Deep drafted CSCL Pacific Ocean arrives to Felixstowe 12th July 2017

The CSCL Pacific Ocean sails to Felixstowe from Singapore with a draft of 15.7 metres. The 19100TEU vessel saills as part of the Ocean Three Alliance on the Aisa-Northern Europe Loop1 which calls at Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Gdansk, Wilhelshaven and back to Felixstowe before heading to Singapore and the Far East port to start the cycle again.

The Pilot boards the CSCL at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 nautical miles out in the North Sea where he will help the captain berth his ship.
Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound with a draft of 15.7 metres from Singapore and was planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 8. VTS confirms that they were plaaned portside to Berth 8 and the current wind speed and direction which was NNE 7-18knots. The pilot replies that he would like 3 tugs for berthing. The first centre lead aft at 7&8, second starboard quarter then move around to the port quarter to meet at the Platters and the third inside the harbour bow to bow.

The DFDS ferry Selandia Seaways makes her way towards the harbour but VTS gives them the bad news that they would have to wait for the CSCL Pacific Ocean to swing and push up towards the berth before they could pass.

The CSCL Pacific Ocean's sister ship the CSCL Globe had been in Felixstowe earlier in the day loading up with containers bound for the Far East mostly containing recycled plastic and fresh air (empties).

CSCL Pacific Ocean approaching the South Shipwash, Svitzer Kent leaves the Landguard Box to head out to be the first tug. Shortly after the Svitzer Sky leaves the tug pontoon and heads out aswell. The Kent waits for the pilot to call up on the radio and change to channel 12. Closer to the harbour the Kent makes her approach and made fast centre lead aft and begins to stretch their line ready to work. Svitzer Sky meets the CSCL and positions on the starboard quarter. Svitzer Shotley the third tug leaves the pontoon and waits in the harbour for the CSCL Pacific Ocean to come on the Northerly heading. The pilot gives the Kent the heads up that in a couple of minutes they will be required to go out on the portside at full line load to help them around the 90deg Beach End into the harbour.

Safely around the Beach End and slowing to 6 knots, the Shotley makes their approach to make fast centre lead forward. Once fast he begin to stretch the line ready to work. The pilot gets the Kent to ease up and drop in astern and when ready to go straight back 50% power to slow her up for the port swing off the berth. Svitzer Sky moves around to the portside ready for a push. As the pilot comes astern on the main engine the stern begins to swing so the Kent favours the port quarter. That issue sorted the kent returns to the centre line and increases to 75% to slow her up for the port swing.

The pilot begins the swing by getting the Sky to push up full while the Kent moves onto the starboard quarter and goes on full aswell. Svitzer Shotley up forward comes out on the port shoulder and pulls at 50% increasing to 75%a while later.

Once she had swung halfway the Sky comes away from the portside and moves around to the starboard side to push up by the funnel to help her alongside. The pilot gives the Selandia Seaways the nod that its safe to proceed to her berth.

As there was an offshore breeze the tugs pushed up to hold her alongside while the lines were made fast on the bollards.

Final tie up 6 and 2 with springs first then the offshore lines.

Without 3 tugs the CSCL Pacific Ocean would have found it tricky to swing and berth.