MSC Rifaya battles to depart Felixstowe in the brisk S/W wind. 28th January 2018

The 400 metre MSC Rifaya prepares to depart Felixstowe Berth 9 with a draught of 11.5 metres for her next port of Rotterdam. Two 2411 Svitzer tugs assist with the departure.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the MSC Rifaya up the gangway from the quayside. The last crane booms up and the driver makes their way down the many flights of steps.

The pilot onboard requests the services ready to depart. Svitzer Sky and Svitzer Shotley makes their way from the tug pontoon to Berth 9. Mooring gang pulls up fore and aft and waits for the crew onboard to single up.  the pilot gets the Shotley to make fast centre lead aft and the Sky make fast on the starboard quarter. The forward lines begin to slacken and winched back onboard. As the the rest of the lines are released, the wind began to strengthen to a brisk 20-24 knots.

All lines back onboard the pilot gets both tugs to increase power to pull off the stern off the berth while the pilot uses the bow thruster to bring the bow out into the channel. The bow begins to move steadily away from the berth but with the pressure of the wind against the starboard side, the bow thrusters struggle and the bow edges closer and closer to the berth. The pilot gets the tugs to ease up so the bow could catch up. Finally with the bow catching up, the tugs start increasing power again until the Rifaya enters the channel. The pilot get the Sky to ease up to be released from the starboard quarter. While the sky is released, Shotley eases up and drops in astern. The pilot says the Shotley that they will be required for a powered indirect around the 90 degree Beach End turn out of the harbour. 

Sky released swings around the stern and stands by on the port quarter for the corner. The Rifaya eases ahead on the main engine and begins to build up some speed. Passing the Fort Buoy, the pilot gets the Shotley to move out onto the starboard side and give what they could for a powered indirect. As the ship approaches the Beach End, the pilot radios the Sky to position on the port quarter and give what they could. Safely around the Beach End, Sky breaks away from the ships side and heads back into the harbour.  Shotley eases up to drop in astern then slackens to close up ready to let go.

GB Railfreight 4Z26 service to Rotherham departs Felixstowe South Terminal. 27th January 2018

GB Railfreight 4Z26 service to Rotherham leaves Felixstowe South Rail terminal. The loco 66772 waited beside the signal until the level crossing gates closed and the signal changed to green. 

The loco increased the power sharply to get rolling. Steadily increasing speed the long line of containers rolled past towards Ipswich where they will take the branch line to Bury St Edmunds and futher afield to Rotherham.

Pilot Launch St Edmund boards a pilot onto the dredger Reynaert 27th January 2018

The trail suction hopper dredger Reynaert arrives in the harbour to commence Maintenance dredging of the deep water channel in the Harwich Haven after continuous winter storms batter the port. A pilot was required to be onboard the ship while working in the Haven. 

The pilot launch St Edmund swings around the stern of the dredger and steadies themselves on the starboard side to board a pilot. Safely onboard they go up to the bridge and relieves the pilot which had been on there previous. A few minutes later the relieved pilot makes their way to the ladder to land onto the St Edmund.

Rio Blanco struggles from Felixstowe Berth 3. 27th January 2018

The Rio Blanco ready to depart from Felixstowe Berth 3 with a draught of 9.5 metres for Antwerp,  Svitzer Sky and mooring gang in attendance. The Svitzer Sky makes fast centre lead aft and stretches their line ready to work. The pilot gives the go ahead to single up after getting clearance to break away from the berth by Harwich VTS. All lines bought back onboard, the pilot gets the Sky to increase their power to lift the stern off the berth but with a 24 knot South Westerly, the Rio Blanco's bow thrusters couldn't cope. The pilot only had one option, to order another tug to make fast forward and use their power to lift the bow off the berth.  While waiting for the second tug to arrive, Svitzer Sky pushes up on the starboard quarter to hold her in place until the bow tug was in attendance.

