Harwich Haven pilot boards the heavily laden CSCl Arctic Ocean for her departure from Felixstowe bound for Singapore via the Suez Canal. The pilot orders 2 tugs for departure both to make fast on the centre leads. Svitzer Kent goes aft and Svitzer Shotley goes forward.
The CSCL Arctic Ocean had a maximum draft of 14.2 metres, although she has a capacity of 19100TEU there wasnt much space left but a large amont of the boxes onboard were probably filled with fresh air (empties).
The Shotley was made fast first, The kent was made fast after a few of the offshore lines were slackened and bought back onboard. The last of the lines bought back onboard, tugs all fast and in position to pull off the berth. With the NNE 12-15 knot wind helping the CSCL drift steadily off the berth, after a while pilot gets the Kent to increase to a 25% pull away from the berth shortly followed by the Shotley going on 25%. Steadily the tugs increase to 50%. As the pilot wanted to get the stern out first he gives a kick astern on the main engine and gets the Kent increase to full while the Shotley goes all easy and stops pulling. After a while the Kent stops pulling and the Shotley increases to full power to swing the bow out into the channel.
As the pilot comes ahead on the main engine a yacht or to what the locals call them 'clothed engined twot' comes in the channel. The pilot gives a long blast on the whistle to warn that they were in the channel and a lot bigger than them. Slowly the yacht makes their way out of the channel. The Shotley comes in to be released. Shotley peels off to Felixstowe side and heads back to the tug pontoon. The CSCL proceeded towards the 90deg Beach End turn out of the harbour still with the Kent fast aft just incase she is needed for a powered indirect sround the corner.
Once around the Beach corner the Kent is released and hangs around the Beach End waiting for the Express Rome which was at the South Shipwash inbound for the berth that the CSCL had just come from.
The Majestic Maersk departs Felixstowe with the help of Svitzer Kent and Svitzer Sky. The 399 metre ship had been around Europe before calling at Felixstowe to load up with the UK exports and fresh air (empties) for the Far East to be refilled and head back through the cycle again and again.
After her 2 days in Felixstowe she was almost fully loaded and ready to depart.
As the tide rose, the pilot boarded from the shore side. Once on the bridge he goes over the plan for departure with the captian and then radios Harwich VTS and orders the 2 tugs for departure. The Svitzer Kent and Svitzer Sky switches onto channel 12 and so does the pilot. The Kent takes the centre lead aft while the Sky takes the centre lead forward. As the lines were slackened both tugs were in position to pull the Majestic off the berth. A problem with a one of the spring winch delayed the departure for a few minutes. Electrician working to solve the issue manages to reset it and and the last of the lines were bought back onboard.
The pilot comes on radio and gets the Kent to pull straight off at 50% with the Sky following a few seconds later. Slowly edging away from the berth the pilot comes on the radio again and increases both tugs to full power. The pilot gives a kick ahead on the port engine to help with the departure. The Kent reduces power to help the Sky bring out the bow into the channel. As the pilot comes ahead on both engines he gets the kent to drop in astern and then gets Sky to pull full ahead to help pick up some knots. After a few minutes the Sky is released and repositions on the port quarter just incase the Majestic needs a little more help around the corner.
As the Majestic Maersk approaches the Fort Buoy the pilot gets the Kent to go out on the starboard side for a powered indirect around the 90deg Beach End turn out of the harbour. Kent increasing power the to help the stern turn. The pilot asks the Kent if the speed is ok, the Kent replies it was perfect also asked if she was turning ok, the pilot replies that she was turning nicely and was about to turn hard to port.
Safely around the Beach End the pilot releases the Sky and gets the Kent to close up to let go. The Majestic follows the main channel to the Sunk where the pilot disembarks onto a pilot launch and on to the next job of the Thalassa Pistis inbound for Felixstowe Berth 7. Majestic then heads south towards the Suez canal for Malaysia.
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 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.
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.
