

the cloth over it that I've pinched from the club.

HE LAUGHS

Everybody can see it if it's pointing into the room.

David will be presenting the plaque to the Princess to unveil.

I think you're going to have to stand in front of the pool table.

If you stand behind the lights...

-I think the lights are a good idea, actually.

-Oh, stop being modest.

THEY LAUGH

But otherwise...

-In that case, that's what we'll do.

-The green matches the green cloth.

I'll leave it in your capable hands. See you again at 4.30.

-I'll be fine, don't worry.

-OK.

Phone. Phone.

Rory and Andy are on shift again.

-What size is your hi-vis vest?

-Medium.

Let's check the size of your hi-vis vest.

Small, I think. Small to medium. Extra small.

-Look at that.

-XXL - that's how big his hi-vis vest is.

It's a thick jacket.

THEY LAUGH

And the tie...when you wear one of these ties.

Aye, it makes your hi-vis vest pop out, doesn't it?

HE LAUGHS

What are you like?

They are off to measure the length of the quay

for the Safmarine Shaba -

the fourth longest ship to berth at the harbour.

That way everything is perfectly positioned for

when the vessel comes in.

It can come in, start straightaway, there's no hold-ups, and

she can have a fast turn round and go away,

which keeps everybody happy.

Apparently.

We've got two measurements we need to worry about.

Steel to steel, which is the length of the vessel.

Then we've got the measurement for ropes as well.

Space in the harbour is at a premium.

Every metre counts, especially on this berth.

When you have a few boats coming, you need to know where that

boat's coming to leave room for your next boat.

Stern.

That cone is the stern of the ship.

162m. That's how far I walked.

I know I need exercise but this is getting a bit much.

-Wearing out shoe leather.

-Part of his diet.

We'll buy you a new pair.

There's an air of anticipation at the sandwich shop.

Is that Val coming?

No riff-raff, please.

You're already famous for lap dancing.

And it's time for the celebrations to begin.

There's a nice wee crowd there.

And it's with my great pleasure that

I officially open Doorsteps.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

You might get...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

You're looking superb, Val.

Here's your scissors back. I'll cut your hair.

There's not very much left.

This is our new menu, Val.

Derek's got a wee surprise to tell you about on the menu there.

-Can you see it?

-I see it.

Harbour Queen, AKA Val.

That's lovely!

It's the sandwich Val most often orders.

That's excellent.

I've never had a sandwich called after me.

I just think it's ace.

The Cheeky Swine, that's a good one. And a panini.

Thank you very much.

They aren't charging for sandwiches today.

Chicken sweetcorn baguette.

But hope people donate to Bosies, a local breast cancer charity.

-Mind you put a donation in that box, you little

-BLEEP.

About 200 people turn up to see Val in action.

You've got to have a bit of my sandwich.

I'm not taking no for an answer. That's the Harbour Queen, me.

Come on, you. Try this.

-It's the new one they've got on their menu.

-Thank you.

Here's a tenner, but I need a kiss.

-Eh? You just do that...

-Come on!

Urgh!

If he was somebody younger, I'd be fine.

This just makes you feel you're in the same league

as Madonna and all that.

The Harbour Queen for me.

Unlike Madonna, though, Val has a day job.

See you later, my darlings. I need to go.

APPLAUSE

Thank you, my darlings.

Thank you, Val.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

But the seagulls strike again...

My sandwich fell out.

I can't believe it fell out the package.

Even the seagulls like the Harbour Queen sandwich.

Tell them I need another sandwich!

The Safmarine Shaba is a cargo ship

which regularly makes the six-week round trip to the burgeoning

oil industry in West Africa.

Busy morning. We haven't done a lot, just been busy.

It's the first time that pilot Jeff Gaskin has brought her in.

It's just unusual for this size of ship in this port.

So we just have to be a bit more attentive when we are doing the job.

We don't have the space,

and we need the tugs to turn bigger vessels.

They're too heavy for the engines in confined waters, so the tugs give

us that ability to manoeuvre them.

It will take the pilots, the tugs, VTS and the boatmen -

all working together - to bring her in safely.

If it all goes well, it's good.

If it doesn't go well...

They won't ask me to do it again. That's fine.

It takes around 40 minutes to fill the dredger.

Backing up now.

Finished dredging so bringing the pipe up now.

That's it. He's filled the hopper, now, to its maximum.

It will now be taken away and emptied.