Svitzer Kent leaves the tug pontoon and runs astern up the harbour to Berth 3. Crew onboard Rio Blanco wait up on the bow for Kent to go under the bow to throw a heaving line to the Kent so they could pass up the towing line.  Kent all fast on the centre lead forward moves out into a pull position. Sky backs off also into a pull position.  The pilot gets both tugs to increase to 50%. As the Rio Blanco comes away from the berth, the Sky increases to full power before decreasing to let the bow swing out.

The Kent drops in ahead and slackens up to let go while the Sky drops in astern ready to let go. Kent released from forward builds up a bit of speed before peeling off to the Felixstowe side back to the tug pontoon.  Sky is released from aft and heads to the tug pontoon.

Milan Maersk swings for Felixstowe Berth 9 with two Svitzer tugs 20th January 2018

The Milan Maersk arrives to a calm but rainy Felixstowe.  The 20568TEU, 399 metre Milan Maersk is the largest ship in Maersk's fleet and takes the second spot in the world's largest container ship list.

As she approaches the Sunk to board a pilot, the smaller but deep draughted Maersk Eindhoven was heading out of the harbour to the Sunk via the main deep water channel. 

The Harwich Haven pilot boards the Milan Maersk at the Sunk and begins to proceed inwards.  After a few minutes the pilot radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound for Felixstowe Berth 9 portside to, 14.7 metres draught from Colombo with no defects.  VTS replies that was correct planned potside to Berth 9 and went on with a weather report which included wind on the Landguard and height of tide. The pilot required two Svitzer tugs for berthing, the first tug, an escort tug to meet at 7&8 and make fast centre lead aft and the second tug to meet at the Beach End to make fast centre lead forward. The pilot was hoping for a smooth entrance into the harbour and gently swing to starboard off the berth.

Svitzer Kent heads out to be the aft tug. Milan reduces RPM as they approach the Beach End into the harbour. The pilot gets the Kent to move out on to the port quarter for a powered indirect to help steer the Milan Maersk around the 90 degree Beach End turn.

Inside the harbour, Svitzer Sky makes fast forward as the Kent eases up and leans back to help reduce the headway. The pilot puts both engines astern before getting the Sky to move out on the starboard shoulder and start taking the bow around with 25% power. Shortly after the pilot gets the Kent to move out onto the port quarter and increase power to take the stern around.

The gap between the stern of the Milan and the edge of the channel steadily opening, the pilot gets the Kent to increase to full power quickly followed by the Sky increasing to full power.

Swung around the Sky comes in to let go then pushes up on the starboard side just aft of midships on to the berth. Kent moves around on to the starboard side into a check positon.

Final tie up 6 and 2 each end with springs first.

EDT 6am Monday 22nd January but expected to change.

STENA FORERUNNER swings at sunset from Harwich International Port 19th January 2018

The Capucine and Severine no longer fit for perpose the Stena Forerunner and Stena Scotia took over from the smaller vessels as Stena predicted there would be an increase in demand.  At 195 metres long and 26 metres wide she has a 3,000 metre trailer lane capacity.

The Stena Forerunner had a PEC (pilot exemption certificate) so a pilot was not required for departure. Steadily the Stena broke away from the berth before swinging to starboard and trickly ahead on the main engines towards Felixstowe harbour and out to the open sea for Rotterdam.

Maersk Northampton departs Felixstowe for Newark N.J 19th January 2018

The Maersk Northampton departs Felixstowe after her first call to the port on the Colombia Express route which is mosly refeers full of reefers from South Carolina, Colombia then crosses the Atlantic Ocean to Portsmouth, Antwerp, Hamburg and Rotterdam before calling at Felixstowe and then crossing the Atlantic to Newark New Jersey to start the voyage over again.

Zhen Hua 23 is on her way to the Port of Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe will be welcoming the Zhen Hua 23 in March with two state of the art gantry cranes from ZPMC ship yard in Shanghai for Berths 8&9. Her journey is expected to take about 10 weeks to Felixstowe as the ship can not transit the Suez Canal with the cranes onboard so the route she has to take will be around the Horn of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean. 


