Record attempt moving containers at Southampton

The crane operator

Darren White has been operating the port’s giant cranes for 14 years and he is one of the best in the business.

Darren White

Crane operator Darren White has the job of unloading large number of containers from ships which the port handles.

There's a lot of pressure driving them. They're very fast. You've got to concentrate like never before."Darren White

He and his colleagues move nearly two million containers every year carrying a wide variety of goods which keep the wheels of British industry turning, and retailers in business.

Darren has been operating the port’s giant cranes for 14 years and he is one of the best in the business.

His operator’s cab could be working at 50 metres up in the air so he needs to have a perfect swing action. The position and movement of his crane and its load are critical.

"There's a lot of pressure driving them. They're very fast. You've got to concentrate like never before," says Darren.

"You've got to keep your eye on the ball."

We join him as he takes on the record-breaking challenge of unloading 500 containers, the highest number of boxes ever moved in a 12 hour shift at Southampton.

A target of 500 is rarely ever reached but he and his team are determined to top the champion’s league of container shifting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p014dgt4

Terminal supervisor

Peter Berbier is the port of Southampton's terminal supervisor.

Peter Berbier comes from a long line of Southampton dockers.

He is the terminal supervisor.

The port of Southampton is a gateway to the world and its activities need careful co-ordination and supervision. Peter plays a vital role in keeping the port’s activities on track.

“I love my job. It’s probably the best job I’ve ever had.

“When I first came to work in the port I had long hair and wore flares. That’ll give you an idea of how long I’ve been here.”

His family have worked at the port down the generations.

“My father and my grandfather were here – and my uncle. So through the whole of the century – if you like - through the 1890s onwards, I’ve had family in the port.”