Maersk Esmeraldas arrives to Felixstowe during gusty squalls with 3 Svitzer tugs. 8th September 2017

The Maersk Esmeraldas arrives to Felixstowe from Antwerp with a maximum draft of 12.4 metres. The weather was not the best as squally showers were predicted throughout the day.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the Esmeraldas at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 miles out in the North Sea. Once onboard the pilot requests 3 tugs for berthing, the first tug outside the harbour and make fast centre lead aft, second tug inside the harbour bow to bow and the third also inside the harbour and make fast on the starboard quarter. It would be a port swing in the middle of the harbour then back-up to Berth 7.

As she was in the main channel inwards a squall was passing through the harbour. The Svitzer Deben headed out of the harbour to meet the Maersk Esmeraldas and made fast centre lead aft. Shortly after the Svitzer Sky and Svitzer Kent heads towards the Beach End turn and waits for the ship to come around the corner.  Kent makes fast and the Sky shortly after.  Heading up the harbour the pilot gets the Deben to go straight astern 50% then increasing to 75% passing 8&9 berths.

Speed reducing the pilot begins to steer the ship onto a Westerly heading and gets the Kent to move out onto the port shoulder and build up to 75%, the Deben moves out on the starboard quarter and builds up to 75%. The Sky hangs around as they weren't required until they were backing up to the berth.

Once swung the pilot comes astern on the main engine and gets the Deben to reposition dead astern and lean back 50% to help her back up towards Berth 7.  Fore and aft tugs were asked to get in check positions as the backed up. Sky comes alongside the Esmeraldas and pushes up towards the berth at 50% soon after reducing to 25 then minimum. 

Final tie up 4 and 2 each end with spring lines first.