1 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:05,960 Stretching from Land's End to Dover, 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,680 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 --> 00:00:17,680 Three, two, one. Firing! 5 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,520 No amount of training can ever prepare you for what 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:21,680 we faced that night. 7 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,880 ..it's open for business 365 days a year. 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,440 Over 90% of the world's trade travels by sea. 9 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,880 It's not just TVs and refrigerators, it's everything around us. 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,040 Teeming with every type of vessel... 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,880 Everyone on board reckons their job is the hardest. 12 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:38,880 ..and a rich diversity of wildlife. 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,000 It's kept safe by those who patrol its seaways. 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,480 Just throw your line to the boat! 15 00:00:49,480 --> 00:00:51,680 Their actions standing between triumph... 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:53,640 ALL: Whoo! 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,000 ..and disaster... 18 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:56,320 Ease off! Ease off! 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,640 ..on the unpredictable waters of the English Channel. 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,480 Today, a maintenance crew have to inch their way through 21 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,760 a seaway obstacle course. 22 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,080 The nature of our job is to go into areas 23 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,880 where other shipping shouldn't go, because it's too dangerous. 24 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,680 So we go in, we mark the dangers, and then we come back out again. 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,120 A group of university students get a taste of Navy life. 26 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,880 ALL: Oh! 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,000 - You're not supposed to have this. - LAUGHTER 28 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,760 And a team of builders take on a challenging restoration, 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,040 two miles out at sea. 30 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,120 Easy. Easy! 31 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:45,520 It's going off the edge. 32 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,400 The Channel is a vast, maritime highway, 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,680 with up to 500 vessels on the water at any time... 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,640 from pleasure boats to supertankers - 35 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,960 it's a vital waterway for the British economy. 36 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,040 Lighthouses and navigation buoys 37 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,480 help keep vessels from running aground. 38 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,960 The job of maintaining these crucial towers of light on land 39 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,400 and sea has fallen to an organisation called Trinity House. 40 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,480 It was set up over 500 years ago by Henry VIII. 41 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,560 One of their flagships is the Galatea, 42 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,680 specifically built to look after today's lighthouses and buoys. 43 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,320 Whatever the weather, the ship is out making the seas safe. 44 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,240 Primarily, Galatea is designed to be a buoy tender, 45 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,600 and lighthouse tender. She's got a big crane on the back 46 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,200 for lifting buoys out the water, 47 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,880 she's got chain holds for pulling the buoy chain into. 48 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,920 She's got a helicopter pad for working lighthouses. 49 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,440 The work we do in the English Channel is very important 50 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,280 because it's one of the most busy shipping lanes in the world. 51 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,280 Today, there's an urgent callout, 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,360 and they head up the east coast from the Channel. 53 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:57,720 Everyone ready to go? 54 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,120 A light on one of the buoys isn't working, 55 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,200 and it's marking the entranceway to the Thames Estuary, 56 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,400 one of the busiest shipping lanes in the area. 57 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,360 The potential for disaster is huge, 58 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,080 so the crew urgently needs to repair it. 59 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,000 Like the cat's-eyes in a road, 60 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,600 marker buoys are designed to be visible day and night 61 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:17,920 to keep shipping safe. 62 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:22,760 The team head straight out to the stricken buoy, known as a casualty. 63 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,120 First one we're going to look at 64 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,400 is the casualty, the Fisherman 3. 65 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:27,720 So, it gives you all the basic 66 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,040 information about the buoy - 67 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,320 the light, the characteristic, the chain, the length. 68 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,320 And then I'll go down onto the deck and will brief all the crew, 69 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,200 and then we'll crack on with the job. 70 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,880 As the crew get suited and booted, they have no idea what's wrong 71 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,360 with the buoy they'll be pulling up onto the deck. 72 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,400 It's reported that it's unlit. 73 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,560 This type of buoy, 74 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,400 we know they tend to have a common fault. 75 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,920 They can get a bit of water inside, and it just shorts the electrics, 76 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,080 and burns out the regulator. 77 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:02,080 So, that then runs the batteries down and it goes unlit. 78 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,080 The consequences of us not maintaining the aids to navigation 79 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,560 would involve more shipping casualties. 80 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:15,280 Most of the UK's goods, if you like, come in by sea - 81 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,720 oil and all the stuff on the supermarket shelves. 82 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,920 If a major port got blocked, for example, 83 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,920 the shelves would run out of food within a few days. 84 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,920 The captain's second-in-command is Sophie Platten. 85 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,000 She's been at sea for 13 years, 86 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,880 and began her career as a cadet on container ships. 87 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,160 I'm in charge of the daily running of the ship, 88 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,120 including the maintenance. In charge of the buoy-working deck. 89 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,720 Supporting the captain when required 90 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,120 and ensuring that, you know, everything runs smoothly. 91 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:55,360 Copy that, that's the anchor aweigh. 92 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,960 Something that I wanted to do since I was quite young. 93 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,240 Always fancied, you know, a job with a difference. 94 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,480 I think...this job definitely is that, you know. 95 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,800 I do enjoy that every day is different, 96 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,960 and that you can progress, you know, 97 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,840 keep working up through the ranks, as well. 98 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,600 You're up on the Galatea, good morning, that's us... 99 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,000 The Galatea's reached the casualty buoy. 100 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,320 Approaching the casualty now, I'm just manoeuvring the ship. 101 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,280 I'm going to turn the ship around in the tide. 102 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:28,200 The batteries could've failed, the lantern could've failed... 