The day was a good day for Felixstowe as there were 3 first call ships arriving to the Port. The first was the 334 metre MSC Shuba B then the 332 metre MSC Heidi and shortly after the general cargo ship FWN Rapide. The pilot boards the MSC Heidi 12 miles out in the North Sea. Once onboard he requests that he would like one tug for berthing and to meet just outside the harbour.
As they approach the harbour the Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon and paddles towards the Beach End. Inside the harbour the Deben makes fast then stretches their line ready for work.
The pilot gets the Deben to go straight astern to help slow the vessel down ready to swing in the middle of the harbour. Passing number 9 Berth, the pilot gets the Deben to move out onto the starboard quarter but maintain their position without putting any weight on the line. After a few moments the pilot comes on the radio and asks the Deben to build up a 75% pull to swing stern around.
Almost swung the pilot comes astern on the main engine to back up towards the berth 7. Deben drops in astern and follows them up the harbour.
Approaching the berth the pilot gets the Deben to pull towards the berth then come back into a check position but she was not heading towards the berth so Deben comes in on the starboard quarter and pushes her onto the berth before coming out into a check position.
MSC Heidi berths portside to Felixstowe Berth 7 and just behind her is the heightened crane that will soon be servicing some of the world's largest container ships.
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