1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Stretching from Land's End to Dover, 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,600 this is the busiest seaway in the world. 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,960 And come hell or high water... 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,000 Three, two, one. Firing! 5 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,440 No amount of training can prepare you for what we faced that night. 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,880 ..it's open for business 365 days a year. 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,920 Over 90% of the world's trade travels by sea. 8 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,320 It's just not TV's and refrigerators, it's everything around us. 9 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,800 Teeming with every type of vessel... 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,720 Everyone on board reckons their job is the hardest. 11 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:38,800 ..and a rich diversity of wildlife. 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,000 It's kept safe by those who patrol its seaways. 13 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,520 Throw your arm to the boat. 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,680 Their actions standing between triumph... 15 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,800 ..and disaster... 16 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,800 Ease off, ease off. 17 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,040 ..on the unpredictable waters of the English Channel. 18 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,680 Today, a ship full of luxury cars is in dire straits. 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,240 The tide was ripping around the front 20 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,600 and was sucking everything in towards it. 21 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,640 Stay where you are! Going in. He's in. 22 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,040 It wasn't nice because you could see the fear in his face. 23 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,760 A novice tries to keep his nerve in a test for one of the most 24 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,000 dangerous jobs in the docks. 25 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,440 I can honestly say to you that drivers have died and the drivers 26 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:33,720 that have lived and gone over have not come out of it very well. 27 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,600 And a rescued seal struggles to return to the English Channel. 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,360 If he would only go through the waves, it's calm out there. 29 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,000 Throughout history, the oceans have served 30 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,200 as a means of transporting goods. 31 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,760 And as trade has become increasingly globalised, 32 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,520 shipping volumes have soared. 33 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,720 The English Channel alone sees 40,000 tankers, 34 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,800 container ships and bulk carriers cram its waters every year. 35 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,160 It's the main conduit for goods entering and leaving the UK. 36 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,760 Our industry and economy depend upon it. 37 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,760 Of all the ports on the Channel, Southampton is the busiest 38 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,400 and most successful. 39 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,720 The interesting thing about the port of Southampton is this, 40 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,840 it's got two tides. 41 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,640 That means to say, we can get ships in and out almost any time 42 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:42,280 of the day or night. 43 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,560 Believe me, it's a real big geographical advantage. 44 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,760 It's very well policed by the Coastguard, 45 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,440 they organise it extremely well. 46 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,240 Arcadia VTS five, cable. 47 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:56,600 Incidents are rare 48 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,840 despite its narrow and tricky to navigate shipping lanes. 49 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,360 But sometimes disasters do happen. 50 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:09,120 In January 2015, this 51,000 tonne car carrier, 51 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,000 laden with 1,400 vehicles, 52 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,320 had barely left port before it ran into trouble. 53 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:19,880 TV REPORTER: 'She should have been well on her way to Bremerhaven 54 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,040 'but this evening, the Hoegh Osaka lies beached 55 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,760 'and immovable alongside one of the UK's busiest shipping channels.' 56 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:32,200 'The vessel did develop a severe list shortly after she left port. 57 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,680 'The pilot and the master made a decision' 58 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,840 to save the vessel and the crew by grounding her on the bank. 59 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,800 'It's currently too dangerous to board the ship. 60 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,920 'Within its giant hull are over a thousand cars 61 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,400 'and construction machines, and 500 tonnes of fuel oil.' 62 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,120 The ship ran aground at night 63 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,640 making the rescue of the 25 crew on board all the more challenging. 64 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,240 The RNLI volunteers from nearby Calshot were one of the first 65 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,480 agencies on the scene. 66 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,560 If there's casualties on board, 67 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,120 are we going to need to be giving them any assistance? 68 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,000 We're thinking, "Do we need to get our first aid kit ready?" 69 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,120 Lighting is also useful, so straightaway we've got 70 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,040 our search lights out ready so we can start searching the area. 71 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,600 Once we got there, we didn't know if it was going to move any further. 72 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,240 We just knew we had 25 souls on board. 73 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:29,560 RADIO: 'Air rescue, this is Solant Coastguard. 74 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:35,600 'If it is safe to do so, commence removing crew from the vessel.' 75 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,240 Quite an adrenaline rush 76 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,720 for us going out there 77 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,600 and seeing everything in action. 78 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,080 A lot of lifeboatS and a helicopter all in one place on the same rescue. 79 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,360 You never expect to see something of that scale. 80 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,640 No amount of training can ever prepare you 81 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,360 for what we faced that night. 82 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,120 It was surreal, it was odd. 83 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,240 We heard people shouting for help and saw someone shining a torch. 