MSC Diana swings to starboard off Felixstowe Berth 9 and departs with two Svitzer tugs. 210318

As Maersk shakes up their 2M routes the MSC Diana on the AE1 route would be the first ship not to call at Southampton as the changes are implemented. With a draught of 12.1 metres the MSC Diana departs Felixstowe heading for her next port of Rotterdam then she will be go to Zeebrugge instead of Southampton.
Currently MSC Diana in the Pegasus class are the largest in MSC's fleet. Due to be delivered 2019-2020 MSC will hold the record again when they release the new 23,500TEU ships.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the Diana as the last cranes boom up. The drivers begin the long descent down. Two Svitzer tugs were ordered for the departure where a swing would be required off the berth and as she was starboard side to Felixstowe Berth 9. 
Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Sky both head up to the Diana and waits for instructions. Deben takes the centre lead aft while Sky takes the centre lead forward. Once fast both tugs back away into pull positions. Lines aft begin to slacken and the mooring gang released them off the bollards. Springs were the last to be released before the pilot begins with the departure.

Kent builds up to full power to lif the stern off the berth. Up the bow, Sky increases power up to 50% but soon asked reduce then stop. As the stern begins to swing out the pilot goes astern on the main engine. Bow becoming clear Sky darts around to the starboard side and builds up power to swing her to starboard. 

Both tugs swing her around in no time at all. Deben eases up and drops in astern as the pilot comes ahead on the main engine. Sky eases and closes up to let go before swinging around to standby on the port quarter. The pilot says to the tugs that as they were going a bit slow he would use Sky as a primary steerage around the 90 degree Beach End turn.

Approaching the Fort Buoy Sky begins to push up full power at a 45 degree angle on the most aft tug marker to help MSC Diana round the Beach End. Deben stands by just starboard of centre aft incase they needed a little help.  Once the pilot was happy he got the Deben to close up ready to let go. Sky eases up and breaks away from the ships side.  Both tugs then head back into the harbour for the tug pontoon.