Two 3212 Svitzer tugs assist the ultra large Thalassa Doxa as she arrive to a hazy Felixstowe 140418

Thick fog still persisting at the Port of Felixstowe, the Thalassa Doxa sails from Rotterdam with a draught of 12 metres. She sails for Evergreen as part of the French Asia line 6 (FAL 6)

The 368 metre vessel makes her way towards the Sunk Pilot Station where a Harwich Haven pilot boards. Once onboard he requests two Svitzer tugs for berthing, the first at the Platters to make fast centre lead and the second at the Beach End on a bow to bow. The pilot also confirms that he would be swinging to port then back up to Trinity 7.

Svitzer Deben heads out to be the first tug. A while later Svitzer Kent heads towards the Beach End and waits for the Thalassa to enter the harbour.   Safely in the harbour the pilot uses the Deben as a brake before making a turn to port in the middle of the harbour.

The pilot gets the Deben to move out onto the starboard quarter and start taking the stern around while the Kent moves out on port shoulder and starts taking the bow around.  Three quarters swung, the pilot gets both tugs to stop towing and follow the ship as they begin to back up towards the berth.  Deben then moves onto the portside to pull the aft towards the berth. 

As the Thalassa Doxa begins to edge closer to the berth, the tugs straighten her up.

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