Mighty Ships

Mighty Ships

Mighty Ships logo
Genre Documentary
Created by Exploration Production Inc.
Discovery Channel
Narrated by Barbara Budd
Anthony Green
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 8
No. of episodes 50 [1] (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 45 minutes
Release
Original network Discovery Channel Canada
Original release 27 July 2008 – present
External links
Website

Mighty Ships is a documentary television program produced by Exploration Production Inc. in Canada and aired on Discovery Channel Canada and also broadcast around the world.[2] Each episode of the series follows a particular sea-going vessel and provides an insight into the ship and its crew.

Mighty Cruise Ships is a spin-off series focusing on cruise ships which began to air in late 2014.

Series overview

A typical episode follows the crew of a particular vessel as it prepares to embark upon a voyage and concludes at the end of the journey or once a particular job has been completed. The operational capabilities and technical aspects of the ship feature heavily in the series, whilst members of the ship’s crew provide an insight into life at sea and provide a human perspective. The series also makes use of computer-generated animation to show scenes which would otherwise be unobtainable, such as underwater operations.[3]

The series was started after the success of a one-off special on the Discovery Channel entitled Inside Queen Mary 2.[2] The series has featured an extensive range of different types of marine vessels, with cruise ships, an aircraft carrier, fishing boats, dredgers and various types of cargo ships, naval and specialist ships being shown.

In a first for the series, season 7 includes a double-length episode about the maiden voyage of cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway and its construction and sea trials. Season 7 also includes a compilation episode showing vessels from the first six seasons.

The show's mixture of technical insight and human stories has proved popular with audiences.[4]

Mighty Planes is a spin-off series in the same format but featuring aircraft rather than ships.[4]

Episodes

One-off special

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
11"Inside Queen Mary 2"Ocean LinerCunard LineBarbara Budd2008
The world's largest ocean liner prepares to set sail on a five-night voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from New York City to Southampton, United Kingdom. Whilst providing entertainment and 16,000 meals a day to passengers, the crew must deal with bad weather and an infectious virus requiring passengers to be quarantined.

Season 1

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
21"Emma Mærsk"Container ShipMaersk LineBarbara Budd27 July 2008[5]
Container ship Emma Maersk battles the threat of piracy and monsoons as she transports her cargo from Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia, through the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea to Algeciras, Spain.
32"MV Becrux"Livestock carrierSiba ShipsBarbara Budd2 August 2008[5]
Livestock carrier MV Becrux carries 16,000 cattle from Darwin, Australia to Jakarta, Indonesia. The crew ensure they are not at risk from piracy whilst also maintaining the welfare and condition of their animals.
43"MV Faust"Car CarrierWallenius Wilhelmsen LogisticsBarbara Budd10 August 2008[5]
One of the largest car carriers in the world makes a winter Atlantic crossing between Southampton, UK and Newark, New Jersey, United States.
54"CCGS Henry Larsen"IcebreakerCanadian Coast GuardBarbara Budd2008
Off the coast of Newfoundland, Canadian Coastguard icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen patrols the frozen seas, assists the ferry Beaumont Hamel to navigate through the ice fields on its journey from Fogo Island and rescues cargo vessels which become trapped by ice.
65"MV Paul R. Tregurtha"Lake FreighterTBABarbara Budd2008
76"Tyco Resolute"Cable LayerTyco TelecommunicationsBarbara Budd2008
Off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Tyco Resolute lays fibre optic cable to connect the country into PAC-1, a major subsea telecommunications cable running between Panama and California.

Season 2

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel Type Vessel Operator Narrated by Original air date
81"MV Resolution"Turbine Installation VesselMPI Offshore LtdBarbara Budd28 August 2009
The first ever purpose built vessel for constructing wind turbines, MV Resolution, docks at Belfast, Northern Ireland to collect turbine components before setting sail for the Robin Rigg Wind Farm in the Solway Firth to assist with its construction.
92"MV Peace in Africa"DredgerDe BeersBarbara Budd2009
In the Southern Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of South Africa, the world's largest offshore mining vessel, MV Peace in Africa, searches for diamonds using its sub-sea crawler.
103"Akamalik"Fishing TrawlerRoyal GreenlandBarbara Budd2009
Shrimp trawler of Royal Greenland fleet, Akamalik, sets sails from Sisimiut to the shrimping grounds of the North Atlantic Ocean as the lives of the crew are put at risk in the freezing winter weather.
114"USS Nimitz"SupercarrierUS NavyBarbara Budd10 August 2009
Nuclear powered supercarrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and her 75 aircraft and 5000 crew, train from three months off the coast of Southern California, as she prepares for deployment to the Arabian Sea as part of the war in Afghanistan.
125"HDMS Absalon"Flexible Support ShipRoyal Danish NavyBarbara Budd2009
Danish warship HDMS Absalon [L16] leads Combined Task Force 150 in its fight against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
136"MV Fairplayer"Heavy-Lift ShipJumbo ShippingBarbara Budd2009
On her maiden voyage, the MV Fairplayer transports 4000 tonnes of oil refinery components from Ortona, Italy to a refinery in Port Arthur, Texas.

