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?

@overnightangel, depending which bit of the north you're in, you could try Hartlepool (not a massive amount of container ships but you can walk down a little pier that's right next to the port entrance), Tees or Sunderland.

@mybreastsarentbest yes containers fall into the sea every now and again! usually because of very rough water/weather occasionally because someone hasn't done their job properly

Ooh, there's a whole category of pics: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Container_ships_in_Hong_Kong

Palmfronds,
You were there after me, I was based in Canary Wharf and worked there almost 20 years ago which is astonishing! I was in supply chain working with a big retailer.

There is a lovely restaurant in harwich called the halfpenny pier which looks over to Felixstowe Dock, it's really nice there.

@10FingersOnTheFender it was an explosion on board, we were told caused by containers of fireworks but I’m not certain of facts. It was terrible though, a crew member died. Which I rammed down the throat of anyone senior in the business decided to complain about the loss of sales.

I had terrible problems with pirates for a year or so as well, no idea if that’s still a major issue in the industry or not

I drive past the docks at least weekly and work in southampton. I love the view as you come over the Millbrook flyover, particularly towards sunset, and see the colours of the containers being stacked up. But I didn’t know how much geekery there was to this..

//wonders how to move from higher education into logistics for a career....

Ta1kin thank you 👍

Is anyone in Portsmouth going to watch the commissioning of the new aircraft carrier today www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-42256046?

I hope to catch some of what went on today when I get home tonight and look up online.

Separately, has anyone seen that super film about the pirate assault on a Danish ship...half is set on board the ship and half back in Denmark where the ship company is negotiating with the Pirates. It's called A Hijacking. I would say it's better than the Tom Hanks film on the same subject

I used to have a RHIDES card for getting onto Felixstowe. Fascinating technology, your whole hand is scanned. It was always a bit nerve wracking when the RTG straddled you, and you wondered if you'd left a twist lock on. The wheelsets on the RTG are about the size of a bungalow!

This was my view from my bedroom window earlier....

Ooo what a great view! Especially against that sky

@DisgraceToTheYChromosome..whats a RHiDES card?

Nice. Mine was of a guy from Yorkshire Water investigating a sink hole outside my house. He had a full-on plumber's crack. I gave him a mince pie!

floella

we don't get many container ships, but I am always spying on the ships that go by via binoculars or Marine Traffic

I love knowing where they are off to, or have come from.

I do feel a bit guilty though at this time of year, when we are all jollied up for Christmas, and the boats are stuck out in the bay or in the harbour. Often wonder what they are all up to.

Well look at that Floella, we share a love of both Barefoot & Jeffers and container shipping too. If we knew each other in RL we’d probably clear a room pretty quickly with our geekery!

Love the butt crack image you described too...hope you placed the mince pie in his hand and not the aforementioned crack

I suspect it's a bit grim on board, sadly. Among the personnel who work below deck, as it were (not the piloting crew).
I heard there's not much regulation of employment conditions...but prepared to be assured otherwise!

NineFortySixPM

It was an all budder mince pie. Earlier in the day I improved his bollards with some tinsel in a very Ina way. How fun was that?

Floella

Sorry for briefly getting off topic Fingers. Back to the shipping!

But also checkout the Barefoot Contessa thread because it seems that interest in containers and a budder loving cooking legend go hand in hand.

Where is the best place in the north west to go does anyone know?x

I had to hire a 20ft shipping container for a touring event I was involved with and grew quite attached to it!

Have you seen that LEGO do a Maersk container ship? Not cheap though!

Dd has some of the plastic model containers from here: www.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk/

@curly100...wow, that LEGO ship! swooooon

What is that c-rail-intermodal site? Not entirely clear what it's aimed at? Does it supply containers for model railway enthusiasts?

Sarah, Liverpool has a deep water dock, so you get some massive containers there, right into the heart of the city too. Inspired by this thread, I've just been looking up ships currently docked at the Port of Liverpool. It's fascinating. Thanks OP

10Fingers: RHIDES cards are the ID cards that allow you to book straight into the port. Stick the card in, put your hand on the scanner, enter your reference and you get your block and bay to offload. Then you drive for miles searching for it.