Triple E Maribo Maersk arrives to Felixstowe on a busy day of ultra large vessels 22nd March 2018

Today was a busy day for the Port of Felixstowe as they had 4 ultra large movements. Firstly the MSC Sola arrived during the early hours for Berth 7, the latest world's largest container ship OOCL Scandinavia departed berth 8 then the Maribo Maersk arrived for Berth 9 and finally the OOCL Germany went alongside Berth 8 as the sun began to set.

12 miles out in the North Sea, a Harwich Haven pilot launch with a pilot aboard, goes alongside the Maribo Maersk at a steady 6-7 knots. Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound with a draught of 13.4 from Bremerhaven for Felixstowe via the deep water channel, he believed they were planned portside to Berth 9.  VTS confirms a ready berth, gives the wind speed and direction, height of tide and conflicting traffic.   The pilot requests two Svitzer tugs for berthing, the first tug at 7&8 Buoys to make fast centre lead aft and the second tug outside the harbour on the starboard quarter then once inside the harbour to make fast on the starboard shoulder for a starboard swing off the berth.

Svitzer Deben was the first tug to meet the inbound vessel. A quick swoop around the stern to pick up centre lead aft, Shotley also leaves the harbour swiftly and positions on the starboard quarter just as a backup if Maribo couldn't steer well enough around the 90 degree Beach End turn at the enterance of the harbour.

Once inside the harbour, Shotley comes away from the ships side and heads towards the bow where they make fast on the starboard shoulder.   The pilot uses the engines astern to reduce the headway.  After a few minutes the pilot kicks ahead on one engine to help clear the North Shelf Buoy and give Deben more room to swing the Maribo to starboard.

Shotley stretches their line as they move out on the starboard shoulder and increases power while Deben moves onto the port side to start the swing.  Carefully the the Maribo Maersk swings.  After swinging around 90 degrees the Shotley comes in for a push to maneoeure her closer to the berth.  Deben reappearing on the port side begins to run out of space so they repositions on the starboard side in a check position.

Shotley comes away from the shoulder into a check position aswell as the Maribo slides onto the fenders.

Final tie up 5 and 2 each end with springs first fore and aft.

OOCL Scandinavia departs Felixstowe with three Svitzer tugs 22nd March 2018

OOCL Scandinavia prepares to depart Felixstowe for her next port of Rotterdam with a draught of 13.6 metres. As the last crane booms up the pilot requests the three Svitzer tugs and the mooring gang.

With all ships over 395 metres, most Harwich Haven pilots prefer to have a 3212 escort tug made fast on the aft. The three tugs leave the tug pontoon to assist the pilot with the departure.

Svitzer Deben makes fast centre lead, Svitzer Shotley makes fast on the starboard quarter and Svitzer Sky takes the centre lead forward.  As the tugs backed away in to pull positions, lines fore and aft are slackened to single up. The last of the springs were released.

The pilot begins with the Deben and Sky with easy weights after a while the Shotley increases power on the quarter. All three tugs builds up power to bring the Scandinavia into the channel. Sky increases power on the bow to point the bow towards the Beach End corner.

The Shotley eases and closes up ready to let go and position on the port quarter to assist steering around the Beach End.  Sky also eases up ready to let go from forward
 Once the Sky's line drops in the water they spin around and heads back to the tug pontoon.

As the OOCL Scandinavia approaches the Fort Buoy, the pilot gets the Deben to go out on the starboard quarter for a powered indirect to help steer the vessel around the 90 degree Beach End.

1st call HSL Portsmouth arrives to Felixstowe, two Svitzer tugs assist with starboard swing. 220318

The HSL Portsmouth arrives to the Port of Felixstowe. Two Svitzer tugs assist with a starboard swing off the berth for Felixstowe Berth 6.

Svitzer Sky makes fast centre lead aft while the Svitzer Deben doesn't make fast but pushes on the port shoulder then after the HSL Portsmouth swung around the Deben repositions on the starboard side to push up alongside.

