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A giant cargo ship braves the treacherous shipping lanes, a local oyster farmer finds treasures in the deep and the bomb squad unearth a blast from the past.

Ninety-five per cent of everything we import in the UK comes to us by sea - everything from mobile phones, cuddly toys and kitchen sinks to fresh fruit and veg. As the vast cargo ships bringing goods to our shores become ever bigger, they need precision handling to navigate them safely through the Channel's many hazards. We follow cargo ship the NYK Venus on her 580-mile journey from Hamburg to Southampton - at three football pitches long, she needs the specialist knowledge of four separate pilots to guide her through.

For 73-year-old oyster farmer David Scott, his precious crop only has to travel a few short metres to a nearby restaurant to make it to the plate. For the last nine years, he's been farming oysters by hand using traditional methods in the Channel's waters at Fleet, Dorset. Despite the chilly winter weather, it's a job he loves - particularly when there's a home-grown pearl to be found.

It's a less peaceful way of life for the Royal Navy's Southern Diving Group, who are responsible for safely disposing of the many thousands of unexploded bombs and mines that still lurk in the Channel's depths. When a World War II artillery shell is uncovered by building work on the Isle of Wight, the team must work quickly to make it safe. But setting off an explosive just a few metres away from ferries and pleasure boats is not a straightforward task.