As the CSCL Arctic Ocean finshes cargo operations, winds had built up to 28-32 knot gusts. The Harwich Haven Pilot which boarded the 400 metre ship wanted to clarify the wind speed and direction with Harwich VTS before preparing to depart. After a discusion with the captain a third tug was requested for departure as the wind was still picking up and with 3 tugs gave her a better chance of coming off the berth..
The CSCL Arctic Ocean departs Felixstowe with a maximum draught of 13.4 metres for her next port of Rotterdam.
Shortly before departure crane rolled off onto the Maribo Maersk which was berth behind her but there was still a small issue with the strength of the wind which had stopped a crane booming up until the wind had eased off a tad. Winds easing the pilot gets the tugs to come to station.
Svitzer Deben lead the tugs out from the pontoon followed closely by the Svitzer Shotley and Svitzer Kent a few minutes later. The plan was the 3212's Deben and Kent were to make fast on the centre leads fore and aft and the smaller 2411 Shotley to make fast on the port quarter. I would be a straight pull off the berth and swing to port the come ahead on the main engine with Deben and Shotley assisting around the Beach End out of the harbour. The offshore lines fore and aft were slackened and bought back onboard before the Deben and Kent were made fast. Once the Deben was fast, the Shotley was made fast.
All three tugs fast, they get in position to pull the CSCL Arctic Ocean away from the berth. The springs released, the pilot gets all three tugs to build up to a 50% pull with the Kent forward increasing to full power. Easing off ther berth the pilot varies the aft tugs power until they were clear and coming ahead on the main engine. Shotley eases up and comes into a push position on the port quarter while the Deben moves around onto the starboard quarter and begins to take the stern around.
Swinging nicely, the Shotley comes away from the ships side so they could be released. Kent eases up and goes straight ahead of the ship with a slack line ready to let go. Kent peels off to the Felixstowe side while the Shotley repositions on the most aft tug marker on the port quarter. Deben follows astern on the favouring the starboard side to keep out of the wash of the CSCL.
Approaching the Fort Buoy, the pilot gets the Deben to go out onto the starboard quarter at full power for a powered indirect to help the stern swing around the 90 degree Beach End out of the harbour.
Shotley comes away from the ships side and waits outside the harbour for inbound Hammonia Husum while the Deben drops back in astern to retreive their towing line before heading back inside the harbour to be the second tug for the inbounder.
With a team effort from the Harwich Haven Pilot, the three Svitzer tugs and Harwich Haven Authority, the 400 metre CSCL Arctic Ocean swings off the berth in challenging conditions and heads for her next port.
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