103 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,320 It's clearly not been hit, now we can see it. 104 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,560 We're going to pick it up and do some tests on it 105 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,280 and find out what's wrong with it. 106 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,560 While the captain keeps the Galatea alongside the buoy, 107 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,440 Sophie's in charge of the operation on deck. 108 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,120 So, guys, we have we've come here to Fisherman 3, 109 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,360 casualty buoy, been reported unlit. 110 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:50,800 So we'll bring it in. It's got 25 metres of 32mm chain. 111 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,360 Three metre bridle, and a three tonne sinker. 112 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,680 Just do our standard work, disconnect it, 113 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,960 and work out why it's unlit. 114 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,040 Right? Let's get this job done. 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,880 The buoy is hoisted alongside. 116 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,160 It's a bit awkward, isn't it? 117 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,120 The team need to work quickly to find the problem. 118 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,880 Every minute it's out of the water is a hazard for shipping. 119 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:25,520 The Fisherman 3 is green, 120 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,440 because it marks the left side of a shipping lane. 121 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,680 We need to secure it to the working chain, so that way 122 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,000 when we break the buoy, we'll be able to heave all the cable up. 123 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,000 Any part of the buoy below the surface 124 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,520 makes a good breeding ground for mussels. 125 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,880 So, we've disconnected the buoy from the cable, and 126 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,280 now we're going to heave the rest of the cable in and pick the sinker up. 127 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:58,160 We're going to calibrate the cable as we bring it in. 128 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:02,040 We're checking the thickness of the chain. 129 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,120 Pins out. 130 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:06,840 The sinker is a three tonne metal weight 131 00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:10,520 that sits on the seabed to keep the buoy in place. 132 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,440 It's connected to the buoy by a chain, but it's 133 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,200 so heavy they need to take precautions in case the chain snaps. 134 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,800 If the chain were to run off at all, 135 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,720 it's going to come all the way across the deck here. 136 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,040 Could take people's feet out, break legs, anything. 137 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,480 It's a fair jump, isn't it? 138 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,120 The chain can wear out if any slack drags along the seabed. 139 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,800 They need to make sure it's still thick enough to hold 140 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:41,720 the buoy in place. So they check its width, known as the "thrash". 141 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,640 Got a thrash of 28½. 142 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,480 - RADIO: - '28½, and it's gone down... 143 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:54,120 '1½ in one year and four months. 144 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,800 - 'So, I think it'll be fine, won't it?' - Yep. 145 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,560 It looks like it'll last another year. 146 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,760 We've just calibrated the chain. 147 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,360 It's got a thrash that we're happy with, it's within our limits, 148 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:07,840 so we're going to keep it. 149 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,400 But it's just slipping on our gypsy, so were going to bring 150 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,960 a second working chain up, just to help us heave it up. 151 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:24,680 Just be careful there, Ellis. 152 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,200 With the extra chain attached... 153 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,440 Just get it the other side, Wes, that's it. 154 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,600 ..they have enough grip 155 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,440 for the winch to pull the three-tonne sinker on board. 156 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,160 While they wait for the sinker to arrive, 157 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,280 the team try to work out why the buoy's not lighting up. 158 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,360 Have you got the solar tester there? 159 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,120 Bo's'n Ryan's not impressed. 160 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,080 Those batteries don't look great, do they? 161 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,320 They've not been greased or anything, have they? 162 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,960 - There's no Vaseline on them at all, or anything like that. - No. 163 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,920 So we'll have a good tidy up. 164 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:02,320 Cos the regulator's burnt-out, 165 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:03,960 there's no input from the solar panel, 166 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,720 so the batteries aren't being charged at all. 167 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,720 When the light's running, it's just constantly draining the battery, 168 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,080 so it's eventually going to run the batteries out. 169 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,120 While they replace the batteries and service the buoy, 170 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,600 the sinker finally emerges from the water. 171 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,760 It looks like a giant bath plug. 172 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,640 On closer inspection, 173 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,760 the bottom of the chain is really worn where it's been dragging 174 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:41,200 against the rocks on the seabed, and they decide to take no chances. 175 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,280 It's now gone under the limits that we think is acceptable, 176 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,880 so we're going to change it out for a new chain. 177 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:51,040 This will eat up vital minutes, so they need to get a move on. 178 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,320 The new chain comes in 100 metre lengths, 179 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,080 so they have to cut to size. 180 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,400 And there's more work than they thought to be done on the buoy. 181 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,600 Just checking the voltage of the batteries. 182 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,320 They've only got about three volts on them, 183 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,320 so these are both dead, well and truly. 184 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:12,440 Just strip it right out, 185 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,520 we'll try and get rid of the old regulator 186 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,240 as well, if we can get that off. 187 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,200 Once we've got the new batteries in, we can see 188 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,440 - whether this regulator's working. - Exactly. Yeah, cool. 189 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:25,440 It's not just the batteries that are gone. 190 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,160 We've got a problem with one of the solar panels, 191 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,280 so we're in the process of changing that over. 192 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,000 Once that's been changed, were going to connect it all up. 193 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,520 We'll be testing the light and, er, it should be good. 194 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,440 The buoy's in need of a complete overhaul. 195 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,680 With another job on the horizon, they need to get finished fast. 196 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:47,680 With new batteries and a new solar panel, the light is back in action. 197 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:49,040 Yep, all happy. 198 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:51,880 With the final checks in place, 199 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,040 it's time to get the buoy back in the water. 200 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,440 Chain's clear. 