Exploring the city's life-blood!

Year 6 have been down to the docks and spent half a day aboard the oil supply ship Whitchallenger and the tug Phenix. Although lots of children will have been on ferries out of Southampton, or even pleasure craft in the Solent, not many city schools get their children on to working port vessels, which are the life-blood of the docks and the city’s economy.



The children came away with an amazing amount of new knowledge, ranging from how knots are tied (and why it’s still important to know how to tie them!), navigating with computers - but also with sextants and stars - and how major oil spills are cleaned up around the world.

Many thanks to Nick at Solent Towage, Ashley at Whitaker Group and the entire crews of both vessels, who were fantastic!

See our previous visits in 2010 and 2009!