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The Humber Estuary

Episode 4 of 5

Dock workers in Hull deal with a rare cruise ship in a hectic ten-hour turnaround of passengers and baggage. Two friends become rivals in a powerboat racing grand prix.

Series meeting the people who live and work around Britain's port cities.

Dock workers in Hull deal with a rare cruise ship in a hectic ten-hour turnaround of passengers and baggage. Two best friends become rivals in a powerboat racing grand prix. Plus behind the scenes with the teams keeping the treacherous waters of the Humber open for shipping.

57 minutes

Sea City - Humber Estuary

Sea City - Humber Estuary
Five times a year the port of Hull welcomes in cruise ships. Dock workers forget their usual duties to help change the passengers and baggage over in a hectic ten-hour turnaround. They all love the challenge, whether starting stalled cars, finding suitcases or assisting elderly passengers up the gangway, they run the operation with humour and skill.

Best mates Dave Taft and Gavin Feldt used to race together as driver and navigator in a powerboat. Now they’re racing in rival boats preparing for a home town Grand Prix Of The Sea on the Humber estuary.

The people at Hughes Marine proudly declare themselves as ‘the dustmen of the docks’. The family-owned company founded by 66 year-old Barry is now run by his son Dean, and they fish out all the debris that busy docks accumulate.

Barry tried retirement and didn’t like it, so he’s still working half a century after starting. His grandson Cory is the third generation of the family, and the film follows him on his first day at work - which goes anything but smoothly for the school leaver.

The Humber estuary boasts three major ports, united by a stretch of river that is treacherous, but essential for Britain’s east coast and beyond.

Ships’ pilots rely heavily on the work of the back-up staff who chart and mark the shipping lanes in the shifting river bed.


Credit

Role Contributor
Producer Sam Wichelow

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