MSC Istanbul departs Felixstowe's Deep water Berths with a very light draught. 1st October 2019

Pic credit Peter Stokes


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The 400 metre MSC Istanbul was the third departure in quick succession from the Port of Felixstowe. A Harwich Haven pilot boards from the shore side, once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say they were all finished and ready for the services and the two tugs that were ordered. The Svitzer Deben finished with the E.R. Pusan proceeds to the MSC Istanbul alongside Felixstowe Berth 8 to be the aft tug while the Svitzer Shotley breaks away from the tug pontoon to be the second tug. The pilot requests that the second tug to make fast on the starboard quarter as there was a very strong spring tide and would need the extra help on the back end. Deben makes fast centre lead aft while Shotley makes fast starboard quarter. With permission from VTS they begin the singling up process to just the spring lines. They were the final lines to be released.
Steadily the MSC Istanbul breaks away from the berth and comes away parallel with the berth. The ship entering the channel, Shotley eases and comes in to let go from the starboard quarter and comes around to the port side to escort for the corner. Deben drops in astern as the pilot runs the engine ahead. The pilot gets the Deben to get ready just incase they were required for a powered indirect if the MSC Istanbul needed extra help turning around the 90° Beach End turn out of the harbour. Once safely out of the harbour, the Shotley was stood down from the port quarter. They head back into the harbour to the pontoon yo drop off someone then they would head back out to assist with the inbound Maersk Enping. Deben closes up to the transom and released. They stay outside the harbour to be the aft tug with the Maersk Enping.

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