Shipping Special!! Marie Maersk arriving in a force 7 gale with 4 tugs 3rd August 2017

The Marie Maersk one of the largest container ships afloat sails to Felixstowe full of anything and everything from the Far East.

Before the Harwich Haven pilot @rascalmaster left the harbour he suggested he would require 3 possibly 4 tugs for berthing so the 4th tug was held until he was onboard and the plan was clear.  As the winds began to pick up strength to 27 knots the pilot launch left the harbour outbound to the Sunk. The pilot boards the Marie Maersk and slowly makes their way inbound.

The pilot radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound for Felixstowe Berth 9 portside to, with a maximum draft of 14.6 metres from Colombo. VTS replies that there was a ready berth and planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 9, there was 2 tugs available and the other 2 will come from the MSC Cordoba which was inside the harbour and swinging for her berth, traffic information the CMA CGA Rebelais outbound heading for the sunk and the Stena Britiannica given permission to depart from Parkeston Quay and the winds strengthening south westerly 24 to 27 knots. The pilot replies that he would like 3 tugs for berthing the first at 7&8 centre lead aft, the second at the Platters on the starboard quarter for a push indirect then make fast on the quarter and the third tug inside the harbor on a bow to bow. Plan A is for a port swing off the berth but will re-evaluate the situation when closer to harbour.

As they were heading inbound in the South Shipwash the wind increased to 30 knots so the pilot orders the fourth tug to push on the portside by the funnels then move around to make fast on the starboard shoulder.

The Svitzer Deben left the tug pontoon to be the first tug to head out shortley followed by the Svitzer Sky. The Deben all fast and the Sky positions on the starboard quarter. The pilot gives the heads up that in a few minutes he would require a powered indirect around the corner.

The Deben goes out on the port side at full line load while the Sky angles at a 45deg angle at full power to help the Marie steer around the 90deg Beach End turn into the harbour. The pilot enquired if the tugs were on full power as she was understeering around the corner. Once around the Beach End the Deben eases up to drop in on the centre line while the Sky comes away from the ships side to make fast on the quarter. Shotley positons on the portside ready to push while the Kent makes her approach to make fast centre lead forward on a bow to bow. Deben goes astern to slow the Marie down. A few minutes later the pilot comes astern on both engines ready for the port swing.  Shotley begins to push 75% on the port quarter as the Deben and Sky move onto the starboard quarter at 75% to pull the stern around while the Kent pulls on the port shoulder at 75%.

Almost swung 180 degrees the Shotly comes away from the port quarter to make fast on the starboard shoulder. Sky comes in for a full push as the stern carries on swinging, Deben moves onto the portside to start bringing her towards the quay. The bow needed a little pull aswell so the Kent carries on pulling towards the berth. As she approaches the berth all 4 tugs get in check positions to bring her alongside carefully in the gusty 32 knot south westerly winds. The pilot varies the tugs power to straighten her for the soft landing. Once alongside the Sky and Shotley pushes up to hold her in position while the lines are made fast on Berth 9.

Final tie up 6 and 2 fore and aft with the springs first.

As the pilot said to the skipper onboard the Sky "It takes a conductor to run an orchestra."

ETD Saturday 5th August 10am but expected to change.

Ultra large Majestic Maersk's early morning call at the Port of Felixstowe 3rd July 2017

Ultra large Majestic Maersk makes an early morning call to the Port of Felixstowe.

The Majestic Maersk sails from Bremerhaven with a draft of 13.4 metres for Felixstowe. While in Felixstowe she will unload some cargo from Europe then completly load up with a combination of cargo and empties from the UK.

The pilot boards the Majestic Maersk at the Sunk which is arund 12 nautical miles off the East Anglian coast. Once the pilot has made his way up on to the bridge he radios Harwich VTS and says that they were inbound with a draft of 13.4 metres from Bremerhaven. VTS replies that there is a ready berth planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 8. The pilot then replies that they would like 2 tugs for berthing, the first at 7&8 for an indirect then a brake ready for the swing, second tug inside the harbour on a bow to bow The plan was to swing to starboard off the berth to go portside to Berth 8.