84 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,840 We managed to see his orange jacket through one of the windows on the lower side. 85 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,120 We managed to shout at him and get his attention, 86 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:11,720 and he managed to kick open a ladder 87 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,960 and climbed down safely into the boat. 88 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,360 The Coastguard's helicopter airlifts the majority of the crew 89 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,680 from the top deck but not everyone can make it. 90 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,360 We found another chap and because of the angle of the deck, 91 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,720 wasn't able to get towards the top. 92 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,120 Stay where you are! 93 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,680 We did try to get him to wait 94 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,920 and to call the helicopter across to fetch him from where he was, 95 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,600 but either through panic or he didn't hear us, 96 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,560 or through the language barrier he decided he was going to jump in. 97 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,440 There he goes. He's going in. He is in! 98 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,080 'He was in a state of panic.' 99 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,040 The tide was ripping around the front of the vessel 100 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,600 and was sucking everything in towards it. 101 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,480 It wasn't nice because you could see the fear in his face and after 102 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:12,640 I grabbed him, it was nice to know that he felt relief and he was OK. 103 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,400 All in all, we were out there for around three hours 104 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,160 until the last people that needed to come off, came off 105 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,960 and all persons had been accounted for. 106 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,040 Loss of life has been averted but the Osaka, 107 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,280 at a perilous angle of 52 degrees, 108 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:32,760 in the middle of a strong tidal system, 109 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,440 also presents a danger to other vessels. 110 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,200 It's now up to agencies like Southampton Harbour Patrol 111 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,640 to work out how to keep the Solent safe 112 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,440 and, ultimately, to get the Osaka back to port. 113 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:57,160 The consequences of this ship going walkabout in one of the busiest 114 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,000 shipping lanes in Europe, just doesn't bear thinking about. 115 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,440 It's a costly operation but if you think safety is expensive, 116 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,720 try having an accident. 117 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,960 Meanwhile, the port of Southampton must remain open for business. 118 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,480 38 million tonnes of cargo - everything from mobile phones 119 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,320 to fruit and veg, pass through here every year 120 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,200 making it the most productive port in Europe. 121 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,240 The crew here is the height of efficiency, 122 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,680 shuttling containers to and from vessels faster than anywhere else in the UK. 123 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,160 I can tell you that this port, 124 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,680 in all the years of being here, 125 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:49,120 I have never seen it run as efficiently as it does today. 126 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,760 It is quite remarkable what they do here 127 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,320 and the systems they employ here, to get these rather large vessels 128 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,240 discharged and loaded, and away off the quay wall. 129 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:02,680 It is amazing. 130 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,840 Alongside forklifts and articulated lorries 131 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,320 is a fleet of 90 straddle carriers. 132 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,600 These 40 foot machines are in continual operation 133 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,240 and driving them is a highly skilled job, 134 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,200 especially in amongst the busy port traffic. 135 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,560 John White is one of Southampton port's training coordinators 136 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,080 and responsible for keeping the docks accident free. 137 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,880 It's up to him who passes and who fails the straddle carrier driving test, 138 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,840 and who gets to keep their licence after regular reviews 139 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:40,600 in their first year. 140 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,480 Safety in the docks is paramount. 141 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,480 Having clocked up almost 40 years working on the docks, 142 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,200 John knows only too well the hazards of this particular job. 143 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:58,400 This is probably one of the most unstable vehicles you can drive. 144 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,320 All the weight on this vehicle is up the top. 145 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:07,200 You can imagine, can't you, if you've got a 63, 65 tonne machine, 146 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:12,120 you start travelling around the terminal with a 40 tonne box 147 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,600 high in the air, the centre of gravity has shifted 148 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,560 and that means, when you turn a corner, you could go over. 149 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:23,320 Believe me, that happens in a split second. 150 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,000 Serious accidents are rare but can happen. 151 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,160 I can honestly say to you that drivers have died. 152 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,960 And the drivers that have lived and gone over 153 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,040 have not come out of it very well. 154 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,320 We need drivers out there that understand 155 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,200 the necessity to be careful. 156 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,720 Tomorrow, John will be examining Herve Garrod, who has been 157 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,680 training as a straddle carrier driver for the last three weeks. 158 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:57,560 Right now, Herve is having his crucial final lesson 159 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:00,200 with instructor, Richard Bailey, ahead of his big test. 160 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,600 Yeah, before you lift up, make sure you're out of gear - 161 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,480 you don't want to start jolting backwards and forwards. 162 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,680 And then off we go. 163 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,920 Keep an eye on what's going on around. 164 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,160 It's not bad, pretty clear at the moment. 165 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:22,800 Passing this test is all-important, as in, like for, 166 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,600 being able to work as a straddle driver. 