Marstal Maersk departure from Felixstowe Berth 9 during a torrential thunderstorm 2nd June 2017

Torrential thunderstorms associated with a cold front passing over the UK wasn't going to stop the departure of the Marstal Maersk. The typical British summer weather threw everything at Felixstowe. During the morning and afternoon the temperatures rose to mid 20's triggering a thunderstorm. Firstly dark clouds began to roll in and all of a sudden the sky lit up and then the rain fell.

The Marstal Maersk was heavily drafted with a draft of 15.6 metres for her next port of Tanjong Pelepas in Malaysia. The pilot boarded from the shore side. Once onboard he requests the 2 tugs and mooring gang. The 2 tugs Svitzer Shotley and Svitzer Kent were standing by to assist with the departure.

As the Marstal was preparing to depart a squall past through the harbour with the wind swung around to westerly gusting 24 knots.
The Linesmen on the quay and crew onboard the Marstal Maersk got drenched as they slackened and released a few lines to make fast the tugs. Svitzer Kent was made fast on the centre lead aft while the Svitzer Shotley was made fast forward just starboard of centre.

A brief pause in torrential rain the pilot began the pull off the berth with both tugs pulling off at 50% then up to full. The pilot helped the bow out by using the bow thrusters. A short while later the rain began to fall again with frequent lightening.

The pilot began to come ahead on the engines at half ahead. The Shotley was released from forward and positioned on the portside near the funnels as the Marstal had a very deep draft. Svitzer Kent followed astern and as the Marstal approached the Fort Buoy the pilot required a powered in-direct around the 90deg Beach End out of the harbour so the Kent began to go out on the starboard side at full line load.