Season 3

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel Type Vessel Operator Narrated by Original air date
141"G.O. Sars"Research VesselNorwegian Institute of Marine ResearchAnthony Green2010
G.O. Sars sets sail from Tromsø, Norway on a research voyage to the Arctic Ocean to examine a subsea volcano and hydrothermal vent field,with the aim of discovering new lifeforms.
152"Africa Mercy"Hospital ShipMercy ShipsAnthony Green2010
Floating hospital Africa Mercy sails from Tenerife bound for Lomé, Togo on the west coast of Africa. On arrival the medical staff provide treatments to Togolese patients both on-board the ship and within clinics set-up onshore, whilst mechanics ensure the ship remains serviceable.[6]
163"Cristóbal Colón"DredgerJan De Nul GroupBarbara Budd2010
The world's first super dredger provides 2.5 million cubic metres of sand for the construction of a new port at Cuxhaven on the mouth of the Elbe River in Germany.
174"USS Kentucky"Ballistic Missile SubmarineUS NavyBarbara Budd2010
USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) departs Bangor, Washington state on a highly classified 70 day mission in the Pacific Ocean. One of the largest submarines ever built, she forms part of the United States' strategic nuclear deterrent.
185"Oasis of the Seas[7]"Cruise ShipRoyal Caribbean InternationalAnthony Green2010
The largest cruise ship ever built prepares to set sail on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her 5400 passengers are taken on a seven day Caribbean cruise which includes stops in the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and the Bahamas.
196"MV Solitaire"Pipe-Laying ShipAllseas GroupBarbara Budd2010
In the Ormen Lange Gas Field, located 120 miles off the west coast of Norway, MV Solitaire lays pipeline to connect a new gas well into the existing subsea pipe network.

Season 4

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel Type Vessel Operator Narrated by Original air date
201"MV Beluga Bremen"Cargo ShipBeluga ShippingBarbara Budd2011
On her maiden voyage, super heavy lifter Beluga Bremen transports Beluga Shipping's largest ever load - mining equipment bound for a gold mine in the Dominican Republic. After careful loading in Kuantan, Malaysia and picking up a further load in Shanghai, she sets sail across the Pacific Ocean.
212"USNS Robert E. Peary"Cargo ShipUS NavyAnthony Green2011
223"DSV Skandi Arctic"Diving Support VesselDOF SubseaBarbara Budd2011
234"MS Stena Britannica"ROPAX FerryStena LineAnthony Green2011
245"USCGC Bertholf"National Security CutterUS Coast GuardBarbara Budd2011
256"CCGS Amundsen"Icebreaker and Arctic Research VesselCanadian Coast GuardAnthony Green2011

Season 5

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel Type Vessel Operator Narrated by Original air date
261"Norwegian Epic"Cruise ShipNorwegian Cruise LineBarbara Budd20 July 2011[8]
272"North Star"Roll-on/Roll-off Cargo ShipTBATBA2011
283"Le Boréal"Cruise ShipCompagnie du PonantBarbara Budd2011
294"FPSO Maersk Peregrino"Floating Production Storage and Offloading VesselMaersk FPSOAnthony Green2011
305"Umiak I"Bulk CarrierFednav GroupBarbara Budd2011
316"USS Gravely"Guided Missile DestroyerUS NavyAnthony Green2011

Season 6

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
321"MV Stornes"Fallpipe vesselVan OordAnthony Green2012
332"USNS Grasp"Salvage shipUS NavyAnthony Green2012
343"Crystal Serenity"Cruise shipCrystal CruisesAnthony Green2012
354"USS New York"Amphibious Transport DockUS NavyAnthony Green2012
365"Northern Eagle"Fishing TrawlerAmerican SeafoodsAnthony Green2012
376"Neptune"Jackup VesselGeoSea NVAnthony Green2012