MSC Diana swings to starboard off Felixstowe Berth 9 and departs with two Svitzer tugs. 210318

As Maersk shakes up their 2M routes the MSC Diana on the AE1 route would be the first ship not to call at Southampton as the changes are implemented. With a draught of 12.1 metres the MSC Diana departs Felixstowe heading for her next port of Rotterdam then she will be go to Zeebrugge instead of Southampton.
Currently MSC Diana in the Pegasus class are the largest in MSC's fleet. Due to be delivered 2019-2020 MSC will hold the record again when they release the new 23,500TEU ships.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the Diana as the last cranes boom up. The drivers begin the long descent down. Two Svitzer tugs were ordered for the departure where a swing would be required off the berth and as she was starboard side to Felixstowe Berth 9. 
Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Sky both head up to the Diana and waits for instructions. Deben takes the centre lead aft while Sky takes the centre lead forward. Once fast both tugs back away into pull positions. Lines aft begin to slacken and the mooring gang released them off the bollards. Springs were the last to be released before the pilot begins with the departure.

Kent builds up to full power to lif the stern off the berth. Up the bow, Sky increases power up to 50% but soon asked reduce then stop. As the stern begins to swing out the pilot goes astern on the main engine. Bow becoming clear Sky darts around to the starboard side and builds up power to swing her to starboard. 

Both tugs swing her around in no time at all. Deben eases up and drops in astern as the pilot comes ahead on the main engine. Sky eases and closes up to let go before swinging around to standby on the port quarter. The pilot says to the tugs that as they were going a bit slow he would use Sky as a primary steerage around the 90 degree Beach End turn.

Approaching the Fort Buoy Sky begins to push up full power at a 45 degree angle on the most aft tug marker to help MSC Diana round the Beach End. Deben stands by just starboard of centre aft incase they needed a little help.  Once the pilot was happy he got the Deben to close up ready to let go. Sky eases up and breaks away from the ships side.  Both tugs then head back into the harbour for the tug pontoon.

Elly Maersk swings to port with three Svitzer tugs to go portside to Felixstowe Berth 9. 160318

The Elly Maersk sails from Antwerp with a draught of 14.1 metres for Felixstowe Berth 9.  As the vessel approaches the Sunk, a Harwich Haven pilot boards the Elly Maersk for the inward passage into the harbour. 

With the pilot onboard he radios Harwich VTS to confirm they were inbound for Felixstowe Berth 9 planned portside to. VTS replies that there was a ready berth planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 9, wind speed & direction and traffic they would encounter.  As the Elly Maersk proceeded inbound via the deep water channel they passed the ultra large Munkebo Maersk.  The pilot radios VTS that he would require three Svitzer tugs for berthing. the first at 7&8 Buoy to make fast centre lead af, second ouside the harbour on the starboard quarter pushing an finally the third inside the harbour on a bow to bow for a port swing off the berth.

Svitzer Kent was the first tug to leave the harbour shortly followed by the Svitzer Sky.  Kent makes fast aft and gets ready for a powered indirect around the 90 degree Beach End turn into the harbour. The pilot gets the Kent to go out on the port side for a powered indirect.  Sky standing by on the starboard quarter gets the nod to push up to help steer Elly into the harbour.

Svitzer Shotley makes their approach as the headway drops off for the centre lead forward.  Coming round onto a Northerly heading the Kent drops in astern and Sky swings around to standby on the port side for a push.  After a few moments the pilot gets the Kent to favour the starboard side to straighten her up for the port swing.  Sky squares up on the tug marker on the port quarter and begins to increase power to start swinging the Elly. Shotley moves onto the port shouder and icreases powe while the Kent moves onto the starboard quarter and increases power.

Almost swung, the pilot gets Sky to come away from the port side around the stern onto the starboard side. The pilot then gets both Kent and Shotley to pull the Elly closer to the berth before moving onto the starboard side in check positions while the Sky pushes up to land her alongside.

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