The new look MSC Geneva sails to Felixstowe on a sunny, Yes sunny Bank holiday 28th August 2017

MSC Geneva resumes normal service after her major transformation in China.  MSC Geneva arrives to the Port of Felixstowe on a lovely sunny,  Yes I said SUNNY Bank Holiday Monday.

To keep up with the changing container market, the MSC Geneva was dry docked at the Huarun Dadong Dockyard in China and cut in half. She is the first container ship ever to be cut bow to stern to be widened her by 7 metres and her length by 16 metres to hold an extra 1300 odd TEU.

The vessel which was on her berth, Maersk Shams was behind on cargo operations and their ETD was changed to 10am so the pilot boarding time for MSC Geneva was delayed to 9:45am. Maersk Shams EDT offically confirmed at 10am, the pilot for Geneva headed out to the Sunk Pilot station to board for the inbound passage into Felixstowe.

The pilot boards the MSC Geneva and radios Harwich VTS to ask whats the current situation was with the Maersk Shams. VTS replies that the Shams was off the berth and proceeding. The pilot replies in that case he would begin to proceed inwards for Trinity 5 and would like one Svitzer tug for berthing to meet just outside the harbour.

The Svitzer Shotley heads out of the harbour to make fast aft of the Geneva. Once inside the harbour and on a Northerly heading the pilot requires the Shotley to pull straight back 20% then to increase to 40% to slow her down as they head down the harbour. Passing Berths 8&9 the Geneva steers to port onto a Westerly heading before getting the Shotley to move out onto the starboard quarter to take the stern around.   Almost swung the pilot gets the Shotley to come in for a push to help her alongside the berth.

Final tie up 3 and 2 each end with springs first.