This isn't the first time she came to the port, as Berths 8&9 were in the early stages of being built the Zhen Hua 23 had arrived with 3 cranes for Felixstowe which the booms hanging over the port side, one for Sheerness and one for Gothenburg hanging over the starboard side.


With a storm brewing in the North Sea, the captain of the Zhen Hua 23 wanted to berth alongside Landguard Quay before the storm increased intensity so the storm wouldn't make the ship unstable in the high seas. The ship made her way in safely and berthed alongside Landguard Quay. Safely all so they thought! The winds began to increase to storm force and the Zhen Hua 23 slipped her moorings causing the Gothenburg crane to collide with a crane on Landguard Quay causing substantial damage to both cranes and collapsing Landguard's crane into a heap of twisted metal.

 When morning broke the extent of the damage was assessed, closing Landguard Viewpoint to ship spotters.

Almost 10 years on, the Zhen Hua 23 will be making a return to the Port of Felixstowe but not in the same way as before making the headlines again.

Stay tuned...
When I have updates  I will let you all know.

Edith Maersk arrives to the Port of Felixstowe, 3 tugs assist with starboard swing 8th January 18

The 397 metre Edith Maersk arrive to the Port of Felixstowe with a draught of 12.1 metres from her last port of Wilhelmshaven.

A Harwich Haven Pilot boards the ship at the Sunk Pilot Station at the edge of British waters. Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound for Felixstowe.  VTS replies there is a ready berth planned portside to number 8, wind on the Landguard and any conflicting traffic.  As the Edith Maersk was heading inbound via the deep water, the world's largest container ship OOCL Germany was outbound. Both pilots planned they would pass each other around 1&2 Buoys.

The pilot requests three Svitzer tugs for berthing. First tug to meet at 7&8 to make fast aft, second tug pushing on the starboard quarter then push midships and third tug bow to bow inside the harbour.

Svitzer Kent which was waiting outside the harbour for the Edith Maersk to come closer to the harbour before they could make their approach to make fast starboard of centre aft.

As the Edith Maersk rounds the Beach End, Svitzer Sky makes their approach on a bow to bow to pick up a heaving line for the centre lead forward while the Svitzer Shotley swings around and positions on the starboard quarter ready to push around. Kent leans back with some power to help slow the ship down ready for the starboard swing.

The pilot gets the Shotley to square up and increase power to start the swing. Sky moves on to the starboard shoulder and increases power while Kent moves out on the port quarter and begins to build up power to swing the Edith around.  2/3 of the way round the pilot gets the Shotley to stop pushing and reposition around midships. A short while later, the pilot gets the Sky comes in for push as a steady North Easterly wind was pushing against the ship making berthing slightly more of a challenge.

Final tie up 6 and 2 with springs first.



During her stay in Felixstowe, a reefer caused a major incident alerting 9 fire crews to attend the port after it began leaking gas. There was no injuries reported.

OOCL Germany sets sail for Singapore 8th January 2018

As the OOCL Germany prepared to depart Felixstowe, the Sunk Pilot Station closed due to choppy waters which made landing a pilot dangerous.

The pilot onboard the Maersk Genoa which departed shortly before the OOCL Germany couldn't land at the Sunk so this seemed inevitable that the pilot onboard the Germany would be the same.

Two Svitzer tugs standing by beside the ship waiting for the pilot to give instructions of where to make fast for departure. Svitzer Kent was made fast centre lead aft and the Svitzer Shotley was made fast centre lead forward.  Slighty heavier than expected  at 14.2 metre draught, the Germany had a short wait of only a few minutes for the tide to rise enough to give clearance under the Keel.

All lines released the pilot begins with the Shotley increasing power on the bow with Kent on the aft increasing power.  As the ship began moving away from the berth both tugs increase to full power before the Kent reduces as the bow couldn't keep up.

Inside the channel and the bow still lagging behind, Svitzer Kent comes onto the port quarter with about half power tries to stop the stern swinging and help the bow manoeuvre into the channel a bit better. 

