Milan Maersk on her maiden voyage battles the WNW off Felixstowe Berth 9. 5th November 2017

The Milan Maersk sets sail from Felixstowe after unloading most of her cargo for the UK. When she arrived early Friday morning she had a draught of 14.45 metres but after working non-stop till 5 minutes before departure the crane drivers had taken lightened her to a maximum draught of 10.6 metres which works out at 3.85 metres lighter.

The Harwich Haven pilot Mr Cable boarded from the quayside. Once onboard he requests the services for about 10-15 minutes time as there was a few hatch cover to slot back onboard. The Crane begins to booming up as the tugs standby the ships side.

The Milan Maersk signed off and handed over to the mooring gang, the pilot radios the tugs to go on channel 12 for how he would like them for departure. The pilot wanted the 3212 Svitzer Kent centre lead aft and the smaller 2411 Svitzer Sky centre lead forward. The pilot then went down to 2 and 2 each end to make fast the tugs easier. Both tugs fast and move out in to a pull position, the last of the spring lines released.

The Kent and Sky both go straight on 50% to ease her away from the quay, shortly after the sky increases to full but decreases to let the Kent aft to catch up. Once caught up the sky goes back on at 75% then both tugs increase to full power. The pilot works the bow thrusters to starboard releasing black smoke from the funnels. Steadily moving into the channel the Kent goes all easy and drops in astern while the Sky still keeps her power on to counteract the windage on the starboard side. Finally as the pilot comes ahead on the main engines then gets the Sky to go right ahead ready to slacken down to let go.

With how the weather conditions were, the pilot did not want anything to go wrong as they rounded the 90 degree Beach End turn out of the harbour so after the Sky was released from forward they peeled off onto the Felixstowe side to reposition on the most aft tug marker on the portside.

As Milan Maersk approaches the Fort Buoy, the Sky radio the pilot to say they were alongside on the tug marker, the pilot replies that they can push up full power. Kent still fast aft prepares themselves for a powered indirect on the starboard quarter. The pilot radios the Kent to give them the nod to go out for a powered indirect. Kent begins to list around 15 degrees as they tension the tow line to around 95-100 tonnes and increase to full power.

Safely around the Beach End, Sky eases up and comes away from the ships side and the Kent eases up then closes up to the transom to retreive their tow line back onboard.