201 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,600 Yep, it's all done, all working correctly. 202 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:21,800 Mission accomplished. 203 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,480 But there's no rest for the team as they're already 204 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,320 on their way to the next buoy. 205 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,160 And it looks tricky. 206 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:36,920 The English Channel has a long history 207 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,120 in the defence of Britain against invasion. 208 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,880 British forces still patrol this important border, 209 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:48,080 keeping warships in operation to be deployed at a moment's notice, 210 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,200 regulating fishing vessels and aiding border control 211 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,560 intercepting narcotics and contraband. 212 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:55,640 Thrust to port, step three. 213 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,440 But every hardened mariner has to start the journey somewhere. 214 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,800 The Navy train recruits from as young as 16 years of age. 215 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,040 And today, a group of eager university students 216 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,240 are getting a taste of Navy life. 217 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,240 I'm considering joining the Royal Navy as a hydrographic officer. 218 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,360 This is a great way to find out what the Navy does when it's at sea. 219 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,160 It's a great way to find out 220 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:22,640 what you're signing yourself up to. 221 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,000 Ready fender for'ards! 222 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,440 The potential recruits are taking part in a simulated 223 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,240 counternarcotics and people smuggling exercise. 224 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,080 It's a task the Navy takes on for real 225 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,280 while on active duty round the world. 226 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:39,880 My team had a success on a vessel 227 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,000 smuggling heroin, and it was the first time heroin 228 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:44,920 was ever found in the maritime 229 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:46,920 domain, in the Indian Ocean. 230 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,160 And now vessels are out in the Indian Ocean, 231 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,280 from all over the world, are finding these smuggled drugs. 232 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,800 We have very strict procedures we need to carry out, 233 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,400 and it's very important we stick within the legal 234 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,560 guidelines of the United Nations, and our own rules of engagement. 235 00:13:01,560 --> 00:13:04,760 Lieutenant Palmer is hoping today's challenge will give the students 236 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,280 an insight into the skills they might need if they join up. 237 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,480 I've based this scenario on operations that we carry out 238 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:12,680 day-to-day in the Navy, 239 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:15,600 that ships are out, currently conducting these operations. 240 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,080 It's developing their interpersonal skills, 241 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,720 and focusing on their teamwork and leadership. 242 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,720 It's exposing them to things 243 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,040 they probably wouldn't get to do in normal life. 244 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,440 SHIP ALARM BEEPS 245 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,200 OK, let's go ahead. 246 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,880 A lot of the time the students will struggle with 247 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:40,000 the military aspect of being on the boat and the unit. 248 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,440 It's quite a tough transition to go from being a student 249 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,600 to actually trying to be in the military. 250 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,240 We've started commencing the Solent Storm exercise now. 251 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,120 There are 64 students across two patrol ships - 252 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:01,200 HMS Smiter and HMS Puncher - a supporting RIB and seven yachts. 253 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,600 Each of which have been positioned out in the Solent 254 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,840 by the Navy commanders. 255 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,080 The exercise is to police the waters, 256 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,400 and locate and identify any suspicious yachts that may be 257 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,920 conducting illegal activity, such as smuggling drugs or people. 258 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:20,160 The students will be observed by 12 Navy training officers. 259 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,400 Up top, where the captain is, they will be looking out to make sure 260 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,200 that they know where the vessel is, and manoeuvring safely towards it. 261 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,120 Whereas these are here to support 262 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,680 and provide extra information to the command team. 263 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,360 Because these are like an extra set of eyes. 264 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,440 So, we have the charts down here, 265 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,760 the radar, and the ship's log. 266 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,800 So the job here is to provide support to upstairs. 267 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,160 I'd like to go to 3110... 268 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,920 We've found one of the yachts with the other set of students on. 269 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,720 And we've identified it as one of the... 270 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,240 We've got an intelligence picture of one of these yachts, 271 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,280 and we've identified that this is one of the yachts were looking for. 272 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:06,920 Just tell him we have a yacht on our port beam, we're going to ask 273 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,080 some questions, can you head over and take a look at them for us? 274 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,560 Amongst today's young trainees, and in charge of communication 275 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,280 on this first yacht search, 276 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,800 is 21-year-old chemistry student Jessie Tucker. 277 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,200 Jessie must instruct the support RIB. 278 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,480 We have a yacht on our port bow... 279 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,520 - Beam. - ..beam. 280 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,880 It is of interest, and we're going to investigate further. 281 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:32,600 Over. 282 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,360 I joined the unit just to do something 283 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,280 a little bit different, to be honest. 284 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:37,400 It's nice to get away from 285 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,080 the day-to-day life of lectures 286 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,160 and working in the labs, in my case, or the library. 287 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,960 This is Coalition Warship papa 272, over. 288 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,200 - RADIO: - 'Coalition Warship, we receive you.' 289 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,920 Now in radio contact with the yacht, 290 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:56,080 Jessie cross-examines the seafarers to see if anything doesn't add up. 291 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:57,920 What is the name of your vessel, over? 292 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,120 'The vessel's name is Jet Hannessa.' 293 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,440 What is the registered flag state of your vessel, over? 294 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:05,080 'Spanish.' 295 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,080 How many crew are on board, over? 296 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,960 'Erm, three - no, four. Four. 297 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,360 - 'Oh, sorry, five.' - SHE LAUGHS 298 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,360 It's up to you now to make that decision 299 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,200 of what you think about this yacht. 