167 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,040 You know, hopefully if I pass it, it will be 168 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,880 the first step to the rest of my career working down the docks now. 169 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,000 So, I'll get a good 25 years working down here. 170 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,640 You know, it will give me much more options, as in, like, 171 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,080 there's other jobs that I can apply for and ultimately, 172 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,160 maybe in a few years' time, I'll be able to become a crane driver. 173 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:52,840 Herve started work at the port in 2007 and within 12 months 174 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,640 had qualified as a straddle driver. 175 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:00,400 But a year later, the recession hit and Herve was made redundant. 176 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,400 I thought that was the end of my working life down here. 177 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,520 But then I was out for a year 178 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,520 and then a year later I got offered a position in the warehouse. 179 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,080 So, I've been working over there for the last 4 1/2 years. 180 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,760 Getting back into the straddle is Herve's big chance 181 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,040 to secure his future at the port. 182 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,600 Although he's done this job before, changing technology 183 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:25,400 and newer vehicles has meant relearning the skills all over again. 184 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,800 You could have looked to see what position it was and gone 185 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,680 to the other end of the row. I did think that, but then maybe... 186 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:33,480 Yeah, like I say, it's something that you've got to think about. 187 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,720 It's always... Plan your route, make sure that you're making it 188 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,120 nice and easy for yourself. Yeah. 189 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,080 The last thing you want to do is make it hard work. No. 190 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,520 I'm happy with Herve. 191 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,760 I'm just pointing out a few little things for him to help him. 192 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,080 He's a good driver. 193 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,600 He just needs to keep getting in good habits 194 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,520 cos he's got a few little bad habits, which we've got to knock out of him 195 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,760 before the test tomorrow. 196 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,480 At this busy terminal, safety is the number one priority. 197 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:07,080 And just like the Highway Code, there's a set of rules to stick to. 198 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,360 Well, you can't come out of a row legs-first, 199 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:11,720 because you've got no visibility and it's dangerous 200 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,680 and you can run straight into another straddle carrier. 201 00:12:14,680 --> 00:12:17,360 So, you always come out of a row cab-first. 202 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,320 It's a very dangerous environment. 203 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,400 You can't afford to switch off at all. 204 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,360 You've got to keep focused, otherwise that's when accidents happen. 205 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,640 A couple of straddles collided once, yeah. 206 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:36,200 Just collided with each other and all the glass went in the cab and that. 207 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,840 I don't think anyone was seriously injured but, you know, 208 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,880 it's still not a nice thing to see because you don't know 209 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:43,960 if anyone's seriously hurt or not. 210 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:50,360 The cab of a straddle carrier is 40 foot off the ground. 211 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:53,600 As well as needing a head for heights, operators also need to 212 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:58,640 master the steering and knowing how to drive a car is no help at all. 213 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,600 If you can imagine yourself in a car, 214 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,200 when you turn left, you go left. 215 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,440 But in these machines, if you turn LEFT, you're going to go RIGHT. 216 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,720 So, really, it's completely alien to the way we drive, actually. 217 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:18,680 So, really, the drivers themselves need to pick this up 218 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:21,760 and initially, when they start training themselves, 219 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,280 this is one of the big issues with drivers. 220 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,880 They've got to try and get the steering right. 221 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,760 When you're doing your test, you've got to drive the correct way. 222 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,960 So, I just need to keep that in mind and not try and keep up with everybody else. 223 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,720 But you do feel a little bit of pressure because, you know, 224 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,320 you don't want to get in people's way and that sort of stuff. 225 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,280 But, you know, hopefully, I'm only going to do the test once. 226 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,040 So, I'll pass this test and then that'll be it. 227 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,600 If he makes a silly mistake, like travels with the box too high, 228 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:00,280 turns too fast, drives erratically, 229 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,600 hits a box in the stack, 230 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,000 hits a lorry up in the parking-up area, 231 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,240 any erratic sort of driving - then he'll fail. 232 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,560 But I've got my faith in you, Herv! Thanks, mate! 233 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,360 Tomorrow, Herve's concentration skills will be put to the test. 234 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,080 The English Channel's chilly waters are home to 235 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,880 one of the country's most charismatic warm-blooded animals. 236 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,880 The seal. 237 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,520 It's not uncommon for seal pups to be spotted on the beaches 238 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,760 and coves of the Channel. 239 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,400 Many are healthy but some newborns are distressed or orphaned 240 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,360 and in need of help. 241 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,280 Wildlife centres, like Mallydams Wood near Hastings 242 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,400 are on hand to take in the sick, injured and vulnerable. 243 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,320 The marine in-patients are rehabilitated by 244 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,800 RSPCA officers like Richard Thompson and Elaine Crouch, 245 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:11,480 who are trained in specialist seal care. 246 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,680 At only 8kg when it first came to them, 247 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,440 this pup was the smallest they'd ever taken in. 248 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,520 She must have been about two weeks premature 249 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,040 because she still had the umbilical cord. 250 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,000 SEAL BARKS 251 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:34,680 Right, back to you. 252 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,080 SEAL WHINES GENTLY 253 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:42,080 So, when she came in, she came in at 8.9 kilos. 