Mega ship MSC Mirja arriving to the Port of Felixstowe, port swing for Berth 8. 4th September 2017

Mega ship MSC Mirja arrives to the port of Felixstowe with a maximum draft of 12.5 metres from her last port of Port Said in Egypt.

The Harwich Haven pilot heads about 12 miles out in the North Sea to board the Mirja at the Sunk pilot station around 10:30UTC. Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to confirm they were inbound with a draft of 12.5 metres from her last port of Port Said, Egypt and he would like 2 tugs for berthing. The first one centre lead aft made fast before the Platters and the second at the corner on a bow to bow. It will also be a port swing just north of the berth.

Svitzer Kent leaves the tug pontoon and heads out of the to be the first tug to meet the mega ship to make fast aft. A short while later the Svitzer Sky heads out to be the forward tug.

Approaching the harbour the pilot radios the Kent and says that he will be on channel 12 when they are a bit closer to harbour to go through the plan again. Both tugs and pilot change to channel 12 on the radio and goes through the plan again which was that Kent would be used as a brake then pass the Cape Kortia on Berth 9 before starting the port swing a bit north of the berth.

Kent made fast centre lead aft, they stretch their line ready for work as the Sky makes their approach to make fast forward. Rounding the 90deg Beach End turn Sky was made fast as they come onto a Northerly heading. The pilot requires the Kent to pull straight back at 50% to help reduce Mirja's speed as they head up the harbour. The pilot the comes astern on the main engine to bring her to a very slow crawl to begin the swing.  Sky is requested to go on the port shoulder and  keep an eye out on the Grisle Buoy if they get close to it. Kent moves out on the starboard quarter and begins to increase to full power to swing the stern around.

As they swing the pilot reduces the Kent to 50% to reduce the rate of the swing. Sky increases upto to 50% to help swing the bow. The pilot comes ahead on the main engine to keep the swing moving. Once swung the pilot comes astern to level up with the berth. Sky moves around on the starboard side.  Both tugs get in check position to hold her against the wind for a soft landing alongside.

Final tie up 4, 2 and 2 each end with springs first.

EDT Wednesday 6th September at 10am