Main content

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.