10.92. 254 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,320 OK, so, she's put on two kilos now? Yeah. Since admission. 255 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,520 So, that's really good. SEAL BARKS 256 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,600 And we can feed her now. We can feed her... 257 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,160 This pup will be hand-reared 258 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,720 and fattened up on a diet of 3kg of fish a day. 259 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,520 It looks like we're giving her baby sausages but actually, 260 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,720 this is the only way to get weight on them. 261 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,160 Pups can be released to the Channel when they reach 28 kilos. 262 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,440 It's three months later and the pup, now discovered to be male, 263 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,080 has reached its target weight. 264 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,280 It's been a long journey to fatten it up and keep it healthy 265 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,240 and today is release day. 266 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:20,880 That will probably be the last 267 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:22,600 meal that we give because we're 268 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,360 draining the pool, getting them out and then they're on their own. 269 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,080 It's the big day but the pup has no idea how much it's life 270 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,280 is about to change. 271 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,960 These animals have been here since they were very small, 272 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,600 so they're not used to the elements in the sea. 273 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,560 So, you want to pick the best day, a calm day, 274 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,280 to give them a chance to get used to it all. 275 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,280 And then hopefully, they'll thrive. 276 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,600 Often, people do ask, animals that have been in captivity, 277 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,680 how are they going to fare for themselves? 278 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,040 How are they going to catch their own food? 279 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,520 And all the studies show that they do. There's instinct there. 280 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,880 Once it's released, the team can still track its progress. 281 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,120 Each seal that we release has a tag and an individual number, 282 00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:10,000 so if somebody spots that, they phone it through to us, 283 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,360 we know exactly when it was released, 284 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:15,800 the weight it was released and how long ago it was, so, we know. 285 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,440 With a bit of gentle persuasion with a broom, the young seal is 286 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,040 crated up and ready to leave its small pool for the open sea. 287 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,240 Yes... 288 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,160 It's being released at Pett Level Beach in East Sussex, 289 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:36,200 where conditions are ideal, with good weather and calm seas. 290 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:37,840 His first taste of the sea, 291 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,560 he's not going to have to contend with great big crashing waves... 292 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,000 and cold weather. 293 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,120 So, hopefully, he'll just slip into the sea and live happily ever after. 294 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,120 This will be the first time the seal pup has seen the sea 295 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:55,840 since it was just a few days old. 296 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:57,360 OK? 297 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,760 Will natural instincts kick in? 298 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,480 It's got the right idea - and tries to head out to sea, 299 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,480 but is not making much headway. 300 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:44,200 The pup doesn't seem to be able to get past the breakers. 301 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,080 Go, go, go! 302 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,680 This is so new to him. He's never experienced this before. 303 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:59,800 And he was keen to go but, of course, he's not used to the waves. 304 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,480 And it is, you know, although it's a beautiful day, 305 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,360 that's still pretty tough. 306 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:09,560 He just has to learn to get beyond that, which he will. 307 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,680 It appears that the pup is finally finding its confidence. 308 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:35,200 But then it's spotted back on dry land further down the beach. 309 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,360 For this to be a successful release, 310 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:42,040 the seal needs to swim out into the open sea. 311 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:46,840 It's like anybody doing something for the first time. He has to find out 312 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,600 how it all works. I mean, that is his element and he's going to have to 313 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,400 have waves crashing around him throughout the winter. And he's fine. 314 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,360 He's built for that. But this is the bit with all the unknown. 315 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:03,200 Our seal pool is calm. He gets fish thrown in. 316 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,080 This is the very first time he's really had the elements. 317 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,920 So, he WILL be fine. But you would just like him to go straight out. 318 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,680 It's not looking good for the seal. 319 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,480 And it's still struggling to get past the waves. 320 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,720 If he's going to do this for too long, he's going to get exhausted. 321 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,720 So, then we have to think about catching him up again if we can. 322 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,280 But if he would only go through the waves, it's calm out there. 323 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,880 After an anxious wait, Elaine decides to intervene. 324 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:05,440 We're going to try and catch him up. Take him back and assess him. 325 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,880 Probably keep him for a few days. 326 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:12,080 And then wait and see if we've got another opportunity of good weather. 327 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,280 Cos he's going to be tired now. 328 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,240 But as if it knew that this was its last chance... 329 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,160 Has he gone? 330 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:24,080 Yay! 331 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,600 We couldn't see. Has he definitely gone? 332 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,160 The pup finally swims out on to the Channel, 333 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,240 its head just visible above the swell. 