As the Majestic approaches the HA Buoy the Svitzer Deben  heads out of the harbour to be the stern tug. The crew onboard Majestic makes fast the Deben. In the mean time the Svitzer Sky leaves the tug pontoon and makes her way to towards the Beach End. Approaching the Platters the pilot gives the orders for the Deben to go out on the portside at full line load for a powered indirect to help steer around the 90deg Beach End into the harbour.

Once around the corner the Sky makes her approach on a bow to bow to get the centre lead forward. As Sky makes fast, the Deben eases up from the indirect and drops in on the centre line before coming astern as a brake down the harbour. Speed dropping off the Deben moves out onto the port quarter while the Sky moves onto the starboard shoulder.

Swinging to starboard smoothly even with a strengthening wind the tugs carefully rotate the Majestic 180 degrees before  the Deben moves from the portside to the starboard side and  get in check position along with the Sky to hold The Majestic Maersk back from the wind for a gentle touch onto the fenders on the berth.

Maiden voyage Toledo Triumph arrives to Felixstowe, port swing with 2 Svitzer tugs. 29th July 2017

The Toledo Triumph sets sail on her maiden voyage and calls at the Port of Felixstowe. The 365.9 metre Toledo Triumph was built in the Imabari Shipbuildingshipyard in Hiroshima, Japan. The vessel runs on the French Asia Line 6 (FAL6) which calls at Rotterdam before a call at Felixstowe.

A Harwich Haven pilot boards the Toledo Triumph and begins to head inwards via the deep water channel to Felixstowe. The pilot orders 2 Svitzer tugs for berthing, the first by the Platters to make fast for a powered indirect and then a brake down the harbour, the second inside the harbour to make fast on a bow to bow. The plan was for the Kent to be a brake down the harbour then to a port swing off the Guard and  back up to Berth 7.

Also heading inbound was the Lyubov for Ipswich which was only going around 5-6 knots due to a defect with the engine. The pilots on both ships came to an agreement that they would pass each other around 5&6 buoys as the Lyubov was going so show.

The pilot radioed the tugs and said the full speed ahead was only 10 knots so it would take a little while to approach the harbour.

Svitzer Kent was the first tug and was made fast starboard of centre aft ready for a powered indirect around the 90deg Beach End into the harhour.

As they approched the Beach End the pilot came on the radio and got the Kent to go out on the portside at full line load to help the stern around the corner. Once around the corner the Deben makes their approach to make fast on a bow to bow. As the Deben made their approach a canoeist with a death wish was in the channel which the pilot gave 2 short blasts then a long blast on the horn to warn of their arrival. The pilot said to the Deben he can abort if they felt it was unsafe for them to carry on. All fast forward the Deben strectches their line ready to work.

The pilot gets the Kent to go straight astern to take off the knots for the port swing. On a westerly heading the Kent moves onto the starboard quarter and begins to take the stern around. The pilot gets the Deben to move onto the port shoulder and takes her round.

Slowly entering the harbour the Lyubov smoking heavily makes her way up the harbour, the pilot onboard radios the Toledo to check if it was ok for them to slip past them. The Toledo swung the pilot said go for it as they were about to back up towards the berth.

Once they touched the fenders on the berth the crew began to make her fast alongside Felixstowe Berth 7. Tugs were released and the pilot disembarked down the gangway onto the quayside.

Deep drafted CSCL Pacific Ocean arrives to Felixstowe 12th July 2017

The CSCL Pacific Ocean sails to Felixstowe from Singapore with a draft of 15.7 metres. The 19100TEU vessel saills as part of the Ocean Three Alliance on the Aisa-Northern Europe Loop1 which calls at Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Gdansk, Wilhelshaven and back to Felixstowe before heading to Singapore and the Far East port to start the cycle again.

The Pilot boards the CSCL at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 nautical miles out in the North Sea where he will help the captain berth his ship.
Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were inbound with a draft of 15.7 metres from Singapore and was planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 8. VTS confirms that they were plaaned portside to Berth 8 and the current wind speed and direction which was NNE 7-18knots. The pilot replies that he would like 3 tugs for berthing. The first centre lead aft at 7&8, second starboard quarter then move around to the port quarter to meet at the Platters and the third inside the harbour bow to bow.