The pilot comes ahead on the main engine hard to starboard to help get the moving in the right direction.

Coming ahead nicely the Shotley slackens to let go and peels off onto the Felixstowe side and reposition on the port quarter ready for the corner.  Approaching the Fort Buoy the pilot gets the Kent to go out on the starboard quarter at full line load and give what they could while the Shotley noses up at a 45 degree angle and builds up to full power to help the pilot navigate the 90 degree Beach End into the North Sea and towards Dover Straights to the Suez Canal on to Singapore.

OOCL Scandinavia departs Felixstowe with two Svitzer tugs 6th January 2018

The OOCL Scandinavia was ready to depart Felixstowe Berth 8 for her next port of Rotterdam with a maximum draft of 13.5 metres as the sun began to go down leaving some spectacular shots of the sunset.

The pilot onboard has two Svitzer tugs to assist with departure but he believed that just one tug and bow thrusters would be sufficient considering a steady North Easterly wind pushing her away from the berth. 

The last crane boomed up as the Svitzer Kent was made fast centre lead aft. The second tug Svitzer Sky wasn't made fast but nosed up on the starboard side while the ship singled up before backing off to let the Kent pull her into the channel.

As the Scandinavia was coming away from the berth, Sky moves around the stern of the Kent and Scandinavia to hang around the portside just incase the pilot required their assistance.

Once the Scandinavia was in the main channel and slowly increase revs ahead, the Sky positions on the port quarter ready for a push indirect out of the harbour.

Kent drops in astern and runs with the Scandinavia towards the Fort Buoy where the pilot gets them to make their way out onto the starboard quarter at full line load to help steer the OOCL Scandinavia around the 90° Beach End turn out of the harbour.

Safely around the corner the Sky breaks away from the ships side while the Kent eases up and edges close to the transom to collect their towing line.

Anglo Norden's Suntis passes through the Harwich Haven to Ipswich. 6th January 2018

Anglo-Norden's Suntis arrives to Ipswich filled with big bundles of wood mostly for the commercial market.  Although the vessel is 33 years old she always has an immaculate paint job.

Suntis is a regular at Ipswich calling every 10-14 days.

Maiden voyage of the OOCL Scandinavia to the Port of Felixstowe 4th January 2018

Slight correction to the beginning sequence, the OOCL Scandinavia was built November 2017 not 2018.

The OOCL Scandinavia on her maiden voyage sailed from her last port of Singapore to Europe with a maximum draught of 15.2 metres to make her maiden call to the Port of Felixstowe via the Suez Canal.

As the OOCL Germany departs Felixstowe Berth 8, a Harwich Haven pilot heads out to the Sunk to board the OOCL Scandinavia. Once onboard he talks with the captain to agree a plan of berthing. The pilot radios Harwich VTS to say they would like three Svitzer tugs for berthing. First at 7&8 Buoys and make fast centre lead aft, second also outside the harbour to lay alongside in a push position and make fast on the starboard quarter and the third inside the harbour on a bow to bow for the centre lead forward. The pilot also said he would do a starboard swing off the berth.

OOCL Scandinavia heading inwards at the Harwich Approach Buoy, OOCL Germany was heading outbound in the main channel at 7&8 Buoys to the Sunk DW Anchorage. Both ships pass each other before 5&6 Buoys where the channel narrows.

Svitzer Deben which had finished with the OOCL Germany was waiting outside the harbour for the Scandinavia to get closer to the harbour.  A short while later Svitzer Deben makes their approach to make fast centre lead aft and Svitzer Shotley makes their way out of the harbour to make fast on the starboard quarter. 

Approaching the 90 degree Beach End turn at the enterance of the harbour.  Svitzer Deben is asked to assist the ship turning to starboard by moving out onto the port quarter at full line load for a powered indirect.

