2015 record breaker MSC Oscar swings to port with 3 Svitzer tugs at Felixstowe 27th April 2018

In 2014/15 the race for the world's largest container ship was fierce with Maersk Line claiming first with there 18,270teu Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller, then China Shipping bought out a bigger one, topping 19,100teu. Only 2 months later MSC bought out a larger ship MSC Oscar just 124teu bigger.

MSC Oscar sailing as part of the 2M alliance with Maersk, Hyundai and Hamburg Süd arrives from Colombo with a draught of 13.5 metres.  

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the MSC Oscar at the Sunk pilot station roughly 12 miles out in the North Sea.   Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound with no defects, planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 9, draught of 13.5 metres from Colombo. VTS replies there was a ready berth planned portside to Felixstowe 9, wind on the Landguard and traffic outbound.  The pilot replies that he would like three tugs for berthing. The first at the usual place (7&8 Buoys) make fast centre lead aft the second outside on the starboard quarter to assist with the Beach End then make fast once inside and the third bow to bow inside the harbour.  Duty tug copied the conversation.

Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon to be the first tug shortly followed by the Svitzer Sky.   Deben makes fast centre lead aft while the Sky positions on the starboard quarter.  A little while later Svitzer Kent leaves the tug pontoon to meet the MSC Oscar as she approaches the Beach End.   The pilot gets the Deben to go out on the port quarter at full line load for a powered indirect.  Safely inside the harbour Deben drops in astern as the Kent makes fast forward.  Sky comes away from the ships side to and swings around to make fast while going astern.

The Deben goes straight astern to help reduce the headway before the port swing.   Sky moves out at a 90° and starts taking the stern around. I'm the mean time Kent moves out onto the starboard shoulder at 90° angle to take the bow around. Slowly the Deben aft transfer the weight from right astern to the starboard quarter. The pilot kicks the engine ahead as the tugs swing the Oscar around.

As the Oscar was almost swung the pilot and the Capitan walk out onto the Port bridge wing to line her perfectly alongside Felixstowe Berth 9. Closer to the fenders the pilot radios the berthing master to say the final tie up will be 6 and 2 each end with the aft spring first then offshore lines aft followed by the forward springs and the rest of the lines.  A small adjustment was made for the gangway so a bollard wasn't in the way.