The harbour gets busy from 19:00-20:00 with the Stena Hollandica ferry from the Hook of Holland and DFDS ferry from Felixstowe departing, pilot boarding time was going to be slightly later than 19:00 to allow the ferries to have clearance.
The Harwich Haven pilot launch crosses the harbour from Harwich with the pilots for OOCL Germany and the MSC Cordoba which was ordered up to leave 19:15 with Germany to follow behind 15 minutes later.
MSC Cordoba still working cargo, the decision was to sail OOCL Germany first so the tugs and mooring gang made there way over to Berth 8 where she was berthed.
ASD 3212 tugs Svitzer Kent and Svitzer Deben leave the tug pontoon to assist with the lift off from the berth and swing to head out of the harbour. Kent makes fast centre lead aft while Deben makes fast centre lead forward.
As predicted the Selandia Seaways had been given clearance to depart so the Germany stayed on the berth until she had swung and procceding past berths 8&9. With a clear channel the pilot began with the departure with the tugs pull off at 50% then Kent building up to full power. Deben drops down to 25% then lets go so they could push up on the port shoulder for the swing. Pilot comes astern on the main engine to back her further into the channel to begin the starboard swing.
Swung around the pilot gets the Deben to back away from the ships side as they had finished with her. After a few moments the pilot comes ahead on the main engine asking the Kent to drop in astern ready for a powered indirect. As the OOCL Germany passes Landguard Viewpoint the pilot radios the Kent to say he is going to blow the whistle for the crowd watching them depart.
Approaching the Fort Buoy the pilot gets the Kent to go out on the starboard side for a powered indirect and give what they can as the Germany was only going 6.1 knots.
Expected to be back in Felixstowe 17th October 2017
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