The Maersk Sentosa arrives to the Port of Felixstowe as a squall passes through the harbour. The Sentosa sails as part of the 2M alliance with MSC on the TA2 route which links the East Coast of America and Northern Europe.
A Harwich Haven pilot boards the Sentosa at the Sunk Pilot Station roughly 12 miles out in the North Sea. Unknown to the pilot at the time, a squall was heading for the harbour. Once onboard he gets the latest on the weather and traffic from Harwich VTS. Earlier in the morning there had been several departures from Felixstowe and Harwich. Firstly the ferries Stena Forerunner departed Harwich shortly followed by the Suecia Seaways. After the Ferries, deep draughted MSC Heidi left Felixstowe Berth 7. Stena Britiannica left Harwich and finally Seaspan Jakarta left Felixstowe Berth 6 taking up the rear of the ships outbound. The pilot orders two Svitzer tugs, the first one to meet at the Platters to make fast centre lead aft and the second inside the harbour on a bow to bow.
The Svitzer Kent left the tug pontoon to be the aft tug. Svitzer Shotley broke away from the pontoon about 5 minutes later to be the forward tug. As the Maersk Sentosa was heading inwards, the sky began to darken and VTS advised there was a squall about to pass through. Just as the Sentosa was rounding the Beach End turn into the harbour, the heavens opened and the rain fell heavier and heavier making visibility poor in the harbour.
Inside the harbour and on a northerly heading, the pilot asks for an update on the wind speed on the Landguard as the squall was battering the port. After VTS gives an update the pilot confirms that he would be doing a port swing then back up to the berth. Kent made fast aft is requested to lay back at 25% to help slow Sentosa then increase power soon after.
The skies begin to brighten and the rain eases as the squall moves away from the harbour. The Shotley is requested to move out onto the port bow and increase power to take the bow around while the Kent moves out onto the starboard quarter and maintain power as they take the stern around. Swung around the pilot gets both tugs to stop towing as the ship backs up towards the berth. Backing up the harbour, the pilot gets the Kent to move onto the starboard side with some weight on the line.
Approaching the berth with the Shotley on the starboard side waiting for the next instruction, Kent was asked to come in for a push towards the berth. Almost in position on Felixstowe Berth 6 the spring lines forward and aft are made fast on the bollards. The Kent and Shotley are released and head back down to the tug pontoon unill the next work a couple of hours time.
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