300 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,960 Can you confirm that there are 301 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,000 three to five passengers on the vessel? 302 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,160 - Confirm the number of passengers... - Yes, that's a very helpful question. 303 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,320 Under the United Nations Law of the Sea, 304 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,000 a warship can verify the flag of any vessel on the high seas. 305 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,880 - ..Over? - 'Flag flying currently is British, over.' 306 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,320 Things that indicate to us that something's not right 307 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,840 and we need to go and investigate that, OK? 308 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,560 So, what is our tripwire here? 309 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,080 Our tripwire is that they've stated to us that they're 310 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,400 - flying the Spanish national flag. - Yep. 311 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,840 However, we've got a confirmed 312 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,160 - sighting from our RIB that they're actually find the British flag. - Yep. 313 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:57,560 Therefore, we can board the vessel to check their documents. 314 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,640 Yeah, and the other thing is, their crew numbers are a bit dodgy, 315 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:02,800 aren't they? 316 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,400 So we know from United Nations Security Council Resolution 1279 317 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,960 that there is people smuggling, drug smuggling 318 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:14,160 and piracy in this area. So there are two tripwires there. 319 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,920 Now, the best way of doing this, to not get them so anxious, 320 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,680 is to go for the flag state verification. 321 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:21,280 Then we can have a further look around 322 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,160 if we think there's something suspicious. 323 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,440 Sir, I intend to conduct a routine boarding of your vessel under 324 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,840 United Nations section on the Law of the Sea, Article 110 in order to 325 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,320 verify the flag state of your yacht. 326 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,520 Please turn into wind and reduce your speed to a minimum. 327 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,080 Do not make any external communications with anyone 328 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:42,640 other than this warship. 329 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,520 Do not throw anything overboard during this process. 330 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:49,400 I'm sending my boarding team via RIB. Over. 331 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,280 'OK, we've received you, over.' 332 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:52,320 Now he's caught, 333 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,880 I'd say they're making the boarding now, which is fine. 334 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:59,640 They'll have to check the documents of the yacht, check that the flag 335 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:04,480 state refers to what they told us when we've VHF radio called them. 336 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,800 They'll also then have to go through the compartments 337 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:11,560 and have a good search around, once they're given authorisation, 338 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:17,400 see if they can find any narcotics or any other contraband. 339 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,000 Below deck, the navigational team must plot the exact coordinates 340 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,440 of the suspect yacht for Navy records. 341 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,440 - I want this marking on the chart, with the time and the position. - OK. 342 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:32,640 - 5-0... - 5-46.927. 343 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,120 What we're doing here, 344 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:38,440 is we're noting down in the ship's log where we are, a grid reference... 345 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,240 - Happy on radar. - OK. 346 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,600 Great. So that we know where we were. 347 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,440 We've noted down the name of the yacht, and the fact that the RIB has 348 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,200 boarded it, and the time, so that it's there for records later. 349 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,440 The RIB team have checked the vessel for any illegal activity, 350 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,720 and they were right to be suspicious. 351 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,840 Stand by to conduct cargo transfer. 352 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,560 Stand by. 353 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,600 The unit have discovered a suspect package. 354 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,520 The handover is complete, 355 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,760 and Jessie's first patrol mission is a success. 356 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,400 Puncher, Smiter, all copy, the whole visual. 357 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,400 Jessie's done really well this morning with her radio call. 358 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,520 And by the end of it was very confident. 359 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,320 I'm really, really impressed by that performance there. 360 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,560 After a fruitful operation, the patrol ship 361 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:30,600 and its Navy students continue the search exercise 362 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,360 across the Solent for more illegal activity. 363 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,680 Would you hold your course, then we'll come round? 364 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:36,760 Check quarters! 365 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,080 The English Channel may now be an accessible route for all 366 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:51,280 seafarers, but was once a natural defence halting invading armies. 367 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:55,360 In the middle of the Solent stand four Victorian sea forts. 368 00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:57,960 Built in the late 1800s to protect 369 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,200 Portsmouth from attack by Napoleon III's forces, 370 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,840 they're now being put to a more welcoming use. 371 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,200 One of the largest, No Man's Fort, is nearing the end 372 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:12,200 of a two-year refurbishment to turn it into a luxury offshore hotel. 373 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:18,080 And in just a week's time, it's due to open for business. 374 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,440 The man at the helm of this unique challenge 375 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,320 is project manager Ian Fitzpatrick. 376 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:24,400 I am up against it, 377 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,800 I've got till next Friday to get everything completed, 378 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,760 so a busy few days. All the lads are aware of it. 379 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,400 We know what we've got to do, we've just got to get on and do it. 380 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,960 Getting everything complete, everything signed off, 381 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:35,240 everything commissioned, 382 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:36,720 and everything certificated. 383 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,320 Hopefully, this time next week, we'll be just about there - 384 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:40,360 finishing touches. 385 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,560 But this is not your average building site. 386 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:49,000 No Man's Fort originally cost £460,000 to build back in the 1870s. 387 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:53,400 Decommissioned by the Navy in the 1960s, restoring this 388 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,440 Grade II listed property is a multimillion pound operation. 389 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:00,800 The 35-strong team has been 390 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,240 working round the clock on the refurbishment, 391 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,960 which will include 22 bedrooms, a cabaret bar, sauna, 392 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,120 two helipads and its very own lighthouse. 