Torrential thunderstorms associated with a cold front passing over the UK wasn't going to stop the departure of the Marstal Maersk. The typical British summer weather threw everything at Felixstowe. During the morning and afternoon the temperatures rose to mid 20's triggering a thunderstorm. Firstly dark clouds began to roll in and all of a sudden the sky lit up and then the rain fell.
The Marstal Maersk was heavily drafted with a draft of 15.6 metres for her next port of Tanjong Pelepas in Malaysia. The pilot boarded from the shore side. Once onboard he requests the 2 tugs and mooring gang. The 2 tugs Svitzer Shotley and Svitzer Kent were standing by to assist with the departure.
As the Marstal was preparing to depart a squall past through the harbour with the wind swung around to westerly gusting 24 knots.
The Linesmen on the quay and crew onboard the Marstal Maersk got drenched as they slackened and released a few lines to make fast the tugs. Svitzer Kent was made fast on the centre lead aft while the Svitzer Shotley was made fast forward just starboard of centre.
A brief pause in torrential rain the pilot began the pull off the berth with both tugs pulling off at 50% then up to full. The pilot helped the bow out by using the bow thrusters. A short while later the rain began to fall again with frequent lightening.
The pilot began to come ahead on the engines at half ahead. The Shotley was released from forward and positioned on the portside near the funnels as the Marstal had a very deep draft. Svitzer Kent followed astern and as the Marstal approached the Fort Buoy the pilot required a powered in-direct around the 90deg Beach End out of the harbour so the Kent began to go out on the starboard side at full line load.
Ro-Ro Elisabeth Russ sails to Harwich Navyard. A pilot boarded at the Cork Pilot Station and headed inwards. Once in the harbour just off Shotley the Elisabeth Russ came to a stop and began to swing for her berth.
Elisabeth Russ
Year of build: 1999
Ship yard: JJ SIETAS SCHIFFSWERFT - HAMBURG, GERMANY
IMO: 9186429
Vessel type: Ro-ro cargo
MMSI: 255805606
Home Port: Madeira
Flag: Portugal
Deadweight: 10471
Gross Tonnage: 7296t
19100TEU CSCL Atlantic Ocean makes a 19 day voyage from Singapore to the Port of Felixstowe.
CSCL Atlantic Ocean sails on the Asia - Northern Europe Loop1 which makes calls at Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Gdansk, Wilhelmshaven and back to Felixstowe before heading east to Singapore.
The pilot boards at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 nautical miles out in the North Sea. Once onboard he requests 3 tugs for berthing as she was deep drafted at 15.3 metres, the first tug at the usual place 7&8 Buoys to make fast centre lead aft, second outside the harbour for a push in-direct on starboard quarter then move around to portside around midships to push up and the third tug centre lead forward on a bow to bow inside the harbour.
The CSCL Atlantic Ocean was planned starboard side to Berth 8 with the bow just 40 metres to the end of the quay.
As the CSCL had ordered 3 tugs the 4th tug was requested to be manned and on standby if something happened in the port.
Heading inwards in the South Shipwash the first tug Svitzer Deben left the tug pontoon to meet the CSCL Atlantic Ocean shortly followed by the Svitzer Sky. Approaching the 90deg Beach End turn into the harbour the Svitzer Kent paddles towards the corner.
In the mean time the pilot onboard the CSCL gets the Deben to go out on the portside at full line load for an in-direct while the Sky pushes up the starboard quarter to help her around he corner. Once around the corner the Kent makes her approach to make fast centre lead forward while the Sky comes away from the starboard side to move around to the portside to push her up to the berth.
The pilot needed to slow up so the Deben eased up from in-direct to straight astern to help the speed drop off. The pilot comes astern on the main engine releasing black smoke from the funnel. Shortly after the Kent comes onto the starboard shoulder to pull the bow towards while the Deben comes onto the starboard quarter to help the stern towards the berth. The bow coming in nicely Kent moves around into a check position on the portside. The Deben comes onto the port quarter as she edges closer to the berth.
The CSCL comes to a stop just off the berth so the sky pushes up full while the Deben comes in to put her bow on the port quarter to bring the stern level with the bow. Just off the berth the Sky pushes up to hold her alongside while the lines fore and aft was made fast on the bollards.
CSCL Atlantic Ocean due back in Felixstowe 12th June 2017 to pick up recycled plastic and fresh air (empties) back to Asia to be filled again.
CSCL ATLANTIC OCEAN
IMO number: 9695145
Flag: Hong Kong
Home Port: Hong Kong
Built at Hyundai Heavy Ind. Co., Ltd. South Korea (Hull number: 2698)
Contract date: 06-05-2013
Keel laid: 09-06-2014
Launched: 01-11-2014
Date of build: 29-04-2015
Ultra large MSC Kleven prepares to leave Felixstowe with the help of 2 Svitzer tugs.
The pilot requested 2 tugs for departure as she was head up on the berth and needed to swing off the berth. Svitzer Kent makes fast on aft while the Svitzer Deben makes fast forward. The passenger ferry Stena Hollandica as passing in the halted the departure for a little while.
As the Stena was almost level with MSC Kleven the pilot began the lift off from the berth by getting both tugs to pull 25% increasing to 50% then to minimum.
Once clear of the berth the pilot gets the Deben to ease up and move onto the starboard side to take the bow around. Deben in position builds up to 50% to swing the bow while the Kent takes the stern around.
Swung and coming ahead on the main engine the Deben is released from forward while the kent is held for a bit longer due to the ship's engine gradually increased rpm.
When the pilot thought the ship had a good rate of turn the Kent was released and the pilot navigated the ship to the Sunk Pilot Station where he disembarked onto a pilot launch.
RIO BLANCO
IMO 9348089
owner: Hamburg Sud
Keel laid 5th May 2008
Delivery date 3rd June 2009
Daewoo-Mangalia Heavy Industries, Romania
Home port: Monrovia
Flag: Liberia
LoA 286.45 metres
Beam 40 metres
Gross tonnage: 73899t
Deadweight: 80115t
Max capacity 5568TEU Of which 1365TEU are Reefers
Engines
Main
Wartsila Sulzer 8RTA96C-B rated at 45760kW
x4 Generators each rated at 3800kW
Bow thruster rated at 2000kW
Stern Thruster 1500kW
