CSCL Atlantic Ocean arrives to Felixstowe with draft of 11.7m 28th August

CSCL Atlantic Ocean sails to Felixstowe on a lovely sunny Bank Holiday Monday. 10 days previous she had arrived full of anything and everything from the Far East for the U.K, Netherlands, Poland and Germany before sailing back to Felixstowe to load up with exports from the UK to the Far Eastern countries.

CSCL Atlantic Ocean had a maximum draft of 11.7 metres from her last port of Wilhelmshaven.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards out at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 miles out in the North Sea. Once onboard he makes his way up to the bridge where he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound for Felixstowe Berth 8 and believed they were portside to.  VTS replies that is correct planned potside to Felixstowe berth 8, wind speeds and direction, height of tide and traffic information.  The pilot replies that he would require 2 tugs for berthing, the first at 7&8 centre lead aft and the second inside the harbour to push on the starboard quarter for a starboard swing off the berth.

As she was ultra large, for safety reasons ships of her size are required to have atleast two 60 tonne bollard pull tugs no matter the conditions to assist them in port or outbound.

Svitzer Stanford was the aft tug for this arrival and made fast centre lead aft. Shortly after the Svitzer Sky headed towards the Beach End corner.

The CSCL Atlantic Ocean was very light coming in and with calm weather conditions the pilot knew he could steer her around the 90deg Beach End turn into the harbour.


Rounding the Beach End and coming on to a Northerly heading the Svitzer Sky makes their approach to lay alongside on the starboard quarter ready to push around. Stanford goes straight astern to slow Atlantic Ocean down. The pilot comes astern on the main engine to also help slowing her to a crawl.

Svitzer Sky repositions bow on the ships side and increases power to begin swinging the mighty CSCL Atlantic Ocean around. Svitzer Stanford goes out on the port quarter to pull the stern but as the South Shelf Buoy was very close the Stanford waited for the gap to widen before going on full power.

Swung halfway the Sky comes away from the ships side to reposition midships and pushes up towards the berth. Stanford comes around from the portside to the starboard side and gets in a check position as they approached the berth.

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