CSCL Indian Ocean arrives to the Port of Felixstowe with a maximum draught of 13.6 metres from Wilhelmshaven in Germany. The ship had been to Felixstowe about 11 days previous heavily leaden from Singapore. She sails on the LL1 route as part of the Ocean Alliance that calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian, Singapore before transiting the Suez Canal northbound to Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Gdansk, Wilhelmshaven and back to Felixstowe the transits the Suez Canal Southbound to Singapore, Yantian and then start the voyage all over again.
As the CSCL Indian Ocean approaches British waters, a Harwich Haven pilot launch goes alongside the ship to board one of their pilot for the inward journey to Felixstowe. Once obroard, the pilot confirms that he is inbound with a maximum draught of 13.6 metres from Wilhelmshaven with no defects. He continued that he believed the ship was planned port side to Felixstowe Berth 8. VTS replies that there was a ready berth port side to Berth 8, the wind on the Landguard and height of tide and finally the traffic. The pilot replies that he wuld like three tugs for berthing, first one make fast centre lead aft at 7&8 Buoys and prefered one of the 3212's. Second at the Platters to push up on the starboard quarter for the corner and then move down for a starboard swing. Finally the thrid inside the harbour on a bow to bow for the centre lead.
CSCL Indian Ocean making progress inwards, Svitzer Kent heads out to be the first tug shortly folowed by the Svitzer Shotley. As the Indian Ocean approaches 7&8, Svitzer Intrepid leaves the tug pontoon to be the bow to bow tug. Next part of the arrival is one of the most challenging, a 90° corner at the enterance of the harbour. Standard procedure with 400 metre and deep draught ships need a little help steering around the corner so the aft tug move out onto the port quarter for a powered indirect and a tug on the starboard quarter pushes up to give extra steerage.
Safely inside the harbour the pilot uses the Kent aft as a brake. Up the bow of the ship, Svitzer Intrepid makes their approach to make fast. After a little while the pilot gets the Kent to favour the port side to stop the ship swinging too far out. Further up the harbour, the pilot gets the Shotley to push up while the Kent goes out onto the port quater to take the stern around. On the bow, Intrepid moves onto the starboard shoulder to take the bow around.
Almost swung around, the pilot gets the Shotley to move up tto midships to push up to the berth.
Final tie up 6 and 2 each end with springs first fore and aft.
ETD 13:00 19th July