393 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:12,600 When I applied to be a fire alarm engineer, I thought 394 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,040 I'd be out on land all the time. Being out at sea 395 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,520 is a bit new to me. It's not like the normal commute, 396 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,440 normally doing jobs in and around London. 397 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,760 Whereas this is all preplanned, 398 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,200 you've got to meet someone at the port 399 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,240 and then get onto the boat to get here. 400 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,200 It's a 30 minute daily boat ride. 401 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:33,160 Two miles out at sea, these maritime monuments were tactically 402 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,800 positioned so that any enemy vessels wishing to attack would be 403 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:41,800 forced to sail between the forts, and be bombarded by heavy cannons. 404 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,720 But times have changed, and today's battle is to arm the fort 405 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,920 with two heavy-duty bits of kit. 406 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:50,560 We've got two hot tubs coming, 407 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,200 and we're going to put them up onto the rooftop. 408 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,920 The hot tubs are going to turn up on a barge. 409 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,920 As they approach the landing stage, 410 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,560 we'll strap them up, 411 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,000 lift them off with our hoist onto the first ground level, then 412 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,360 from there, they get lifted onto our gantry, and go onto the rooftop. 413 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:09,480 Using the crane in these conditions is fine, 414 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,760 when the sea's like this it's not a problem at all. 415 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,320 Soon as you get a bit of a swell on the water, or we have the big 416 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,000 freightliners go past - you need to see them in the distance. 417 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,520 If you see the freightliner coming, the barge'll pull off, 418 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,520 and you get lots of aborted trips. Lots of aborted deliveries. 419 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:29,120 Man-days lost due to bad weather and stormy seas. 420 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:30,920 The weather can change within hours. 421 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,880 I can go from a flat, calm sea like I've got today, 422 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,080 to a force six, which basically takes our boat off the water. 423 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,160 The unpredictability of the weather is not the only problem 424 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:42,960 the team face. 425 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,160 This sea-based citadel has its own set of issues 426 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:48,720 in getting materials on and off site. 427 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:50,000 It's not just a simple... 428 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,760 On a normal building site, you get something delivered easy. 429 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:54,520 On here, if it's got to come to the roof, 430 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:55,800 it has to be hand pulled up. 431 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,120 I mean, we've only had this a couple of weeks now. 432 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,400 Everything else has been brought up here by hand. 433 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:03,280 - It's made life a bit easier, this crane. - A bit easier. 434 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,280 A simple delivery would take a couple of days to do, wouldn't it? 435 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,560 It's a joint effort. I'd say the hot tubs will be harder cos... 436 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,880 - They're bigger and a more awkward shape. Aren't they? - Yeah. 437 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,280 We haven't decided how we're going to get them up here. 438 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,160 They're going to come out this way, it's just getting them 439 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,200 over the edge of this banister, really. 440 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,800 Can't carry them up a spiral staircase, 441 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,600 so you've got to come all the way up and we've got to try 442 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,360 and slide them along over here without damaging the side of them. 443 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:34,000 Renovating a 150-year-old structure is hard at the best of times 444 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,280 but doing it in the middle of the ocean holds unique challenges. 445 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,600 The eight-tonne blocks of concrete 446 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,280 and stone that help to form its 27ft foundations were 447 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,960 brought out by barge and eased into position by divers. 448 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,800 Rising 18 metres above sea level, the steep, 449 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:57,200 circular walls are 15ft thick and reinforced with iron plating. 450 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:58,920 Ideal for repelling invaders 451 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,560 but not for bringing on bulky building materials. 452 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:06,240 The Fort's location is also proving a challenge for operations manager, 453 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,880 Rob Seddon, whose job includes overseeing the interiors. 454 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,680 Just having to work out the position. 455 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,480 They're bringing the RIB out as well. 456 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,320 I need a couple of more hands tomorrow, we're going to try 457 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,920 and get some more staff in to help us, 458 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,280 some more labourers, electricians, whoever we need. 459 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,120 I'm just going to wander around now, check some of the bedrooms. 460 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:26,640 The biggest thing for us is logistics and deliveries. 461 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:29,840 I got a phone call today saying all the dressings for the day beds 462 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:31,680 should be here Tuesday, Wednesday. 463 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,160 If it's going to be Tuesday, it'll be Wednesday, OK? 464 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,120 When they arrive, we need to get the logistics so it gets onto the boat. 465 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:39,680 When it gets off the boat, I make sure it's put into the rooms. 466 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,080 Gets put into the rooms, I make sure the beds get dressed. 467 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,560 So, if it arrives on Wednesday and we open on Saturday, 468 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:46,080 everything gets really angsty. 469 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,000 Hot tubs came out today, fantastic. All the railway sleepers here. 470 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,360 It's just a matter of getting everything onto the roof 471 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:52,960 and getting it all put in place. 472 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,080 But organising the finishing touches 473 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,400 isn't the only job on Rob's daily agenda. 474 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,800 Cos of the size of the Fort and the amount of people 475 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:02,720 we have on here, we've got to run boats to and from every day. 476 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,440 In the evening, we work out how many staff we have going off, 477 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,640 so we have to work out how many boats we have to run, 478 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,760 so we either do one boat, two boats, three boats when it's really busy. 479 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,320 Then we have to plan the timing as well cos the boat driver 480 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,360 can't drive after dark. 481 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,320 General manager, Mark Watts, is explaining to the Fort's new 482 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,840 manager, Jason Ward, how it will run when the resort opens. 483 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:28,280 - Oh, wow. - Impressive, eh? 484 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,760 So you can have up to 60 people around this whole lighthouse area, 485 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:37,160 up and down it, so we want to be serving canapes out here 486 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,240 and making sure it's all dressed properly. 