She was meant to sail on Thursday but the British weather had other ideas. A Svitzer tug was ordered to help with the departure. The wind was too strong on 3 attempts, Svitzer Sky headed up the Orwell each failed attempt and had to sail back to Felixstowe. So finally Today the Svitzer Stanford headed up to Ipswich and the weather was more favourable, lighter wind and the tide was rising.
Escort boat Commodore was about half a mile ahead to make sure she had a clear run out of the river and to warn smaller boats that a restricted manoeuvrability ship was heading down the river and needed a clear channel.
The pilot boarded and the tugs were standing by ready to help the Deltagracht off the berth. Svitzer Stanford was made fast centre lead aft and the Gray Salvor was made fast on the centre lead forward. Once all fast the lines were slackened and taken off the bollards.
The pilot used the Stanford as a brake to keep the ship under control while the Grey Salvor comes out on the starboard shoulder and puts some weight on the line to 50% to bring the bow away from the berth into the channel then come ahead of the ship. As she comes ahead the pilot gets the Salvor to favour the starboard side at 25% to counteract the wind pushing on the starboard side. The pilot navigates the ship towards the Orwell Bridge, the pilot gets the Stanford to increase to 20% astern to slowly make their way under the bridge with not much space. The captain believed that there was 4 metres clearance but I'm sure it was a lot less.
Clearing the bridge the pilot holds onto the tugs until number 6 buoy down the river just incase something happens.
Dean Cable
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