Channel Patrol

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Travel Documentary hosted by Nicholas Ball, published by BBC in 2014 - English narration

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Channel Patrol Documentary series following the lives of those that use the English Channel for pleasure, those that earn a living from it, and most importantly those who keep it safe.

[edit] Part 1

The RNLI team from Newhaven, one of the busiest stations on the channel, rush to answer a mayday call from a teenager on a stranded yacht. We follow trawler skipper Mike Young as he struggles with strict fishing regulations and mechanical breakdowns while trying to earn a living from the channel's waters. Commercial fishing is statistically one of the most dangerous jobs in the UK, with fishermen 16 times more likely to be killed than those working in construction. And another job that's not without its dangers - we're with the Royal Navy's underwater bomb squad, the Fleet Diving Squadron, who are called out to blow up a hazard in the Solent.

[edit] Part 2

The RNLI team from Newhaven rush to the aid of a casualty having a suspected heart attack on board a charter fishing boat out at sea. Every minute is critical to reach him within the 'golden hour'. The team must then quickly assess whether he needs emergency helicopter evacuation. We also follow solo swimmer Nick Young as he battles tides and massive freighters in his attempt to swim to France. It's the ultimate open-water challenge - more people have climbed Everest than have successfully swum the channel. Nick's motivation is a cause close to his heart - he's hoping to raise money to help his 12-year-old niece, Bel, who was paralysed four years before after falling from a climbing frame. And a team of volunteers rush to rescue another of the channel's inhabitants - a baby seal washed up on the beach.

[edit] Part 3

We follow the crew and pilots on a mammoth cargo freighter as it makes its way through the channel's hazards to Southampton in thick fog. 95 per cent of everything we buy comes to us via sea and the cargo ships that bring us everything from TVs to fresh fruit and veg are getting ever larger. At 368 metres long, the APL Merlion is 62 metres bigger than London's tallest building, the Shard. Getting this mammoth beast safely into port in poor visibility is no mean feat. It's one of the many challenges faced on a daily basis by the team in Vessel Traffic Services in Southampton, who help to park up huge cruise liners as well as massive freighters like this. One of the UK's busiest ports, Southampton handles almost 40 million tonnes of freight and also has 1.7 million cruise passengers passing through it every year.

[edit] Part 4

The Newhaven RNLI crew was one of many agencies called out when Eastbourne Pier caught fire on 30 July 2014. Using footage captured on their helmet camera as well as live news from the day, we follow the key role they played in helping to save the historic pier from total destruction. We're also on board the Royal Navy's HMS Tyne, part of the channel's fisheries protection squadron, who patrol the waters ensuring commercial fishermen follow regulations to protect fishing stocks. - taking the car on a cross-channel ferry for a trip to France or the rest of Europe. In fact over 15 million of us cross its waters by ferry each year in 3.3 million cars. We follow the crew of DFDS Seaways ferry the Delft at the height of the summer holidays as they load and unload up to 1,000 passengers a time on a tight schedule.

[edit] Part 5

The crew of Navy destroyer HMS Duncan is put to the test during a simulated battle against Hawk jets, making use of the vessel's sophisticated technology. Plus, a team from Southampton Harbour Patrol works to keep the busy port running as hundreds of luxury yachts descend for the 45th annual boat show, and a couple of rookie sailors learn the ropes in the world's most famous regatta, Cowes Week.

[edit] Part 6

Two rival skippers go head to head in an effort to catch the biggest fish off Weymouth, and a trainee dock worker learns how to control Southampton's cranes. Plus, Trinity House ship Galatea attends a damaged light vessel, but the mission of towing it into harbour for repair becomes complicated when a hurricane closes in on the Channel.

[edit] Part 7

Rookie sailor Joseph takes part in the Tall Ships regatta sailing from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight, while the crew of the HMS Severn inspect fishing vessels, and the Southampton Harbour Patrol keep yachts and pleasure boats out of the way of commercial ships.

[edit] Part 8

Meeting a band of eco-fishermen from Weymouth who are hoping to help preserve the English Channel's fish stocks by using traditional methods to catch sea bass. Plus, a team from the UK's Border Agency uses a hands-on approach to intercept contraband and illegal cargo, and it is a busy day for the crew of the Whitonia tanker, whose job it is to refuel cruise liners and cargo ships.

[edit] Part 9

The documentary follows the crew members of the Galatea - the flagship vessel of Trinity House, which is responsible for the operation of lighthouses and navigation aids - as they attempt to tow in a damaged boat that was caught up in Hurricane Bertha. Meanwhile, a team attempts to row 40 miles for charity, and precision driving skills are needed to unload vehicles as they travel through the Port of Southampton.

[edit] Part 10

A group of military veterans who have each lost a leg hopes to swim from England to France and achieve a new world record - to be the first all-amputee team to do so. The crew on the UK Border Force's cutter boats police the waters for smuggling and trafficking, and board a yacht for an inspection when they spot the vessel acting erratically. Meanwhile, the technicians who maintain the large offshore wind farms go about their business as usual.