Late morning Ultra Large Madness 170517.

With the heat rising, mist and fog was rolling in from sea. 3 Ultra large container ships were due to leave Felixstowe, the 19437TEU MSC Reef followed by 13296TEU CSCL Uranus followed by the 18270TEU Morten Maersk.

Not to worry the fog rolled through and that was the end of it.

The MSC Reef all ready to depart Felixstowe Berth 8 with a draft of 11 metres for her next port of Antwerp.
The pilot required the assistance of 2 tugs for departure. Svitzer Sky made fast centre lead aft and the Svitzer Deben made fast on the centre lead forward. An easy pull off the berth then as the pilot came ahead on the main engine the Deben comes in to be released and peals off to harwich side and heads up for the next job the CSCL Uranus.



CSCL Uranus showing off the new China Cosco Lines colours departs Felixstowe with a draft of 13.6 metres for Southampton. The pilot onboard the CSCL Uranus calls for the services but after a 30 minute delay due to a few reseats, the Crane finally booming up and the driver coming down the Uranus was almost ready to depart. The tugs were last thing to do before departure. They were made fast both centre leads fore and aft, Svitzer Deben fast aft and Sky forward.

The crew begin to single up and the Deben pushes on the quarter while singling up. The tugs get in towing positions and bring her off Felixstowe Berth 7. The tugs pull the CSCL away from the berth and clear of the MSC Francessca in Berth 6. The pilot comes ahead on the main engine and releases the Svitzer Sky forward to head down the harbour to the Morten Maersk ready to sail on Berth 9.





The 18270TEU Morten Maersk was ready to leave with a draft of 13.1 metres for Algeciras.
The pilot onboard requests 2 tugs for departure. Svitzer Kent left the tug pontoon to be the first tug and the second tug Svitzer Sky was coming down the harbour after helping the CSCL Uranus leave her berth.

The pilot wanted both tugs to take the centre leads fore and aft, Svitzer Kent went aft and Sky went forward. Offshorehead lines were slackened to make it easier to make fast the Sky. Once fast the rest of the head and stern lines wre slackened and released off the bollards to be winched back onboard. Spring lines were released and the tugs started off with an easy pull at 25% then increase to 50%. The bow thrusters kicked in as the pilot increased the Sky to full power to help the bow into the channel. Svitzer Kent increased to 75% then a few minutes later up to full.

The pilot comes ahead on the main engines shortly after the Sky eases up to be released from forward and the Kent eases and comes astern of the Morten. Approaching the Fort Buoy the Kent prepares to go out on the starboard quarter at full line load for a powered in-direct around the 90deg Beach End turn out of the harbour.