Over night the winds picked up to gale force 8 and continued to pick up into the morning to a strong severe gale 9 with wind gusting 44.6 knots which is about 51.3 mph.
The pilot launch St Brendan departed Harwich just after 11am with a pilot for the CSCL Arctic Ocean to board at the Sunk Pilot Station around 12 nautical miles out to sea.
With the winds still hovering around force 8 to 9, Harwich VTS requested that all 4 Svitzer tugs to be manned for the arrival of the CSCL Arctic Ocean. The pilot boards the huge ship as the wind start to drop off. He radios through to Harwich VTS to inform of her draft and if there are any deficiencies. Harwich VTS confirms where she is berthing, she was planned starboard side to Berth 8 North, and the wind speed and direction which was mostly westerly.
By then the wind gusts had dropped to less than 30 knots so the pilot requests 3 tugs for berthing with a 4th on standby but would review the winds as they approach the HA buoy. First tug preferably Svitzer Deben just before 7&8 Buoys to be made fast on the centre lead aft for powered in-direct and a brake. second tug outside the harbour to push on the most aft pushing point on the starboard then move around to be fast on the port quarter and the third tug bow to bow inside the harbour.
As she approaches the Platters the Deben goes out on the port quarter for a powered in-direct around the 90deg Beach End turn into the harbour. The tugs battle to the wind to give the CSCL soft landing alongside.
The great skills of the pilot, tugs and the berthing master all working together makes it look easy berthing a 400 metre vessel.
Final tie up 6 and 2 fore and aft with spring lines first.
Dean Cable
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