CSCL Pacific Ocean arriving to Felixstowe for Berth 8 16/02/17 / Swansea makes an appearance through the mist at Felixstowe 15th feb 2017

CSCL Pacific Ocean makes a 23 day voyage from Port Kelang, Malaysia to Felixstowe loaded with everything from electricals to toys and clothes for Northern Europe. The pilot launch left Harwich around 11:15am to board a pilot onto the CSCL Pacific Ocean out at the Sunk pilot station which is around 12 nautical miles out to sea. Before the pilot went out to board he suggested that the would be a strong possibility of using three tugs for the swing to go portside to Berth 8.

Once onboard and approaching the Walker Buoy the pilot request three tugs for berthing. The first to meet around 7&8 Buoys, the second outside the harbour and the third in the harbour. As the CSCL Pacific Ocean nears the Harwich Approach Buoy the Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon to head out to be made fast on the centre lead aft for a powered in-direct, shortly followed by the Svitzer Shotley to position on the starboard quarter for a push in-direct around the 90° Beach End turn into the harbour.As CSCL nears the harbour the Svitzer Sky leaves the tug pontoon to go bow to bow on a north south heading. 
Safely rounding the Beach End the Svitzer sky make her approach to be made fast. The crew onboard the CSCL throws a heaving line but misses leaving the line dangling into the sea. Retrieving the heaving line the deck hands try again and this time they are successful and the Sky is made fast.

Now on a northerly heading the pilot gets the Svitzer Deben to go straight astern at 50% as a brake to slow her up for the starboard swing. Passing the MSC Amsterdam docked in Berth 9 the pilot gets the Svitzer sky to position out on the starboard shoulder ready to take the bow around. A few minutes later the Svitzer Deben moves out to the port quarter and takes the stern around. Svitzer Shotley puts her nose on the most aft pushing point and helps the Deben swing the stern.

Nearing her berth the berthing master on the quayside updates the pilot of where she will be making fast.

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

Dean Cable





Swansea makes an appearance through the mist at Felixstowe 15th feb 2017

270 metre Swansea makes an appearance through the mist at Felixstowe for Berth 5 from her last port of Tangier Med, Morocco. Swansea required one tug for berthing which was the Svitzer Deben just outside the harbour to make fast centre lead aft to help slow her down for the port swing onto Berth 5.