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?

Lostinthecolonies that is a gorgeous pic. Lucky you!

10Fingers, I'm no expert, but a ships pilot/maritime pilot is responsible for navigating the ship through their own area of 'waters'. They don't stay or live on the ship, they are only there for the period of time the ship needs to get safely from open waters into a harbour (or vice versa) and, I think probably through big shipping canals. So they join the ship when its in their jurisdiction and leave it once they have taken it where it needs to be.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pilot

This is a good link too www.marineinsight.com/careers-2/maritime-pilot-and-his-duties/

I'm regularly in Southampton at the moment and also enjoy watching the ships at the docks, usually from IKEA. I'm also a regular visitor to Devonport in Plymouth and like seeing what's turned up there too. Not as busy as Soton though. My uncle works in import/export up in London but I can't remember which company.

How on earth did that oil tanker manage to collide with the cargo ship in the East China Sea on Saturday???

You'd have thought that with all the sat navy and other modern tech this kind of thing couldn't happen anymore.

So sad. And a reminder of how dangerous shipping can be.

I'm obsessed with them. We went to Florida recently and I just sat on the beach container ship spotting. Dh and ds love them too. A HUGE one came and we all started screaming.

Oil tankers as well.

And oil dereks. I've only ever seen a tiny one and got SO excited!

We also took a boat down the East Coast of the States and through major shipping ports. Holiday of a lifetime!

We're just sending this over to geeky stuff at the OP's request!

Well I suppose it is geeky - in an odd way! But agree it would be a shame to lose the thread!

So ... to expand the seafaring conversation, has anyone done a 'tall ships' sailing experience? Donkey's years ago I had two weeks on the Sir Winston Churchill as crew - it was bloody hard work, but fab!

@PanPanPanPing we live in an area with the most tall ships in the world. We know lots of the owners and go on them regularly.

Dh used to be a schooner bum.

@bummymummy77 where is that then??

bummymummy, I only had the good fortune to sail/crew on the SWC once when she was part of the Sail Training Association. I believe she is now privately chartered?

Does anyone have any ideas about how someone like me, who loves the sea, docks and ships but who currently lives about as far from the sea as you can get in England could, when the time is right, get a job doing something ship related? As I'll be quite old, with no experience

@PanPanPanPing she's privately chartered from Greece now I think.

@10FingersOnTheFender Midcoast Maine.

We always tag along with the world's largest schooner race in our boat.

I'm on my way to Florida. Will update with some massive ship pictures tomorrow. 😍

Just lying here in the sun. WATCHING CONTAINER SHIPS AND TANKERS!

@bummymummythefirst oooooo well jell!

I was in Miami last October....how on earth did I miss this???

where in Miami did you take those pics from?

I'm in Fort Lauderdale. At one point here were EIGHT tankers lined up. I was a useless parent at that point. The app 'marine traffic' makes it even more amazing.

Tankers and container ships. One of them got escorted by FOUR coastguard boats and two tugs. I actually nearly screamed.