Fully loaded Madison Maersk eases from Felixstowe with two Svitzer tugs 22nd September 2017

The Madison Maersk departs Felixstowe after filling her holds full of cargo for the Far East to give her a maximum draft of 15.3 metres for Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia via the Suez Canal.  Space onboard East bound ships from Europe are at a premium with most of the ships heading back to Asia fully loaded.

After a slight delay with her departure cargo operations finished and cranes boomed up. Two Harwich Haven Pilots boarding the Madison Maersk, Jane Stone who was training to handle the largest container ships in the world under close eye of Senior pilot Ian Love.   Weather conditions were perfect for training light airs and a fully loaded Triple E. 

All ready to leave, the two Svitzer tugs Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Shotley made their way to assist the 194,849 tonne ship off the berth. They both took the centre leads, Deben aft and Shotley forward.  Springs line were the last to come back onboard then the tugs began to bring the Madison off the berth. Expertly manueovered away from the berth and Express Athens berthed in Number 9 the Madison Maersk begins to come ahead on both engines as the Shotley eases up and comes dead ahed with a slack line to be released. Once released they peel off the Felixstowe side and reposition on the port quarter ready to push on the most aft tug marker.  Svitzer Deben drops in astern but soon moves out onto the starboard side out of the wash from Madison's two huge propellers.

As they headed down the harbour the Deben was asked to go out on the starboard shoulder at full line load while the Shotley was aked to nose up at a 45deg angle and push full to help steer the Madison around the 90deg Beach End out of the harbour. Safely around the corner the tugs were released and the Madison headed for the Sunk where the pilots disembarks but before then they had to pass the 397 metre Eugen Maersk which was inbound for Felixstowe Berth 8.