How can I find out when big container ships scheduled to dock at Southampton

[10FingersOnTheFender]

I've not long developed a fascination with container shipping.

I'd like to go to Rotterdam and Hamburg next year.

But in the meantime maybe I could go and see big container ships docking at Southampton. Anyone got any tips? How can I find out as far as possible in advance when certain big ships are due to dock there?

I'm not sure if it's still possible but you used to be able to travel as a paying passenger on some cargo ships heading out of Avonmouth.

So - what jobs are there in the industry or with a specific company like Maersk?

My husbands aunt did this actually. Widowed and on her own, late sixties I think, just booked herself on a cargo ship and went off, for quite a long time as well, I think about three months. We were all a bit stunned, She totally loved it. I think the paying guests spend a lot of time with the staff socialising if I remember correctly.

Thank you. I have just added the cargo ship holiday to my bucket list!

Marking my place. DS would like this. We're due an Ikea trip too.

THis sort of thing ?
cargoshipvoyages.com/VoyageDetails/?SCID=46&VID=96&SGID=134

OK, this looks interesting ....
cargoshipvoyages.com/VoyageDetails/?SCID=46&VID=129&SGID=465

Ah, just remembered the other surreal vantage point - cannot remember if its still open.
Park in Third Avenue at the Calor Centre end
there is a footpath down the side of calor that used to lead to a footbridge into the docks
from which you can see one of the big turnaround spaces

You get some really massive ones at felixstowe

Felixstowe has such regular ships entering the port - but I don't follow the types just enjoy watching the cranes and things. There's a cafe down at the viewing point (loads of parking too) and we used to take fish and chips down from time to time. We used to take binoculars down for improved viewing!

If the trip needs making more enticing for the rest of the family there's also a fort (languard?) right nearby that is English heritage and quite an interesting visit.

Love this thread, thanks OP.

I used to work in shipping years ago too! What a niche thread
We used to get this newspaper, can't remember what it was called but they used to print all the accidents at sea. It was fascinating.

We've just missed Felixstowe's 50th birthday. Happy birthday, Felixstowe.

I'm lucky enough to work near Fremantle harbour, which is the largest port in Western Australia. Some of the cargo ships are bloody enormous! You lot would love it! .

Another one placemarking!

Norland and others who mentioned the view from Marchwood - I live nearby but have never ventured into the industrial estate, can you park over there then? Looking for some new places to go for a stroll this sounds good

I had a brief stint training for the merchant navy. A collision at sea in which 9 of my colleagues were killed put paid to that.

I seem to recall the cars that were lost were Volvo’s?

I like to follow where the Friendly Floatees have ended up en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendly_Floatees

For a job we were flown to the Hong Kong port to check it out. It was great to see the port in the city. So impressive.

Oh my gosh, I love this thread.

The tours of the Hamburg harbour are fun. I didn’t get there in time for an English tour so I did a German one and while I understood snippets I missed quite a bit. But I didn’t care because I mostly just love watching the ships.

I used to sometimes get invited to sail in the San Francisco Bay (much less fancy than it sounds) and my favourite part was going through the port in Oakland.

I think there’s a Planet Money podcast episode that takes place at the shipyards in LA - in their series about making a t-shirt.

The IKEA tip is a great one. In case any plane people are here, I’ll add another IKEA that has good views - you can watch the planes from the IKEA restaurant in Newark, NJ (at least you could several years ago).

Now I’m off to figure out if we even have a decent port near where I live (landlocked but on a shipping route).

I also really love locks, of the canal type. Anyone else?

Oh I forgot that I actually got to walk around the shipyard in Barbados, that was the beginning of my fascination. I love the machines that move the containers.

Goddammit I have never thought about cargo ships before in my life and now I'm lying awake excitedly planning a 60 day round trip on one and wondering how I'll break the news to OH.

Brilliant thread!! I've worked in the container logistics industry (various jobs) for 22 years. 6 weeks ago I moved to Hong Kong and my new desk is overlooking the sea where container ships pass by all day! Not the huge ones unfortunately, they tend to just have up to a couple of thousand containers on board. Also my journey to work is by ferry so I often find myself alongside one on a morning, feeling absolutely minute at the side of her

To the pps who mentioned Maersk, I've eaten my fair share of Maersk biscuits over the years - very nice!!

Got up early to watch the cricket and stiumbled across this thread, fascinating!
I’m in the north of England, is there anywhere up here the big cargo ships come and go from? Hull perhaps? (Not really the north but comparatively to Southampton I suppose it is). Have become oddly fascinated now!

@mybreastsarentbest I was on a canal boat that my friend’s dad owns in the summer, with 3 friends, went from Lancaster thru Galgate , hard work doing the lochs but soon get the hang of it, amazing feats of engineering for the time when you think about it.

Good fun steering on the tiller, bit of a head blag as you’re effectively doing it the wrong way round stood st the back of the boat facing forwards but you steer left to go right and right to go left. I could probably sit in a port all day watching the ships come and go, so soothing and there’s something really romanticised about it wondering who’s on board and where they’re going

Palmfronds
I worked for Maersk too, based in CW and did some time in Felixstowe, I also worked for Safmarine for a time too who were owned by Maersk but run separately.
I remember the hampers! And the tins of cookies which were everywhere. Was a great company to work for.