The DFDS ferry Selandia Seaways makes her way towards the harbour but VTS gives them the bad news that they would have to wait for the CSCL Pacific Ocean to swing and push up towards the berth before they could pass.

The CSCL Pacific Ocean's sister ship the CSCL Globe had been in Felixstowe earlier in the day loading up with containers bound for the Far East mostly containing recycled plastic and fresh air (empties).

CSCL Pacific Ocean approaching the South Shipwash, Svitzer Kent leaves the Landguard Box to head out to be the first tug. Shortly after the Svitzer Sky leaves the tug pontoon and heads out aswell. The Kent waits for the pilot to call up on the radio and change to channel 12. Closer to the harbour the Kent makes her approach and made fast centre lead aft and begins to stretch their line ready to work. Svitzer Sky meets the CSCL and positions on the starboard quarter. Svitzer Shotley the third tug leaves the pontoon and waits in the harbour for the CSCL Pacific Ocean to come on the Northerly heading. The pilot gives the Kent the heads up that in a couple of minutes they will be required to go out on the portside at full line load to help them around the 90deg Beach End into the harbour.

Safely around the Beach End and slowing to 6 knots, the Shotley makes their approach to make fast centre lead forward. Once fast he begin to stretch the line ready to work. The pilot gets the Kent to ease up and drop in astern and when ready to go straight back 50% power to slow her up for the port swing off the berth. Svitzer Sky moves around to the portside ready for a push. As the pilot comes astern on the main engine the stern begins to swing so the Kent favours the port quarter. That issue sorted the kent returns to the centre line and increases to 75% to slow her up for the port swing.

The pilot begins the swing by getting the Sky to push up full while the Kent moves onto the starboard quarter and goes on full aswell. Svitzer Shotley up forward comes out on the port shoulder and pulls at 50% increasing to 75%a while later.

Once she had swung halfway the Sky comes away from the portside and moves around to the starboard side to push up by the funnel to help her alongside. The pilot gives the Selandia Seaways the nod that its safe to proceed to her berth.

As there was an offshore breeze the tugs pushed up to hold her alongside while the lines were made fast on the bollards.

Final tie up 6 and 2 with springs first then the offshore lines.

Without 3 tugs the CSCL Pacific Ocean would have found it tricky to swing and berth.

Cosco Pride departs Felixstowe, diverted from Southampton after engine failure 3rd July 2017

The Cosco Pride diverts from Southampton to Felixstowe after engine failure last week.
The 366 metre vessel had left Felixstowe on the 27th June heading for Southampton with a draft of 14.7 metres, as she went into the English channel she suffered engine failure and began to drift. She was towed to the anchorage off the Isle of Wight where repairs could be made.
Due to missing her berthing slot at Southampton she headed back to Felixstowe to offload the cargo for Southampton.

Early this morning the Cosco Pride arrived at the Sunk Pilot Station at around 04:00 to board a pilot to head inbound for Felixstowe Berth 8.

Cargo operations had finished and was ready to go but the pilot who was tasked to take the Cosco Pride out was on the Mogens Maersk which had just came in and was making fast alongside Felixstowe Berth 9. Once all fast the pilot came down the gangway of the Mogens Maersk and up onto the Cosco Pride.

Once onboard the pilot radios through to Harwich VTS to say they were ready to depart with a draft of 14.1 metres for Piraeus and was making the 2 tugs fast.

Svitzer Deben was made fast centre lead aft and Svitzer Sky was made fast centre lead forward. the tugs in position the crew began to single up to just springs. The springs were released and the pilot radios the Deben to go straight on at 50% to start lifting the stern off the berth. The pilot then radios the Sky to lift off 50% shortly after the Deben increases up to full. The Cosco Pride edges out from the berth with the stern out in the tide. After a little while the pilot gets the Sky to go all easy to get the stern out more.

Edging further into the channel the pilot uses the bow thrusters and the sky increses to 50% again then up to 75% to swing the bow in to the channel to head outbound.

Once in the channel the pilot began to come ahead on the main engine and got both tugs to go right of centre fore and aft. Sky comes in to let go and then peels off on the Felixstowe side. The Deben is kept fast as they were required for a powered indirect around the 90deg Beach End into the North Sea.