Published on 22 Feb 2017
Ultra large Morten Maersk departs Felixstowe in a force 7 gale. The 399 metre Morten Maersk was head out on Berth 8 with a draft of 13.5 metres for her next port of Algeciras. With a Westerly wind gusting 28 - 33 knots the pilot had a challenge on his hands battling with the wind pushing against the starboard side and holding her alongside the berth.
Three Svitzer tugs were ordered for departure, centre leads forward and aft and the other on starboard quarter. Svitzer Stanford was the first tug to be in attendance and was on the centre lead forward, Svitzer sky was the next tug and was made fast on the starboard quarter.
Svitzer Deben was with the MSC Sola that had arrived earlier in the morning, once she was alongside and making fast the Deben was released and made her way down the harbour to the Morten Maersk to the made fast on the centre lead aft. As there was only one mooring gang, the pilot and the tugs had to wait for them to finish with the MSC Sola.
Once the mooring gang was in attendance the crew onboard started to slacken the offshore lines and then made the Svitzer Stanford fast on the centre lead forward. Down to the spring lines the tugs got into positions and waited of the pilots instructions to lift off the berth. The pilot then radios the Stanford and Deben to lift off at 50% power followed the Stanford to pull full power away from the quay.
Off the berth the pilot gives a kick ahead on the main engines to help with the pull off the berth. The Svitzer Deben increases to full power. Svitzer Sky waiting for their first instruction finally gets some action and goes straight up to full power to help the stern which was battling the wind.
With all three tugs on full power the Morten Maersk was slowly edging away from the berth, the pilot starts to swing the bow into the channel with the power from Stanford and bow thrusters. Now heading in the pilot releases the Sky as he begins to come ahead on the main engines. Svitzer sky then heads around the stern and positions on portside most aft pushing point just incase Morten Maersk needs an extra push as they round the Beach End. The Stanford is released next and peels off to the Harwich side. Approaching the Fort Buoy the pilot gets the Svitzer Deben to go out on the starboard quarter for a powered in-direct around the 90° Beach End turn out of the harbour.
Three Svitzer tugs were ordered for departure, centre leads forward and aft and the other on starboard quarter. Svitzer Stanford was the first tug to be in attendance and was on the centre lead forward, Svitzer sky was the next tug and was made fast on the starboard quarter.
Svitzer Deben was with the MSC Sola that had arrived earlier in the morning, once she was alongside and making fast the Deben was released and made her way down the harbour to the Morten Maersk to the made fast on the centre lead aft. As there was only one mooring gang, the pilot and the tugs had to wait for them to finish with the MSC Sola.
Once the mooring gang was in attendance the crew onboard started to slacken the offshore lines and then made the Svitzer Stanford fast on the centre lead forward. Down to the spring lines the tugs got into positions and waited of the pilots instructions to lift off the berth. The pilot then radios the Stanford and Deben to lift off at 50% power followed the Stanford to pull full power away from the quay.
Off the berth the pilot gives a kick ahead on the main engines to help with the pull off the berth. The Svitzer Deben increases to full power. Svitzer Sky waiting for their first instruction finally gets some action and goes straight up to full power to help the stern which was battling the wind.
With all three tugs on full power the Morten Maersk was slowly edging away from the berth, the pilot starts to swing the bow into the channel with the power from Stanford and bow thrusters. Now heading in the pilot releases the Sky as he begins to come ahead on the main engines. Svitzer sky then heads around the stern and positions on portside most aft pushing point just incase Morten Maersk needs an extra push as they round the Beach End. The Stanford is released next and peels off to the Harwich side. Approaching the Fort Buoy the pilot gets the Svitzer Deben to go out on the starboard quarter for a powered in-direct around the 90° Beach End turn out of the harbour.
Dean Cable
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