Sea City

[Alan Green]

Rather late notice, but a new series begins on BBC2 at 2030 hrs this evening (Friday) going behind the scenes at the port of Southampton.

[Allan RO]

Hi Allan

not a new series, but repeats from BBC 1 South.....only 3 programmes were made, but they hope to do another series.   Nice to see them on 'national' rather than regional tv even if on BBC2.  I guess they must have got good viewing figures. 

Allan

[Kelvin Davies]

Allan,
Whatever happened to episode 3? The day I expected to see that on BBC South, they had something else (can't remember what. Something "newsworthy", no doubt)
I thgought episode 1 was a potential PR disaster for P&O. No doubt the lady who spent 2 years organising it would think differently.
"I spent the last 2 years organising and planning this"
"Where is our baggage?" (Passenger)
Also; "Will this cake fit through the entrance, it may be too wide".
Ask the lady who spent 2 years planning; surely she would know the measurements?

[chrisg46]

Whichever channel they make and broadcast this kind of stuff for, they always feel the need to dramatise stuff up to get an audience from the great British public!

Having said that, though it was quite a good insight . .

[ChasB46]

Hi Kelvin, episode 3 was broadcast a week later than original schedule because of networked programme re weather abnormality. It was about container port team trying to break record of number of boxes unloaded in a 12 hour shift by one crane.Target of 600+.

[Kelvin Davies]

What brought a smile to us local watchers was seeing some of the people we either see or hear every day.
The team at Southampton VTS; all put on their best shirt & tie and their best English accents.
And the guy driving the ABP Harbour Master launch. Very different on the radio. I remember his voice from the time he referred to me as David Bailey! (He was talking to his mate on the radio while approaching my position on the beach and taking photos)
Oh, the priest was interesting, especially his Tagalog pronunciation. Smashing! I could imagine the tanker crew saying to themselves "Listen to the porringer (foreigner)!"
Chas; Just saw your post. I saw that one about the container crews. They didn't see what they were letting themselves in for, did they? "You have done 600 boxes before, you can do it again".
Maybe I missed episode 2?

[NAB]

Thank you for noticing my freshly pressed shirt! Glad you all seemed to like the insight! A busy day but really good to be part of the documentary!
Best regards
Nathan 

[Kelvin Davies]

You are welcome, Nathan.
It is a pity they didn't show more of the WAFIs and lunatics you constantly have to put up with in the area.
Now that would make an interesting programme!
Kelvin

[Ship's Cat]

Episode 3 got rescheduled for a week later because BBC South decided to show a programme about the snow instead.
One of the episodes did show the WAFIs being told to get out of the way of incoming ships but, as the chap driving the harbour master launch said, they think he's the bad guy! The yachts seem oblivious to the big ships a lot of the time. 

[NAB]

Indeed.
All the best
Nathan  

[ChasB46]

Kelvin you must have seen them all. Episode 1 ..P&O, Episode 2 Harbour master+yacht tangled on tanker/Cowes, Episode 3 Container box moving.

[Kelvin Davies]

You know Chas, I think you may be right.
I suppose I must have assumed there would be more than 3 episodes.
Oh well....
Kelvin

[Alan Green]

Having watched the programme last night, I felt rather embarrassed at having brought it to the Forums attention.  Obviously the programme has to appeal to a far greater audience than us, but I agree that far too much time was spent on the cake and the organised baggage chaos.  If such programmes are going to be made, then maybe they should call upon someone in our ranks to be guest editor.    Originating from her home port, I had been looking forward to seeing THV Patricia, but 2 waves by HRH Princess Anne to the P & O sail past and that was that.