The Shipping Forecast... it's a national treasure but it's also something that could help save your life if you're travelling UK seas.

Dover, Fisher, German Bight, North Utsire, South Utsire ... it might sound like some sort of code but it's also part of vital maritime safety information.

In this podcast, we explore what the Shipping Forecast is, how to interpret it and why it truly matters for the mariners on our seas.

Excerpts from the Shipping Forecast used by permission of BBC Radio 4