Season 7

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
381"Norwegian Breakaway: The Voyage"Cruise ShipNorwegian Cruise LineTBA10 November 2013 [9]
392"Norwegian Breakaway: The Build"Cruise ShipNorwegian Cruise LineTBA10 November 2013[9]
403"Wind Surf"Motor Sailing Yacht and Cruise ShipWindstar CruisesAnthony Green15 November 2013[9]
During an eight day Mediterranean cruise Wind Surf's three hundred passengers depart from Venice and call at the Croatian ports of Rovinj, Split and Dubrovnik, Kotor in Montenegro and Messina in Sicily, before arriving at her final destination of Rome.
414"MV Avataq"Cargo ShipNEASAnthony Green22 November 2013[9]
Avataq is on a 3500km journey to provide essential supplies to the community of Kuujjuaq in Canada's near-Arctic.
425"Ibn Battuta"Cutter Suction DredgerJan De Nul GroupTBA29 November 2013[9]
436"Stemat Spirit"Cable Laying VesselStemat Marine ServicesTBA6 December 2013[9]
447"Best of Mighty Ships"VariousVariousTBA13 December 2013[9]

Season 8[10]

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
451"Quantum of the Seas"Cruise ShipRoyal Caribbean InternationalBarbara Budd19 July 2015[10]
462"Hawk"Semi-submersible heavy-lift shipOffshore Heavy TransportTBA19 July 2015[10]
473"Happy Star"Heavy-Lift ShipBig Lift ShippingTBA26 July 2015[10]
484"Algoma Equinox"Lake FreighterAlgoma Central MarineTBA2 August 2015[10]
495"HDMS Peter Willemoes"FrigateRoyal Danish NavyTBA9 August 2015[10]
506"Maersk Interceptor"Jackup RigMaersk DrillingTBA16 August 2015[10]

Mighty Cruise Ships [11]

Mighty Cruise Ships is a spin-off series which provides a behind the scenes insight into the voyages of six different cruise ships. It will be first broadcast in Canada during late 2014.

No.
in series
No.
in season
Title Vessel type Vessel operator Narrated by Original air date
11"Paul Gauguin"Cruise ShipPaul Gauguin CruisesTBA9 November 2014
22"Le Soléal"Cruise ShipCompagnie du PonantTBA16 November 2014
33"Azamara Journey"Cruise ShipAzamara Club CruisesTBA23 November 2014
44"Celebrity Solstice"Cruise ShipCelebrity CruisesTBA30 November 2014
55"Stella Australis"Cruise ShipAustralisTBA7 December 2014
66"Marco Polo"Cruise ShipCruise & Maritime VoyagesTBA14 December 2014

Broadcasters

Country Network(s) Notes
Canada Canada Discovery Channel Canada
Asia Pacific Discovery HD World All season including spin off
Australia Seven Network
7mate
Only 5 episodes (Queen Mary 2, Faust, Becrux, Nimitz and Absalon) have aired as specials.
Began series from Emma Maersk
United Kingdom Quest
United States HD Theater
Smithsonian Channel
The Netherlands Discovery Channel The Netherlands
Belgium Discovery Channel Belgium
Spain La Sexta HD

References

  1. "Mighty Ships: Episode List". Discovery Channel Canada. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 "DiscoveryHD: Mighty Ships". Discovery Channel Canada. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  3. "Mighty Ships - Episode Animations". Vimeo. ZeroFractal. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 Claire Afan, Emily. "Mighty Ships, Planes take off worldwide". www.playback.ca. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mighty Ships". DiscoveryHD.ca. CTV Global Media. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  6. "Discovery Channel Highlights Africa Mercy in Mighty Ships Program". www.mercy.ships.ca. Mercy Ships. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  7. "Oasis of the Seas to be Featured Discovery Canada". Cruise Talk Central. Empire Cruise and Travel LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  8. "Stinson: All hands on tech for Mighty Ships". National Post. National Post. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Seventh Heaven! Discovery’s Worldwide Hit MIGHTY SHIPS Drops Anchor for Season 7, Nov. 10". Bell Media Press Room. Bell Media. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Anchors Aweigh! Discovery’s Canadian-Produced Mega Hit MIGHTY SHIPS Sets Sail for Season 8, July 19". http://www.bellmedia.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 9 August 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  11. "The Ultimate VIP Experience: MIGHTY CRUISE SHIPS Sets Sail on the Vacation of a Lifetime, November 9". http://www.bellmediapr.ca. Bell Media. Retrieved 26 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 30, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.