Sealand Washington on charter from Costamare departs Felixstowe with two 3212 Svitzer tug

The Sealand Washington departs Felixstowe with the assistance of two 3212 Svitzer tugs.   The Washington was built in 2000 and really shows her age. She was sold to Costamare for an undisclosed fee and chartered back to Maersk on a 7 year lease. 

A Harwich Haven pilot d the Sealand Washington from the quayside.  Wvith a draught of 10.7 metres she sails for her next port of Rotterdam. 

Two Svitzer tugs were ordered for the departure. Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Kent both head up to Trinity 5 where she was berthed.  Svitzer Deben and Svitzer Kent are 3212 tugs with a bollard pull of 80 tonnes. The pilot wanted them to take the centre leads fore and aft for a straight pull off. The tugs asked for the bollard rating of where the were making fast so they knew the safe working load.

Deben goes aft while Kent takes forward.  Once fast they get on pull positions while the crew and mooring gang single up. As the last lines were released the pilot starts with the departure by increasing the tugs power to edge away from the berth and into the channel.

As the pilot begins to come ahead on the main engine, Kent eases and slackens ready to let go from forward while the Deben drops in astern.  The pilot wanted to keep the Deben on the stern as the Washington had a reputation of not steering to well.

The pilot knowing that the Washington was ok turning, Deben closes up to the stern and let's go from aft.  Once clear the Deben heads off to the next job which was the CSCL Arctic Ocean on Berth 8.