334 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,120 MAN: There he is, there he is, there he is... 335 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:47,560 He should be fine now because the hard bit is this bit here. 336 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,080 Now that he's out there, the swell isn't so bad 337 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,920 and they're equipped for it. 338 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:56,280 He'll be just gliding through the water now. 339 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,840 I mean, if we stood here long enough and kept scanning, 340 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,080 we might see his head bob up. 341 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:06,080 But no, I can't see him any more. 342 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:09,240 No. 343 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:14,240 For the Mallydams team, it's another successful seal release. 344 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,680 And it's back to base for feeding time. 345 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:29,240 Tug boats are the workhorses of busy ports. 346 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,160 Manoeuvring the huge cargo vessels 347 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:35,400 and oil tankers through the deep but narrow shipping lanes and into dock. 348 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,800 But they also have an important role to play in emergencies. 349 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,200 At Southampton, the Osaka, laden with luxury cars, 350 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,760 has run aground in the middle of the Solent. 351 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,120 It's a volatile situation. 352 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:55,640 So, the tugs from Solent Towage are brought in to stabilise the vessel. 353 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,040 This is not a normal tug job. 354 00:22:58,040 --> 00:22:59,640 It's not normal employment for tugs 355 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,000 to do something like this. 356 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,280 Erm, it's actually very much 357 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:05,600 out of the ordinary. 358 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:10,720 The challenges of working with a ship which is at a severe angle 359 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:15,680 are being able to get the tug safely alongside 360 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,480 without doing damage to the ship or the tug. 361 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,560 The vessel's owners appoint a salvage team, who will assess 362 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,760 the damage and work out how to refloat the stricken ship. 363 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:34,640 We have to wait until the situation is right for salvos 364 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,520 to be able to get on board the ship and get themselves into a position 365 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,440 to assist the tug crew to take the tow lines 366 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,480 and make them secure. 367 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,760 The salvage team discovers one of the vehicles on board 368 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,440 has punctured a hole in the hull, causing water to flood the ship. 369 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,120 Towing the Osaka back to port now is not an option. 370 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:03,000 The tugs must remain on the scene, 371 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,440 making sure the Osaka doesn't drift into the shipping lane. 372 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:14,280 An event like the Hoegh Osaka is a high-pressure situation 373 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:18,320 for a waterway such as the Solent, which relies 374 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,720 so much on a clear passage for ships to come in and out of the port. 375 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,800 There is a lot of pressure on everybody involved to keep that 376 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,680 ship where it should be, so that the port remains open. 377 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:38,840 Two days later, while the salvos are still working out how to refloat 378 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,160 the vessel, the spring tide intervenes and frees the Osaka from the bank. 379 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:50,200 The tugs brought her here to a location known as Alpha Anchorage, a safe holding position. 380 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:55,560 Whilst the ship is at Alpha Anchorage, 381 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,520 the job of the tugs is to keep the ship safe and stable, 382 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,560 so that the salvos can continue to do their job. 383 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:09,600 While the tugs hold the Osaka in position, Harbour Patrol officer 384 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,200 Paul Black is enforcing a 300 metre exclusion zone around the ship. 385 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,320 He has to keep the many interested onlookers, 386 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,400 who have flocked to the scene, from getting too close. 387 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,480 The tugs, with their wires attached, if something happens, 388 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,480 they may have to manoeuvre at very short notice 389 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,320 and what they don't want is small boats in the area 390 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:32,680 getting in the way. 391 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,800 And this is enforceable in law. 392 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,640 If anybody was to venture into the net zone, 393 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:44,600 they leave themselves liable to prosecution. 394 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,800 I've been on this stretch of the water now for over 30 years 395 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,560 and I've never seen anything like this before. It's unprecedented. 396 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,240 The salvos are now on the scene, 397 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,800 preparing to pump out the 3,000 tonnes of water on board. 398 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,960 The plan is to slowly right her. 399 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,520 They are in the process of pumping the water out. 400 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,440 But because the weather's not very good in the Solent at the moment, 401 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,400 they don't want to destabilise the ship by pumping too much out, 402 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:16,320 or to pump it too quickly, so the ship just flops over onto the other side. 403 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:21,800 Cos that would be catastrophic. All the cargo that was inside could then slide down the other 404 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,320 side of the ship and maybe puncture more holes in the hull. 405 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,920 A salvage operation of this magnitude will not be cheap. 406 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,680 They've got four tugs on standby 24 hours a day. 407 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,320 You've got the salvage team themselves. 408 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,040 This is a multimillion pound operation. 409 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,120 The role of the tugs to stabilise a ship in this 410 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:47,320 kind of condition are to position themselves alongside 411 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:52,360 the ship on either side of it and also, fore and aft, 412 00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:57,200 the tug skippers have to keep a very close eye on the position 413 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:01,200 of their tug and the ship and the whole ensemble. 