Heavily laden OOCL Hong Kong arrives to Felixstowe straight from Singapore, 3 Svitzer assist. 260418

The OOCL Hong Kong heavily laden with a draught of 15.8 metres from her last port of Singapore. As she was deep draught she had to come in on the high tide but before she could make her way inbound, the OOCL United Kingdom was also deep draught at 15.6 metres and was tide restricted departs Felixstowe Berth 8 with three Svitzer tugs.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards for the OOCL Hong Kong at the Sunk pilot station roughly 12 nautical miles out in the North Sea. Once onboard the pilot radios Harwich VTS to say they inbound 15.8 with no defects from Singapore planned starboard side to Felixstowe Berth 8.  VTS confirms a ready berth planned starboard side to Berth 8, wind on the Landguard and the outbound traffic.   The pilot replies that he would like three tugs for berthing, the first at the usual place centre lead aft for a powered indirect. Secondly on the starboard quarter for the corner and then make fast on port quarter.  The third tug bow to bow inside the harbour.

Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon and heads out of the harbour shortly followed by the Svitzer Sky.  The OOCL Hong Kong gradually decreasing speed as she approaches 7&8 buoys, Svitzer Deben makes fast centre lead aft while the Sky positions on starboard quarter.   Svitzer Shotley makes their way towards the Beach End.  The pilot gets the Deben to move out onto the port quarter at full line load for a powered indirect. Sky pushes up on the starboard quarter.

Safely around the 90° Beach End turn into the harbour, Sky comes away from the ships side and moves around the stern to make fast on the port quarter.   Shotley makes fast centre lead forward. Shortly after the pilot uses the Deben as a brake by going right astern.  Both centre lead tugs move onto the starboard side to start taking the Hong Kong towards the berth.  After getting closer to the  berth,  Deben and Shotley move around to check positions on the port side.

Final tie up 6 and 2 each end.

During the night on the next available tide the OOCL Hong Kong was taken off the berth and swung around so she was portside to the berth.

Tide restricted OOCL United Kingdom departs Felixstowe with assistance of 3 Svitzer tugs 260418

As the Harwich Haven pilot boards the tide restricted OOCL United Kingdom, with a draught of 15.6 metres, alongside Felixstowe Berth 8, three Svitzer tugs leave the tug pontoon to standby the ship awaiting further instructions from the pilot. The radio comes alive the the pilot saying where he wanted the tugs. Svitzer Kent goes for the centre lead aft as a ship of this size and draught requires a powered indirect out of the harbour. Svitzer Shotley goes for the centre lead forward. Normally, a third tug would make fast on the quarter but as the 2 new STS gantry cranes which was delivered last month were positioned over the bow the pilot wanted the Svitzer Sky to make fast on the starboard shoulder for ensurance the bow would not cause any problems.  

Once the tugs were made fast, the lines fore and aft were slackened and bought back onboard. The Sky was the first tug to increase power away from the quay with Kent and Shotley following suit. Steadily the OOCL United Kingdom eases parallel from the berth before the forward tugs ease power so the pilot could use tide and the Kent to back her into the channel.

As the Hong Kong enters the channel the bow begins to swing starboard with the two bow tugs and thrusters. Sky is released from the shoulder and heads around the stern to position on the port quarter ready for a push indirect.   The pilot comes ahead on the main engine and gets the Shotley to close up to let go from forward. After retreiving their gear,  they peel off onto the Felixstowe side and heads back to the pontoon.

Approaching the Fort Buoy, the pilot gets the Sky to push up full at a 45 degree angle on the quarter while the Kent moves out on the starboard side at full line load for a powered indirect.

Safely out of the harbour, the Sky comes away from the ships side and heads back to the pontoon while the Kent eases and drops in astern to let go and head back to the pontoon.

MSC Mirja departs a breezy Felixstowe with two 3212 Svitzer tugs 25th April 2018

Msc Mirja departs Felixstowe with a maximum draught of 10.5 metres bound for Antwerp.  Two 3212 Svitzer tugs assist with an easy pull off the berth. Svitzer Deben goes centre lead aft and Svitzer Kent goes centre lead forward.

After pulling the MSC Mirja in to the channel Kent is released from forward and positions on the port quarter. Deben drops in astern as the Mirja comes ahead on their main engine.  Approaching the Beach End Deben moves out for a powered indirect on the starboard side while Kent pushes up on the port quarter.

MSC's Pegasus class, MSC Mirja arrives to the Port of Felixstowe. 23rd April 2018

MSC Mirja arrives from Algeciras with a draught of 12 metres. The Harwich Haven pilot boards for the Mirja at the Sunk. Once onboard be requests two Svitzer tugs for berthing, first one at 7&8 to make fast centre lead aft and the second outside the harbour to position on the starboard quarter then move up onto the shoulder to make fast as they push up closer to the berth.

Ultra Large MSC Tina arrives to Felixstowe, three Svitzer tugs assist with a starboard swing 200418

MSC Tina laden with cargo from the Far East  arrives to the Port of Felixstowe. Heading West from her last port of call in Sri Lanka bound for the Suez Canal into Europe with a draught of 14 metres.

As MSC Tina approaches the Sunk Pilot Station which boarder international waters where a Harwich Haven pilot launch goes alongside to board a pilot.  Once onboard the pilot confirms with Harwich VTS, the draught and if there was any defects. VTS replies there was a ready berth planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 9, wind on the Landguard and traffic.   The pilot request three Svitzer tugs for berthing. The first at the usual place (7&8 buoys) make fast centre lead aft, the second outside the harbour on the starboard quarter and the third inside the harbour bow to bow.  The pilot also said he will be doing a starboard swing off the berth.

Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Sky charges out the harbour to meet the the inbound ship.  Crew onboard MSC Tina prepare a heaving line so the Deben's tow gear could be made fast on a bollard aft.  With speed reducing steadily Sky positions on the starboard quarter.  A short while later Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon to meet the MSC Tina at the 90° Beach End in to the harbour.  The gives the Kent aft the heads up that they will be required to go out at full line load on the portside for a powered indirect.  Passing the Platters, the pilot gets Kent to go out for a powered indirect.

Safely in the harbour Kent drops in astern while the Deben makes their approach to make fast on a bow to bow.   The pilot begins to slow the Tina down with Kent leaning back and by going astern on the main engine.  Down to a crawl, the pilot begins to use the bow thrusters releasing a puff of smoke out of the funnel. Shortly after the pilot gets the Sky to square up and increase power while Kent moves out at 90° on the starboard shoulder to start taking the bow around. Deben aft moves onto the port quarter at a 90° angle and starts to take the stern around.

Steadily she swings to starboard off the berth. Waiting on the quayside, the berthing master and mooring gang were ready and waiting for the Tina to come alongside. Swung around, the pilot continues to use the Sky to push her closer to the berth. Kent comes in for a push on the starboard shoulder while aft the Deben switches from the portside to the starboard side in a check position.   Kent then backs off with a slack line.  Slowly edging onto the berth, the crew forward throw a heaving line for the springs to the mooring gang.

 Final tie up 6 and 2 each end.

As the Kent is released from forward they plan to do a fire monitor test in front of Landguard Viewpoint.