Maersk Kotka departs Felixstowe Beth 7 using stern and bow thrusters 24th May 2017

Ultra large Maersk Kotka departs Felixstowe Berth 7 only using her stern and bow thrusters with a draft of 11.7 metres for Antwerp
The Maersk Kotka runs on the East Coast Ameria - Northern Europe route in the 2M Ship Share Alliance with MSC.
Her last port was Antwerp and her next port was Rotterdam
The pilot boards from the shore side, once onboard he radios Harwich VTS to say that cargo was complete and was ready for the services. The pilot also said that he requires no tugs for departure as he would use bow and stern thrusters edge away from the berth.

Thick plumes of black smoke poured from the funnel as the Kotka manouvered off the berth

Edging further away from the berth the typical yachts in the area was not giving space for the Kotka to leave so the pilot gives some blasts on the horn to make them aware he was on the move. Eventually the yachts got out the way and the pilot comes ahead on the main engine to proceed down the harbour.

Built 1996 at the Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark
LoA 318.24m
Beam 42.8m
Gross tonnage 81488t
Capacity 6418TEU of which 703 for reefers

Deano C






CSCL Arctic Ocean departs Felixstowe For Singapore 24th May 2017

CSCL Arctic Ocean departs Felixstowe berth 9 with the assistance of 2 Damen ASD 3212 tugs
The Arctic Ocean sails from Felixstowe with a draft of 14.9 metres for Singapore.
The pilot boarded from the shore side, Once onboard he requests the services which included 2 tugs. The Svitzer Kent and the Svitzer Deben paddles from the tug pontoon to assist the CSCL.
Svitzer Kent takes the centre lead aft and the Svitzer Deben takes the centre lead forward. With the mooring gang in attendance the crew onboard begin to slacken lines fore and aft. 

Spring lines released the tugs begin to take the strain at 50% to pull off the berth. Increasing up to full power the pilot uses the bow thrusters to help Deben swing the bow out in to the channel.

Once in the channel the Deben slackens up and comes in to be let go. As the CSCL had a deep draft the pilot required the Deben to lay alongside the port quarter to push up for the 90deg Beach End turn out of the harbour.

As the Arctic Ocean approached the Fort Buoy the Svitzer Kent goes out on the starboard side at full line load to take her around. Svitzer Deben in position pushes up full to help her around the corner

After rounding the Beach End the pilot said that he needed the help of both tugs to get around the corner out of the harbour