414 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:06,160 They do this by fine-tuning the pitch settings and the engine movements 415 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:10,080 on the individual tugs and working together, by the use 416 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,800 of the radio, to make sure that everybody's doing the same thing. 417 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:20,280 The Tug Master must retain his full concentration at all times 418 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:22,240 throughout the operation. 419 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,360 Because if he loses concentration, even for a moment, 420 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:28,920 an accident can happen very quickly. 421 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,960 As the weather deteriorates, the pumping has to be put on hold. 422 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,600 It's day seven of the operation and there's no telling when the Osaka, 423 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:44,440 with her millions of pounds worth of vehicles will get back to port. 424 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:55,560 The ports along the English Channel are a continual hive of activity, 425 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,160 with towering cranes lifting containers to and from 426 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,000 shipping vessels and terminal vehicles moving them on the ground. 427 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:13,320 At Southampton, 264 drivers operate the straddle carriers. 428 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:17,600 At any one time, 70 are in operation, moving containers 429 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:22,480 to and from lorries and ships for their onward journey by road or sea. 430 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,040 And today, Herve Garrod is hoping to join their ranks. 431 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:29,560 It's the morning of his driving test. 432 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,200 And after three weeks of training, 433 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,520 his future at the docks is hanging in the balance. 434 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:38,360 Today's D-Day, yeah. The big day of the test. How are you feeling? 435 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,640 I'm feeling quite confident. Looking forward to it. 436 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,280 Erm, I'd just like to get it over and done with now. 437 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,720 It means a lot to me. I need to get through this today. 438 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,360 Herve's fate rests with training coordinator John White, 439 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,720 who's conducted over 105 assessments and has 440 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,080 a quarter of a century's experience at the wheel of a straddle carrier. 441 00:28:58,080 --> 00:28:59,920 Morning, John! 442 00:28:59,920 --> 00:29:02,560 Oh, hello, Herve! How we doing? Yeah, not so bad, thanks. 443 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:04,760 Are you all right? Yeah. Yeah, good. 444 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:09,000 Herve will find a little bit of pressure out there today. 445 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,600 The reason is, we're going to be hammering him 446 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:16,000 with procedural questions. He's going to be trying to multitask, he's going 447 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,280 to be doing all sorts of things that are rather difficult. 448 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,600 Are ready to start? Ready to start, yeah. 449 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:26,040 OK, so just explain to me what you're going to be looking for from the ground check of the machine. 450 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:30,080 Well, from the ground, I'm going to take a walk round this side. OK. 451 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,480 I'm going to be looking at the wheels, the tyres... 452 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,920 Like all qualified straddle drivers, 453 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,720 Herve must demonstrate he can carry out his own ground checks. 454 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,840 Only then can he make the 40-foot ascent to the cab. 455 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:47,320 And all under John's watchful eye. 456 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,520 He is nervous today but I can fully understand that. 457 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:54,520 Most drivers that come out with me are nervous in some way. 458 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:57,960 Maybe it's something to do with my persona. 459 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:02,480 But, hey, you know, erm, it is what it is! 460 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,880 BEEPING Where are we going to, Herve? 461 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:11,000 Well, were going to drop this container onto a lorry at slot 83. 462 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,920 Always good to know that you've deciphered the information nicely. 463 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,360 Herve's first task is to locate and move a 20 foot container. 464 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,680 But right away, there's a problem. 465 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:27,680 John... 466 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,800 The box I wanted, which I thought it was, when I came in here, 467 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,200 it said that that box down there... Yes... 468 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,440 ..I've just moved this one from the six here on top of the box that I needed. 469 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,400 So, now I need to move that one back to get that one out from under there. 470 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,040 So, what are you going to do? 471 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,360 Well, I'm going to pick this box up, let Control know that 472 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,720 I'm moving it back to that position, and I'm going to take that box from that position. 473 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,880 Herve's GPS system, that keeps track of all 474 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:59,680 the containers on the dock, has pointed him towards the wrong box. 475 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:01,960 It can happen quite often. 476 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:03,880 I'd rather it happened on his assessment, 477 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,760 so I can see that he's been able to sort this out himself. 478 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:13,080 So, he's already begun to realise that there's been an error with the GPS. 479 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,200 And so, he's correcting that. So, I'm quite pleased. 480 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,720 Just like in a car driving test, committing 481 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:27,520 a serious or dangerous fault will result in automatic failure. 482 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:32,640 He may well hit a box in the stack. That's a big no-no. 483 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:39,800 He may reverse off a lorry and not see another carrier coming the other way. 484 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,200 Big no-no. It's a red flagger. It's a failure. 485 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,480 So, poor old Herve has got some things to think about today, 486 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:49,240 that's for sure. 487 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,960 So far, Herve is off to a good start. 488 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,840 So, John decides it's time to pile on the pressure. 489 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,200 Now, Herve, explain to me about driving etiquette out on the berth. 