OOCL Indonesia arrives to Felixstowe on the Eastbound Leg of her maiden voyage 7th March 2018

The last OOCL G class ship to be built OOCL Indonesia arrives to the Port of Felixstowe during her maiden voyage with a maximum draught of 13 metres from her last port of Wilhelmshaven.  Intitally OOCL Indonesia was scheduled to go direct to Singapore after departing Felixstowe but OOCL added an extra call at Rotterdam before heading East.

The Harwich Haven pilot boards the Indonesia at the Sunk Pilot Station which boarders International waters.  Once onboard the pilot requests two Svitzer tugs for berthing. The first tug, an escort tug to meet ant 7&8 and make fast centre lead aft. Second tug to meet at the Platters to escort them into the harbour then push on the starboard quarter for a starboard swing to go port side to Felixstowe Berth 8.

OOCL Indonesia approaching the Harbour, Svitzer Kent and Svitzer Sky were waiting just outside the harbour for the ship to get closer. Kent heads further out towards 7&8 Buoys where they make fast on the centre lead aft. A short while later the Sky swings around to position on the starboard quarter just incase the pilot required a little extra help rounding the Beach End. 

Passing the Platters, the pilot gets the Kent to move out onto the port side for a powered indirect to help steer around the 90 degree Beach End turn into the harbour. Safely inside the harbour and coming round onto a Northerly heading, the pilot gets the Kent to ease up and drop in astern ready to slow the 400 metre ship down for the starboard swing.  The Kent is asked to increase power astern to knock off the headway

Sky on the starboard quarter squares up and begins to increase power to push up on the most aft tug marker while the Kent moves onto the port side and increases power to swing the OOCL Indonesia around.  All Swung, the Shotley and Kent begins to bring the Indonesia closer to the berth before the Kent moves around to the starboard side into a check position. Shotley steadily pushing the Indonesia onto the berth.

Final tie up 6 and 2 each end with Spring lines first then offshore lines.

1st call Maersk Durban departs Felixstowe with the assistance of Svitzer Shotley. 6th March 2018

Maersk Durban departs the Port of Felixstowe after her 1st call to the port.

As cargo operations had finished and the cranes had boomed up, all the pilot was waiting for was the Svitzer Shotley which was about to be released from the aft of her last job the ultra large Titan heading out of the harbour. Svitzer Shotley released she swings around to assist the Maersk Durban off the berth.

The pilot required the Shotley to take the centre lead aft. As the bollard rating was less than the Shotley's bollard pull, the pilot planned to pull square off the berth and then use the flooding tide to swing the bow out.

After going ahead on the main engine, Shotley is released and heads back to the tug pontoon. Approaching 7&8 Buoys outbound the Maersk Durban passes the inbound Viona.

Ultra large Titan eases from Felixstowe Berth 6 with the help for two Svitzer tugs 6th March 2018

Ultra large Titan eases away from Felixstowe Berth 6 with the assistance of Svitzer Shotley made fast centre lead aft and Svitzer Deben made fast centre lead forward.  The 369 metre Titan sails on the EPIC 1 (Europe Pakistan India Consortium) route which calls at Felixstowe before going to Southampton.

Once the tugs were made fast they get in a pull position ready to work. As the spring lines were released and bought back onboard,the pilot got the Shotley to increse power aft and the same for the Deben. Steadily the Debn goes up too full power to help get the bow away from the berth and clear from the APL Oregon which was berthed in Trinity 5.

Clear from the berth, the pilot gives a kick ahead on the main engine to start with to get her moving. As a the speed began to pick up the pilot goes ahead.  Deben stops towing and gets in position to let go. Once the Deben was clear the Shotley closes up to let go. Just after being released the Shotley went to her next job on Trinity 4, The Maersk Durban.

Harwich Haven bids farewell to drilling platform Paragon B391 after 6 months in port. 5th March 2018

Harwich Haven bids farewell to the drilling platform Paragon B391 which had been in port since the 17th August 2017.

Earlier in the morning thick fog rolled in which put the departure in jeopardy. Luckily the fog began to lift enough so the tugs connected up and got the platform on the move.

Lead tug Magne Viking, Bugsier 3 made fast on the port side, Multratug 20 made fast starboard side and Svitzer Shotley made fast aft.

With a Harwich Haven pilot onboard the Magne Viking, using all of his knowledge and skills he carefully plan the departure.   As the smaller tugs connect up, 3 of Paragon's legs are jacked up leaving just one still down.  Magne Viking connects up and then the last leg is jacked up and Paragon is finally floating.

 Steadily the tugs swing the platform around and get in position to start moving the Paragon B391 ahead. Increasing power on all the tugs, she begins to get some headway. 

Approaching the Shotley Spit the pilot begins to steer to starboard a few degrees at a time. On a southerly heading and now approaching the Beach End the pilot begins to steer to port to head out of the harbour into the North Sea.

Ultra Large Magleby Maersk swings for Felixstowe Berth 9 with two 3212 Svitzer tugs 15th Feb 2018

The Magleby Maersk arrives from Bremerhaven to the Port of Felixstowe. As the Harwich Haven pilot heads out to the Sunk Pilot Station the Magleby approaches the Sunk area which boarders international waters. 

Pilot onboard, they begin to head inwards via the deep water channel. The pilot orders two Svitzer tugs for berthing, the first tug to meet at 7&8 Buoys and make fast centre lead aft. The second tug at the Beach End to make fast centre lead forward on a bow to bow.  The pilot also confirmed that he will be swinging to port off the berth to go portside to Felixstowe Berth 9.

As Magleby Maersk passes through the South Shipwash they meet the MSC Mirjam which was outbound to the Sunk for her next port of Antwerp. Svitzer Kent leaves the harbour to be the first tug to meet the mega ship, Shortly followed by the Svitzer Deben. 

Approaching the Platters Buoy which is just before the 90 degree Beach End turn in to the harbour, the pilot gets the Kent to move out onto the port side for a powered indirect to help steer around the corner.   Deben makes her approach to make fast on a bow to bow.


The pilot gets the Kent to ease up and drop in astern as Magleby Maersk heads up the harbour on a northerly heading.  Deben fast forward the pilot decreases headway by getting the Kent to increase power straight astern.  A few minutes later the pilot comes astern on the main engines.

Deben is asked to go out on to the Port shoulder and take the bow around while the Kent goes on to starboard quarter and take the stern around. Smoke begins to pour from the funnels as the pilot uses the bow thrusters.

Swinging around the pilot gives a kick astern as they approached the berth. The crew onboard throw heaving lines for the springs to the mooring gang as they go alongside the berth.

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