Safely inside the harbour Svitzer Sky make their approach to make fast centre lead forward.   Deben drops in astern and leans back at 50% to reduce the speed of the Scandinavia.  Tracking North the ship tries to swing with the wind so the pilot gets the Deben to favour to starboard quarter at a 45 degree angle to counteract the swinging, back under control the Deben moves back in astern. The pilot goes astern on the main engine while the Shotley squares up and begins to build to a 50% push as the pilot starts to increase the power of the bow thrusters. Deben moves onto the port quarter and begins to increase power to swing the stern while the Sky moves out onto the starboard shoulder and builds up power to swing the bow.

Swinging to starboard off the berth, the Sky eases up and moves onto the portside to begin pulling the ship towards the berth. Sky and Deben running out of space moves around on to the starboard side in check positions while the Shotley pushes further towards the berth.

Battle of the biggest off Felixstowe. 4th January 2018

The OOCL Germany meets her newest sister OOCL Scandinavia in the deep water channel on the approaches to the Port of Felixstowe.

OOCL Germany vacates Felixstowe Berth 8 after the Storm Eleanor batters the country 4th January 2018

As yet another winter storm battered the country, most of the country ground to holt including Felixstowe. West of the country got the brunt of the power of Storm Eleanor with wind gust upto 100mph. Luckily the port only recorded a gust of 57mph but it was still enough to close the port.

OOCL Germany had arrived to Felixstowe on 1st January, during her time in port Storm Eleanor was making her presence at the port. All ship to shore container movements ceased as the wind increased over the safe working conditions.

With Berth 9 occupied by MSC Reef, the OOCL Scandinavia which had been scheduled to arrive today but no berths were available. A plan was made for the Germany to sail and anchor out at the Sunk then return when a berth became available.

With a busy morning of movements firstly the MSC Reef arriving, MSC carouge departing, MSC Carmen and CMA CGM Racine arriving.
The pilot boards the OOCL Germany from the quayside and radios to get the mooring gang and tugs to the ship, the CMA CGM Racine was in the last approaches to the harbour so the plilot held alongside until the Racine had passed before departing the Berth.  Svitzer Deben was made fast centre lead aft and the Svitzer Kent was made fast centre lead forward.  The pilot begins to increase the power of Deben to 25% steadily increasing to full, Kent goes straight in for a 50 pull before increasing to full.

Once off the berth the Kent eases up to let go as the pilot trickles ahead on the main engine. Kent peels off onto the Felixstowe side leaving the OOCL Germany and Svitzer Deben to pick up speed to head out of the harbour. Deben is released and waits outside the harbour for the inbound OOCL Scandinavia.
OOCL Germany passes her sister ship OOCL Scandinavia in the deep water channel.

Best of 2017 powered indirect of Svitzer tugs at Felixstowe.

At Felixstowe there is a 90 degree corner at the enterance of the harbour. Svitzer who operate at the Port of Felixstowe have two escort tug, Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Kent, which helps some of the world's largest container ships in to Britain's premier port.

Both tugs built in Vietnam and shipped with 20 other tugs, tender vessels and pontoons to Rotterdam on the 'Happy Star' heavy lift ship. The Svitzer Deben's home was Felixstowe and the Svitzer Kent's home was the River Thames.

As both ports began to see bigger vessel the requirement for greater bollard pull tugs was needed. Sadly Felixstowe said goodbye to the Svitzer Intrepid to the Thames and Svitzer Stanford to Immingham.

Felixstowe requiring another 80 tonne bollard pull tug Kent made her way North to Felixstowe and now calls it her home.

Two Svitzer tugs from Brazil were heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Chatham where they were renamed and now they serve the Thames which is strange as one of them is called Svitzer Ganges.

Most of the Harwich Haven Pilots like to have either the Deben or Kent made fast aft so when they approach the 90 degree Beach End turn in or out of the harbour. In shipping terminology the tugs perform the manoeuvre powered indirect. The tugs move out either to the port side if they are inbound or starboard side if they are outbound and increase to full power to average 90-100 tonnes on their towing line to help the ships steer around the Beach End also producing a list/angle of 15 degrees.

Here is the best powered indirects of 2017.  I hope you enjoy them.