490 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:06,640 Always give way to the east-west roadway. Uh-huh... 491 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,800 Erm, stay to the left as best as you can. 492 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,480 Everybody knows what they are doing then, don't they? 493 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:15,240 Although it looks like chaos, it isn't, is it? No. No. Indeed. 494 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,120 If you follow the rules of the road, you're all right. It's cool. 495 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,720 So, what are you looking out for when you turn? 496 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:25,120 I'm looking out for other straddles in the immediate area. And there's one right behind us, is there not? 497 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,720 There's one turning right and there's one coming towards us. Good, good. Well done. 498 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:33,600 Navigating these docks is a complex task and with a constant 499 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:37,360 stream of traffic, it only takes a second for accidents to occur. 500 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,320 Actually, just talking to me 501 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:46,600 and driving, is quite a tricky one, isn't it? Yeah, it's not the best. 502 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:51,040 So, I can see that you can multitask quite nicely, 503 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:54,520 which is very good for me to see. 504 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:00,640 But it seems John may have spoken too soon. 505 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:04,560 I'm in the wrong place now, after all that. So, we're meant to be going to where? 506 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,120 14, yeah. OK. I got carried away there. 507 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:11,280 No, that's fine because it's not always easy. All right. 508 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:14,400 We had a bit of a moment and I got a bit carried away there, 509 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,000 so, a bit of a distraction and I ended up in the wrong place. 510 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,040 So, yeah... These things happen. 511 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,280 That's why you've got to keep your wits about you and keep focused. 512 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:26,480 Herve's loss of concentration could have spelt disaster. 513 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:30,400 As the test comes to an end, Herve now faces a debriefing with 514 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:32,880 John and his former instructor, Richard. 515 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,440 Your stack work... Yeah? .. 516 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,960 Was very good. Your entry was safe. Right. 517 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:46,160 It was calculated. It was thought out. 518 00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:50,360 Ultimately, John will decide if Herve passes or fails. 519 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,880 So, multitasking, Herve... 520 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:58,480 Tell me about your multitasking efforts today. 521 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:01,400 Erm, well, I was slightly distracted. Ah! 522 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,680 I would say you were! Yes. Yes. 523 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:05,880 Well, what I ask you is to try 524 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:11,840 and improve on your concentration levels up there. 525 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:16,560 Herve did, considering, pretty well today. 526 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:18,720 He did make mistakes but I expected that. 527 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:22,720 He was not, erm, a maverick, 528 00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:24,600 which some of them are. 529 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:29,480 He did get a bit ragged at the end but it's a tough old life out there. 530 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:33,160 It's very, very important to them to pass. 531 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:37,600 There is a kind of stigma attached if you don't first time. 532 00:34:40,720 --> 00:34:43,400 Yes! Yeah, I've just been in there 533 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,720 and I've been told that I've passed. So, right now, I'm buzzing. 534 00:34:46,720 --> 00:34:49,360 That's what I've been after for the last couple of weeks 535 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:52,840 and I'm made up that I'll soon be working with a team. Can't wait! 536 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,280 I am extraordinarily pleased for him. 537 00:34:56,280 --> 00:35:00,400 And I think, actually, although he doesn't often 538 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,640 show emotion, 539 00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:06,160 he was very pleased himself today, I think. 540 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:08,920 After being out for six years, and now I'm finally back, 541 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:11,840 so, yeah, I'm made up. I couldn't be happier at the minute! 542 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,880 It's brilliant! I'm feeling quite emotional, really. 543 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:19,120 Herve now joins the hundreds of other straddle drivers 544 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:22,920 keeping Southampton the top performing port in the UK. 545 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:33,760 The English Channel is the busiest stretch of water in the world. 546 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,600 And to keep the traffic flowing, 547 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:40,080 multiple agencies work together to prevent accidents and delays. 548 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:42,960 INDISTINCT SPEECH OVER RADIO 549 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,720 When incidents do occur, all resources are called into action. 550 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:53,960 At Southampton, tug boats, Harbour Patrol, the Coastguard 551 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:58,520 and a salvage team are focusing on a car carrier that grounded eight days ago. 552 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:05,040 It's at safe anchorage but it's at a perilous angle of 52 degrees. 553 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:09,960 High winds have hampered the salvos' efforts to pump out 554 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,120 water on board and bring it upright. 555 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:18,760 But with the weather easing, the operation can now resume. 556 00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:22,800 A helicopter transports the salvos and their equipment to the scene. 557 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:29,360 The salvos have the plan which they work through to reduce 558 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,920 the list on the ship to an angle which was safe 559 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,000 and acceptable for it to be towed into port. 560 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,360 This took, just took a few days before that was completed. 561 00:36:42,040 --> 00:36:45,800 The salvos' pumping operation reduces the list from 52 562 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:51,200 to just five degrees, meaning 18 days after it was grounded, 563 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,560 the Osaka is ready to be moved back to Southampton port. 564 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:59,680 The success of an operation such as this is due to the experience 565 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:07,080 and training of Tug Masters, who spend many years learning their trade. 566 00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:09,520 All their skills are about to be called upon 567 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:12,000 because this is not a normal towing job. 568 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:18,040 The difference between a dead ship of this size and a ship which is 569 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:22,760 under its own power is that it can do nothing to help itself. 