Maiden voyage Madrid Maersk makes a late arrival to a stormy Felixstowe 6th June 2017

Many thanks for the photos. Credit to Prithvi, @rascalmaster.

Maersk Line's largest ship in their fleet makes her maiden call to Felixstowe. The 400 metre 20568TEU Madrid Maersk is an upgraded version of the Triple E. The bridge has been moved 2 bays forward while the funnels have been move one bay further aft. Madrid is the first to be built in South Korea. When her sister ships are built she will have a 10 sister ships due to be complete by the end of 2018.

A typical British summers day, lovely sun but breezy , Think again!  Gale force winds 8 to 9 accompanied with heavy rain. And on a special day for the Port of Felixstowe!!

Madrid Maersk Set sail on her maiden voyage late April heading west picking up goodies on the way. The last port of call in the Far East was Tanjong Pelepas in Malaysia where she was well loaded with a maximum draft of 16.3 metres. Her first call in Europe was meant to be Algeciras but with a dockers dispute and strikes she was diverted to Tangier Med, Morocco where they discharge 3.3 metres. While in the Western Med she got bunkers increasing her draft by 90cm (3ft) to 13.9 metres.

The weather was playing a huge part in the arrival of this marvellous ship. During the morning the wind was strong and cargo operations ceased and the increasing wind was accompanied with heavy rain. While the rain fell, winds picked up to 47 knots which is around 55 mph. The 2 pilots which were going to bring in the Madrid made a decision to postpone the arrival due to the wind and assess the situation at later in the day around 17:00. At one stage during the afternoon the Sunk Pilot Station was temporarily suspended due to the heavy seas and strong wind.

The time passed and the pilot agreed that a dip in the wind around 1900 would be just enough to bring her in.

The pilot launch St Cuthbert left Harwich with the 2 pilots to board the Madrid, battling the choppy seas as she goes out to the Sunk.

Once onboard the Pilots radioed Harwich VTS and confirmed that they were inbound with a draft of 13.9 metres for Felixstowe berth 8 and defiantly wanted the 4 tugs for berthing and the initial plan was to swing to go portside to Berth 8 but if the wind increased too much she would go starboard side to Berth 8. He also confirmed wanted the 2 big tugs (3212's) on the centre leads fore and aft with the smaller tugs (2411's) on the quarter and shoulder.

As the Madrid made her way inwards towards the South Shipwash the fist tug the Svitzer Kent left the tug pontoon and battled her way ot to meet before 7&8 Buoys to make fast centre lead aft. A few minutes later the Svitzer Shotley headed out to position on the starboard quarter for a push in-direct around the 90deg Beach End into the Harbour. The wind Increasing to 35 knots, the pilot Ian confirmed that they will go starboard side to Berth 8 so the 2 smaller tugs were to be made fast on the port side. Approaching the harbour the Svitzer Sky and Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon  to meet the Madrid. With the Beach End closing in the Kent goes out on the port side for a powered in-direct while the Shotley pushes up on the starboard quarter at a 45% angle to help her around the corner.

The plan was to make fast the Deben centre lead forward then make fast the Sky on the port shoulder while the crew up the stern made fast the Shotley which had come away from the starboard quarter to make fast port quarter.

Safely around the Beach End the Kent immediately goes in to a check position on the port side at 75% to stop the wind taking the stern. The Madrid at her size was acting like one huge sail so once all 4 tugs were fast the got in check positions and slowly edged her towards the berth.  The wind still increasing to gusts of 40 knots the tugs were working had to make the arrival as safe as possible. Edging closer, the 2 stern tugs were on 75% while the bow tugs were on 50%. Just off the berth Madrid stern caught the wind and the pilot got the Kent and Shotley to check full to straighten her up. The pilot used the wind to take her in but using the tugs as a brake aswell. Alongside the first of the spring lines were being made fast.

Without the exceptional team work between the pilots, tugs, berthing master and Harwich VTS the Madrid Maersk would not have had been able to berth at Felixstowe.

Final tie up 6 and 2 each end with spring line first.

ETD estimated 1600 Thursday 8th June but could change due to the wind.

Madrid Maersk
IMO 9778791

built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Maritime Engineering Co. Okpo, South Korea
Hull number: 4302
Flag: Denmark
Home port: Cøbenhavn

LoA 399 metres
Beam 58.6m
Capacity 20568TEU
Net tonnage: 78834t
Deadweight tonnage: 214286t
Maximum draft: 16.5 metres

Engines:
Main engines:
x2  MAN-B&W  7G80ME-C9.5  each rated at 46620 kW

Other engines:
x2   8 cil   each rated at 3800kW
Turbo generator rated at 4600kW
Shaft Alternator rated at 4000kW