MSC Diana swings off the Guard Buoy for Felixstowe Berth 9. 27th July 2017

The ultra large MSC Diana sails straight from Colombo, Sri Lanka via the Suez Canal loaded with all sorts of things from the Far East. Felixstowe is the first port of call in Europe where she will carry on to Rotterdam then to Southampton to pick up exports from the UK and the containers filled with fresh air (empties) followed by other ports before making her way towards the Suez Canal to the Far East.

The heads out to the Sunk on one of the Harwich Haven pilot launches to board the MSC Diana. Once onboard he radios Harwich VTS and says that they were inbound via the deep water channel with a maximum draft of 13.2 metres, last port of Colombo and no defects. VTS replies that there is a ready berth planned portside to Felixstowe Berth 9, wind speed and direction and traffic outbound. The pilot replies that he requires 2 tugs for berthing the first one at 7&8 centre lead aft ready for powered indirect and then a brake inside the harbour. Second tug at the Platters to push up on the starboard quarter for the Beach End then move around to the port quarter for a port swing off the Guard then trickle ahead on to the berth.

As the MSC Diana heads inwards closer the harbour, the Kent finishes off with her last job on Trinity quay and slowly paddles out of the harbour to be the first tug shortly followed by the Shotley. Appoaching the Beach End the pilot gets the Shotley to push up full power and the Kent to go oit on the portside at full power for a powered indirect. Inside the harbour on a northerly heading the pilot says to the Shotley to come away from the starboard side and move around to the port quarter. Kent eases up and drops back in right astern. 

A little way up the harbour the Kent goes astern as Diana handbrake then the pilot comes astern on the main engine . As they begin to steer to port the pilot gets the Shotley to push up full to start the swing. The Kent moves out onto the starboard side and pulls full. 
Half way around the Shotley comes away from the port quarter and moves around the stern to the starboard quarter under the funnel ready to push the MSC Diana onto the berth.

Final tie up 6 and 2 each end with spring lines first.

Deano C