570 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:28,120 Getting a 51,000 tonne dead ship through a busy port is going to be difficult, 571 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:31,800 so Harbour Patrol officers Duncan and Chic are on hand 572 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:36,600 to keep the coast clear, especially as the Osaka is headline news. 573 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:40,720 We'll be keeping all leisure traffic out of the way. 574 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:45,600 Worst-case scenario, I guess if somebody gets in between a tug 575 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,800 and the ship unnecessarily. 576 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:53,720 A few little leisure boats hanging around, trying to get close 577 00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:58,560 and get some shots, so, our job is to keep them at a safe distance. 578 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,120 Just going to keep an eye on this Rib over here. 579 00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:06,480 He was being a bit keen a week or two ago, 580 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:09,560 so, we'll make sure he doesn't come any closer. 581 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:12,280 Chic could give him one of his stares! 582 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,920 So far, the towing has been without incident. 583 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:25,080 But 30 minutes in, and the most precarious part of the tow is just ahead. 584 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:29,440 We're just approaching West Bramble turn now. 585 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:34,760 So, the lee tugs come round to starboard, ready for the turn. 586 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:38,600 The tide's well away to the west, so, yeah, 587 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,440 this is where it's all happening. 588 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:43,640 It's one of the trickier bits. 589 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:47,680 It's obviously a skill to bring big ships around a tight turn like this. 590 00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:52,080 And more so with it being a dead ship. 591 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:56,040 So, erm, you know, it's down to the pilot and the master on the tug. 592 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:58,720 You know, to keep full control. 593 00:38:58,720 --> 00:39:02,360 RADIO: 'Just to give you an update on the tow, we're just making 594 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:06,920 'the Bramble turn, so I'm quite sure you'll see it 595 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:08,560 'and keep well out the way.' 596 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:14,840 Yeah, we have a visual. We'll keep well clear. Don't worry. 'Thanks, mate.' 597 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,920 After negotiating the West Bramble turn, 598 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:24,280 the Osaka is now on the home straight. 599 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:26,840 Fantastic, isn't it? Yeah. 600 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:29,560 It's a lot better than 48 hours ago. 601 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:33,120 And what a perfect day to bring her back up into the docks. 602 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,680 I didn't think you could get any more cars in the car park 603 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:36,960 over at Calshot. 604 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:38,960 It's a major vantage point for, obviously, 605 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,640 viewing the central Solent. 606 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:46,040 It's a nice day and everybody's come out to see the Hoegh Osaka 607 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:48,640 making her way safely back into the port. 608 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:53,920 Up in the docks now, they'll be making the berth 609 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:58,000 ready for her, making sure there's men there to tie her up. 610 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,600 I believe they've got generator power back on board now, 611 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,280 which will help deploying the ropes ashore 612 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:06,800 and making sure we can get her tight and fast alongside. 613 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,160 We're going to stay with her all the way. 614 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:23,880 Keep an eye on the back end all the way up to dock head. 615 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,520 Getting this monster ship into berth under tug power alone 616 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:31,800 requires a cautious and precise approach. 617 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:35,160 RADIO: 'If you can work your way down to the Port now, please. Stand by.' 618 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:37,480 Onto the port, Simon. Stand by. 619 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,280 The Hoegh Osaka is just approaching 101 berth now. 620 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:45,520 We've got tugs ready to push up on the port side 621 00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:49,440 and obviously a tug attached to the stern to slow her down. 622 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:54,280 She is a dead ship. So, pilot on the bridge of the ship's communicating 623 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:58,440 to the lead tug, so, they're in close communications. 624 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:04,080 And they've just indicated that they can take her way off and... 625 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,080 push her up onto the berth. 626 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:21,480 After three hours, the Osaka has completed her 15 mile journey back to port. 627 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:30,680 The guys up there on the stern are trying to throw a heaving line 628 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:32,040 to the shore crew. 629 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:36,000 But I think they've got no Olympic throwers up there! 630 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:39,960 The work launch has gone in to assist. 631 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:43,280 Wa-hay! TUG BLASTS HORN 632 00:41:45,560 --> 00:41:49,120 It's taken 19 days of intensive round-the-clock work 633 00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:52,320 from the Coastguard, tug boats, Harbour Patrol 634 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:56,160 and salvage crews to bring the Osaka safely into berth. 635 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:01,920 This is what we've been waiting for, for a few weeks. It's... It's... 636 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:04,560 a nice sight after seeing it listing over for over two 637 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:07,440 weeks in the middle of the Solent. 638 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:09,800 So, there will be a lot of relieved people. 639 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:13,440 For Duncan, it's the end of a long day. 640 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:15,000 Job's a good'un! Yeah. 641 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:20,480 It's, erm, with much relief for all of the marine staff involved, 642 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:22,480 it's been a hectic couple of weeks. 643 00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:27,320 And obviously, also, the Tug Masters and crew on the tugs, 644 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:30,360 you know, they've been out there for weeks and weeks. 645 00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:35,040 So, it'll be nice to put their feet up tonight, I think. 646 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:40,280 And then...tomorrow's another day! 647 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:46,120 With the Hoegh Osaka safely back in the hands of 648 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:50,040 her owners, the agencies can continue their round-the-clock work 649 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:55,000 to keep the English Channel, and those who sail her, safe. 650 00:42:56,480 --> 00:42:58,680 It's lucky we're fit, isn't it?