487 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,680 You've got a bar just behind me, here. 488 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,360 - This is the main atrium, here. - Good. 489 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:49,240 These lamps, we have brought across, they are authentic 490 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,600 but we're going to put one on the roof, here, next week, if we can. 491 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,120 This helipad, here, I'm converting to be able to do golf from here. 492 00:25:56,120 --> 00:25:58,400 - Wonderful. - You've got biodegradable 493 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:01,280 fish food golf balls and they'll be... 494 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:03,120 You can drive them off into the sea, there. 495 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,120 - This brings us into the cabaret bar, here. - OK. - Excellent. 496 00:26:08,120 --> 00:26:11,520 We'll have the parties here, with up to 200 people in here. 497 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,200 I've got some work to do in here, then. 498 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,920 With only a few days left before No Man's Fort is due to be 499 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,240 completed, Jason is looking forward to starting work. 500 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,120 - Coming out, enjoy the views. - Another great view, 501 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:26,160 look at that. 502 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:28,000 At this stage, you always worry 503 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,880 if you're going to start on time or finish on time. 504 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:32,920 I think we can do it. There's been work going on 505 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,680 for a couple of years. 506 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,360 This last bit is always the bit that worries people 507 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:39,240 but we'll be there, we'll be open. 508 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:46,480 The build team are preparing for the delivery of two luxury hot tubs. 509 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:47,520 It's never that easy. 510 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,000 Knowing our luck, they'll probably come flat pack. 511 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,600 Don't say that, we'll have to put them together. 512 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:56,200 Luckily, today, the seas are calm for the hot tubs' arrival 513 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,080 and it's time the team got to work. 514 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:06,480 To lift the 26st tubs onto the roof of this 60ft tall fort, 515 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,280 the team will use the winch. 516 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,040 The straps are safely secured 517 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,720 and the first hot tub slowly rises off the barge. 518 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:17,360 We'll get Stevie to cut it off and then bale it off. 519 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:19,040 They're big, them. 520 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:20,360 Despite concerns, 521 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:23,400 the hot tub has made it to the first floor without a hitch. 522 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,880 - Are you all right? - Yeah. 523 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:36,560 Shorten these drops, lower that, and try to manoeuvre it over 524 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:37,840 and out the way. 525 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,880 But getting it on the roof using the localised crane is 526 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,240 when the problems start. 527 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:53,080 We need to bring that back into that gantry, further towards the fence. 528 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,080 - Out that way. - Out that way? - Yeah. 529 00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:59,800 But the shape isn't the only concern. 530 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:03,560 The A-frame on the roof, that holds the winch, isn't tall enough, 531 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,960 which means the hot tub won't make it over the rail, 532 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,880 a headache that contract supervisor, Steve Wilson, doesn't need. 533 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,800 Obviously, with the area... We've got to get it up and over. 534 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,720 So, yeah, it's not an easy task. No, we need to shorten these. 535 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:24,000 The team decide to shorten the straps to raise the tub 536 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,320 higher on the winch. 537 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,720 It's never straightforward. 538 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,000 But it's still not high enough. 539 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,640 Having worked on the project for the last eight months, 540 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,120 - Steve is used to the challenges. - It's a lot smaller than 541 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,160 the big stuff that's bringing it off the boat. 542 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,640 - You're not going to get four of them in there, are you? - No. 543 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,440 First time you try it and you fail, you try again. You re-rig it, 544 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:55,680 you look at it and you try and get it up. Nothing seems to go 545 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,720 first time on here, you always have to try and adapt it to get it up. 546 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,800 Because obviously, you've only got a small area to work 547 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,320 and you've got the crane above you 548 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,480 and you've got to get it past the crane, so, yeah, it's quite awkward. 549 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,760 The build team decide to push the crane up to its maximum height. 550 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,240 - 'Hello.' - Go ahead. 551 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:23,080 - 'Bring it back down and it'll rise far enough.' - OK. 552 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,280 - Stop. - Stop. 553 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,240 - Lift it. - Go on, then, one more. 554 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,320 INDISTINCT CHATTER 555 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:42,920 No, move, move ,move. 556 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,240 - 'Are you ready?' - Yep. 557 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:46,840 'OK, lower it down.' 558 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:48,200 Slowly, slowly. 559 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,360 - They're not that heavy, they're just awkward. - It's going to work. 560 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:58,440 It has to, it's the only option we've got now. 561 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:02,080 If not, it's going to be extreme lifting. 562 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,400 The hot tub has reached the distance 563 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,360 but the only way to slide it over the rail is to take 564 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,720 the brakes off the frame and wheel the heavy tub into position. 565 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,000 It's going to be a very tricky manoeuvre. 566 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,400 - Is the break off? - Yeah, the brake's off. 567 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,120 - Easy, easy. - It's going off the edge. 568 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,640 With a 26st hot tub hanging over the Solent, 569 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,680 the last thing they want is for the frame to fall off the platform. 570 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:36,040 Can you and Kev come and give us a hand up here for a minute, mate? 571 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:37,680 Steve Wilson, call back. 572 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,880 - That's it. - There you go. 573 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,400 INDISTINCT COMMENTS 574 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:47,720 Rob? 575 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:49,880 Taking the brakes off. 576 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,200 - Have you got it? - Yeah! 577 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:57,800 You beauty! 578 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,640 After a hair-raising five minutes, 579 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,320 the hot tub is finally on the top deck. 580 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:04,800 Yeah? 581 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,200 Up. 582 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:07,960 It's awkward. 583 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:12,480 It's been a mammoth effort but the team has done it. 584 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,080 I'm going to have to sort that out now. 585 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,160 20 minutes that they've taken to be up here 586 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:17,800 so we'll start installing them. 587 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,520 Got to have them in by the end of the day. 588 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,240 It's not like a normal Monday to Friday nine to five, 589 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,320 we're in the lap of the gods. 590 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:30,880 Every day is totally different. 