Aberdeen VTS UKD Marlin, we're completed in Albert Basin

and ready for it.

I can increase to full-speed now, and then I watch for the dolphins.

30 minutes later, they reach the dumpsite -

2.5 miles southeast of the harbour entrance.

We're just going to deposit it in a minute.

That's the deposit there.

Once he gets into there, he tells me to drop the doors

and we drop the doors.

There are ten doors in the bottom of the ship.

Are you ready?

There we go.

The doors are down now.

Emptying the dredger takes just seconds.

Give it a splash out, get rid of a bit of the muck.

And put some North Sea water in as ballast.

Ballast gives the ship more weight in the water,

making it easier to manoeuvre.

That's your doors up.

Over 25 days, the dredger will make this journey just under 200 times.

Aberdeen VTS UKD Marlin - just half a mile from the breakwater.

'Where's your next stop?'

Back into Albert Basin.

We'll go and see if we can clean the rest of it up this time.

By early afternoon, the Seafarers Centre is filling up...

..with supporters of the centre,

and, of course, the odd seaman.

There are none from any of the ships Howard visited earlier,

but right at the moment, he has other things on his mind.

I'd like to say, there are certain protocols you have to follow.

As much as I'd like to do my usual, and give Princess Anne a hug,

I'll probably refrain from doing so, and I suggest you do likewise.

The Princess Royal is in the city to visit an exhibition

and conference for the oil and gas industry.

And she arrives even earlier than anticipated.

She is president of the Mission to Seafarers

and has always taken a keen interest in their welfare.

Your Royal Highness, thank you for visiting the centre

and meeting so many of the people who've helped make

Howard's dream a reality.

It's a pleasure.

I'm delighted to have the opportunity to visit the Seafarers Centre.

Aberdeen has become busier than it ever has been in some ways,

but the type of shipping has changed.

And the way that seafarers' lives are affected has changed.

So these centres make a real difference to their lives -

but to the lives of their families too,

because you allow them to have reasonable levels of communication,

which is so important to them. Well done. Thank you.

APPLAUSE

That was amazing.

She engaged with everybody. I'm so pleased.

Very successful visit.

My only disappointment of the whole day was that

none of the Filipinos could make it. All busy, crew change, sailing.

Operational needs come first.

Safmarine Shaba. Aberdeen pilots, good morning.

Yes, sir, you can pick up to a speed of between five

and six knots, please.

Right, we'll see how it goes.

Two pilots.

Next one.

How are we doing?

One more pilot.

Here he comes.

OK.

It's a challenge to turn in the basin.

Especially when the wind makes her even trickier to manoeuvre.

This is massive.

One of the biggest ones we've had in for a long time.

OK, let's go back in the car. Taking your life jacket off already.

I could fit in that three times.

# Come on, Barbie, let's go party... #

Val's revelling in her new-found celebrity status.

That Angelina Jolie doesn't have a sandwich named after her.

Nor does Cher.

She doesn't realise she's about to have a few unexpected customers.

-'Let's go and see Val for a quick one, shall we?

-Aye, a drink!

Here we go. Here they are.

Come on.

-That's for you, Val.

-And your flowers.

VAL LAUGHS

We've counted the money.

And thanks to your great effort, we've raised £250.

Ah, spot on!

All the money is going to breast cancer charity Bosies.

You've put in an awful lot of effort today, so me

and Derek would like to double that,

so here's another cheque for £250, to give you £500 for today.

No way.

APPLAUSE

-Honestly?

-Honestly.

-They'll be so delighted.

It'll do a lot for them. It'll really do a lot for them.

That's good.

Thanks, Val.

-Thank you very much.

-You're more than welcome.

-Thank you both very much.

-Nae worries.

-Well done.

Thanks again. That was brilliant.

-VAL:

-Hello, my darlings!

Wait a minute while I give my men a cuddle.

JONATHAN: This is one of the best lobsters and colours I've ever seen.

Look at that. Pot of gold! That's what we want.

-ALAN:

-Beautiful. This is the day you're glad you're a boatman.

NORMAN: I'm just making it look easy.

-ALAN:

-Never worked so hard in all my life.

ALI: Stolt Redshank.

Good morning, sir, we are heading out towards you now.

Boarding speed - five to six knots.

DAVE: Normand Carrier VTS.

When boatmen pitch up you can let go. Call me when all done.

Thanks for waiting, traffic clearance to sail.

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