Very empty Emma Maersk swings for Felixstowe Berth 8. 16th September 2017

Emma Maersk has been upgraded to hold more capacity to prolong her life by 10 years.  After doing her tour of Europe she finally make her way to the Port of Felixstowe. There was a bit of a backlog for the deep water berths due to Storm Aileen so the Emma Maersk anchors at the deep water anchorage until a berth became available.

The CSCL Globe finished cargo operations on berth 8 and the 2 tugs pulled her clear and out of the harbour. 

The senior Harwich Haven pilot Mr Love boards the Emma Maersk at the Sunk Pilot Station and begins to head inwards via the deep water channel. As they approach the Walker Buoy the pilot requests two Svitzer tugs for berthing.  Usual procedure, the first tug at 7&8 make fast starboard of centre aft and the second outside the harbour to push on the quarter then make fast starboard shoulder.

As Emma Maersk made her way through the south Shipwash Svitzer Deben leaves the berth where she went alongside after assisting the CSCL Globe a little earlier in the day. Shortly after the Svitzer Kent leaves the tug pontoon to be the quarter tug.

The pilot changes radio channel to channel 12 with the tugs and went through the plan for berthing.  Plan A was for the Kent to push around the 90deg Beach End then use the Deben as a brake before doing a port swing off the berth to go portside to Felixstowe Berth 8.

Approaching the Platters the Kent pushes up to help Emma Maersk turn into the harbour. After coming onto a Northerly heading the Kent eases away from the ships side and paddle towards the bow where they are made fast. Deben is asked to go straight astern 50% to reduce her speed ready for a port swing.

Just as they pass the MSC Sveva on berth 9 the pilot gets the Kent to square up and build up to a push while the Deben moves out onto the starboard quarter and builds up their power to pull the stern around.  Almost swung around the Kent comes away from the ships side into a check position while the pilot comes astern on the main engine as they edge closer to the berth.