591 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,080 And when you talk to people, "What do you do for a living?" 592 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,080 "I work on a fort in the middle of the ocean." It's a bit, "You what?" 593 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,280 When you bring up pictures and show them, it blows people's minds. 594 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,000 It really does blow people's minds. 595 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,720 With just a week left before they're due to open, 596 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,720 the team is just hoping the weather stays on their side. 597 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,320 The fierce tides and choppy seas of the English Channel make it 598 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,280 an excellent base for naval manoeuvres and exercises. 599 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,400 Giving potential new recruits a taste of naval life. 600 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:20,120 Strategically positioned Portsmouth is a hub of naval power that 601 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:22,360 has defended the UK over centuries. 602 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,960 And today, 64 university students have reported for duty. 603 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,920 They're taking part in a simulated counternarcotics 604 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:43,840 and smuggling exercise but a real emergency has come up. 605 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:45,760 - OVER RADIO: - 'The yacht in question is now 606 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,000 'one nautical mile on my starboard quarter. 607 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,480 'Request assistance to transport casualty to Cowes.' 608 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,960 I'll send the RIB over now, over. 609 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:00,320 The student skipper on another boat has been injured. 610 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:07,120 - What's broken? - Right foot. Metatarsals. That's what we believe. 611 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,320 Just be careful coming onto the boat. 612 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,680 - I'm going to put my foot up in the air... - Yep. 613 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:14,200 - ..and go in towards it. - Just support it. 614 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,360 It's a reminder that life at sea is unpredictable 615 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:21,080 and potentially dangerous. 616 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:25,040 I can't stand up because of this foot. 617 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:26,640 OK. 618 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,240 My foot got caught under a rope and it just got wedged. 619 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,040 It's silly. INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION 620 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,480 - Love you! - Love you lots! - See you in half an hour. - See you tomorrow! 621 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,960 Good news is she's in a taxi and she's on the way to hospital. 622 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,720 If all things are good, then she'll be back with us tonight. 623 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,160 Maybe just a sprain, let's live in hope. 624 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:05,000 Back on the pilot ship, 625 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:08,920 the students are rotating their roles to broaden their experience. 626 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:12,400 We're about to put Jessie on a RIB 627 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:16,160 and they're going to become part of the boarding team 628 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:19,000 and they get on the yacht, so they'll be looking for any 629 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:22,480 suspicious packaging, any extra personnel. 630 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:25,440 For example, for the exercise, there might be some people smuggling. 631 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,280 They have to be quite careful on the RIB 632 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,080 because they'll bounce around a lot in this sea. 633 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:34,000 Also, when they get onto the yachts, lots and lots of metal 634 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:35,720 and stuff, which are quite hazardous. 635 00:34:35,720 --> 00:34:38,560 They have to be quite careful when they're going around. 636 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:40,680 I'll ask them what their nationalities are. 637 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:43,680 Ask them if they're carrying anything they're not supposed to be 638 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:47,200 carrying and then report back to HMS Puncher. 639 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:49,400 INDISTINCT CHATTER ON BOAT 640 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:53,560 On board the suspect yacht, the students have clear instructions. 641 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:56,720 Yeah, we've been told to sail about in this area 642 00:34:56,720 --> 00:34:59,560 and act slightly suspiciously. 643 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:01,400 Are you ready to be boarded? 644 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,120 FROM YACHT: Are you boarding? 645 00:35:06,160 --> 00:35:07,360 Yes. 646 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:13,160 Guys, are you ready to hop on the yacht, please? 647 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,360 - Good luck finding it. If there's anything! - We don't have anything. 648 00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:22,400 Nothing to hide here. 649 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,920 This may not be a real-life callout but the unit boarding 650 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:31,040 the vessel must still be aware of the potential dangers... 651 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:34,040 such as the suspects carrying weapons 652 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,040 or the boat being booby-trapped. 653 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:41,200 But the students aren't deterred, and the hidden goods are discovered. 654 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:46,320 And it's rocket, just not the explosive type. 655 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:50,400 - ALL: - Oh! 656 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,320 You're not supposed to have this. 657 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:57,720 - So, yes, I found some... - Suspicious packages. 658 00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:02,080 ..suspicious packages that they're not supposed to be holding. 659 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,520 So that was a successful search, I suppose. 660 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:09,960 It's been a triumphant training day for Jessie 661 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:13,800 and the other students. And the good news doesn't end there. 662 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,480 Unfortunately, I caught a rope on my foot. 663 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:22,720 I'm all good, no broken bones, just a bit swollen on the foot. All good. 664 00:36:32,720 --> 00:36:36,040 Keeping accidents at bay in the English Channel is crucial 665 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,640 so that the ports and trade routes can remain open. 666 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:42,120 If a port were to close, 667 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,200 supermarkets would run out of food in a matter of days. 668 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,560 The navigational buoys in the English Channel help mark 669 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:51,440 the danger areas in these waters, 670 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:55,600 ultimately keeping the country supplied with goods. 671 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:58,440 It falls to Trinity House vessel, the Galatea, 672 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:00,920 to maintain these aides to navigation. 673 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:11,400 Fresh from repairing one nautical buoy, the Galatea is 674 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:16,000 onto its next mission, a routine check in a very problematic area. 675 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,040 It's a very hazardous environment to drive a ship into, 676 00:37:22,040 --> 00:37:23,760 there's lots of fixed structures. 677 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:26,920 If anything went wrong with the ship's equipment or the engines 678 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:31,040 failed or anything like that, we'd need to get out pretty sharpish. 679 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:33,680 There's a lot of things we can hit in there. 680 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:37,920 The nature of our job is to go into areas where other shipping 681 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:40,120 shouldn't go because it's too dangerous. 682 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:43,080 So, we go in, we mark the dangers and then we come back out again. 683 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:44,680 That's what we're trained to do. 684 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:49,920 But guiding 84 metres of floating steel through an aquatic 685 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:53,360 slalom course is no time for complacency. 686 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:55,320 Done it lots of times before, yeah. 687 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:00,040 Still doesn't... You still can't get too confident, though. 688 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:01,640 Just always be on your guard. 689 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:06,160 It's fun. It's the dangerous stuff that I like doing, you know? 690 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:10,200 And it's not just the static white power generators to be avoided. 691 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,360 Can you just keep an eye, as we're moving in, 692 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,240 on these wind farm boats, make sure none of them are getting close? 693 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:17,920 Last thing I want to do is get in a situation with one of those 694 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:19,680 while we're surrounded by turbines. 695 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:21,520 They're even ready for an emergency stop. 696 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,040 Ship on standby for boarding, thank you. 697 00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:27,600 We'll get the PO, petty officer, to stand by on the deck, 698 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:30,640 ready to drop the anchor, just in case we lose power. 699 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:33,840 The thing we've got to remember with that is not to drop 700 00:38:33,840 --> 00:38:37,520 it on top of one of the cables. Lots of electric cables on the seabed. 701 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:40,480 Moving in, now, Martin. Coming ahead. 702 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:46,040 Captain Wayne Durrant uses all his years of experience 703 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:48,080 to reach the buoy. 704 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:49,920 Keep a nice little bit of movement ahead 705 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,080 and let the tide just push me in between the two turbines. 706 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:57,200 So we're actually using the elements to achieve what I need, 707 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,600 rather than fighting the elements to achieve what I need. 708 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,800 It's a bit like driving a shopping trolley. 709 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,400 But with a buoy nestled between metal pylons, 710 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,800 precision's required and instruments need referring to. 711 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,720 This is done on a positioning system which basically allows me 712 00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:20,320 to keep the ship in one place... 713 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,560 ..in basic terms, and just move in increments 714 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,800 and turn the head in increments at whatever speed I like. 715 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:33,440 I sit here and tell it what to do and I've got to monitor it but in 716 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:36,400 all reality, the computer's actually driving the ship at the moment. 717 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,040 It helps us to work in a lot rougher conditions 718 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,680 because it can maintain the ship's heading, to keep 719 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,720 the wind on one side while the guys are working on the other. 720 00:39:45,720 --> 00:39:49,800 That's really, really handy for us as a lighthouse service. 721 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:56,160 The positioning system means the approach can be ultra slow. 722 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,920 I'm moving in slowly to the buoy at about a knot. 723 00:40:00,520 --> 00:40:03,280 And I'm just checking all my reference systems - 724 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:04,640 my gyros are still in line, 725 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:07,880 wind sensors are still working and the motion sensor systems 726 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:11,320 on the ship are still working and all tying up. 727 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:17,560 Basically making sure nothing's going wrong. We could have a blackout. 728 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:21,600 The generators could trip out, we could have a thruster failure, 729 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:23,360 we could have position failure. 730 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:30,000 With the Galatea safely alongside the buoy, 731 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:31,480 the work on deck can begin. 732 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:33,920 Right, let's have a look at what we've got. 733 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:35,680 This is the Long Sand middle buoy. 734 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:39,240 It marks an area of deep water where ships can safely pass through 735 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:40,400 the wind farm. 736 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:43,120 Red-coloured buoys mark the right-hand side 737 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:46,040 of a shipping channel as you enter from open sea. 738 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:49,960 What we've done is we've brought it on deck, calibrated the chain. 739 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:52,720 We're just about the check the sinker but our job, here 740 00:40:52,720 --> 00:40:55,160 today, is to change the lantern over, 741 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:58,440 so that's just what the lads are starting to do now. 742 00:40:58,440 --> 00:40:59,920 They'll disconnect the old one, 743 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:04,240 lower that down and then we'll get the new one up to them. 744 00:41:04,240 --> 00:41:07,160 Connect it all up, check it all works. 745 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:09,400 Back over the side, onto the next job. 746 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,320 The organisation has to visit all the buoys on a regular basis 747 00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:20,920 to make sure they accurately mark hazards. 748 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:26,160 Trinity House make sure that they're proactive rather than reactive. 749 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:29,400 You don't want to get to a point where you've let the chain wear 750 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:30,760 too thin and it would drift, 751 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:32,760 cos that would be a danger to the mariner. 752 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:34,960 We make sure that we change things ahead of time 753 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,160 so they stay in position, where they should be. 754 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,880 They need to check the solar power system is working 755 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:44,400 so the flashing light will be sufficiently charged 756 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:46,480 and seen at night and in bad weather. 757 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:51,160 Flash character of this one is ISO two, that's every two seconds 758 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:53,760 and basically, the flash character is just 759 00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:56,800 the pattern of the flashes that the buoy has to be programmed. 760 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:05,920 With the new unit in place, 761 00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:09,320 it needs to be lowered down and bolted to the rest of the buoy. 762 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:19,200 I think that's for scrap. 763 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,920 For the captain, it's been a successful mission 764 00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:23,800 but there's one last thing to do. 765 00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:27,560 Wipe its backside and then put it back in and off we go. 766 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:29,320 Yep, good to go. 767 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:33,080 The buoy can be returned to its post, 768 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,320 marking the deep water through the wind farm. 769 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:46,040 For the team, every buoy serviced keeps the sea safe for all mariners. 770 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:47,560 Yes, very successful job. 771 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:50,800 Everybody did really well and, yep, got the job done and now, 772 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:51,920 onto the next job. 773 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:01,360 With the mission complete, the teams sit down for a well-deserved meal 774 00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:03,120 but they can't rest for long. 775 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:06,480 They have to be on call, to maintain and mend lighthouses 776 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:09,800 and buoys, 365 days a year.