Mega ship MSC Erica sails to Felixstowe, port swing for berth 9 080317

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• published: 08 Mar 2017
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Mega ship MSC Erica sails from Colombo, Sri Lanka with a draft of 13.5 metres to the Port of Felixstowe. At almost 400 metres long and 60 metres wide the MSC Erica and her sister ships are currently the world's largest container ship by capacity. She can carry an impressive 19437TEU and can have a maximum draft of 16 metres, making her one of the largest ships to transit the Suez Canal. At around 0945am the pilot launch St Christopher, left Harwich Pilot Station with a pilot and headed out to the Sunk to board a pilot onto the MSC Erica. While heading out the pilot contacts the Svitzer Sky which was the duty tug for the morning to find out who the second tug would be so he could work out the bollard pull for the port swing. Svitzer Sky confirmed that the Svitzer Deben would be the other tug. The pilot boarded the Erica with no problems and set a course inbound via the deep water channel to the harbour. As MSC Erica passes the Walker Buoy, the pilot radios through to Harwich VTS to confirm that he is onboard and heading in for Felixstowe berth 9. VTS replied that the berth was clear and she was planned portside to Berth 9 followed by the wind speed and direction. The pilot replied with the tug requirements which was two Svitzer tugs with the Deben preferably aft and the second tug bow to bow in the harbour. As Erica nears the Harwich Approach Buoy the Svitzer Deben leaves the tug pontoon shortly followed by the Svitzer Sky. The Svitzer Deben headed out to meet Erica near 7&8 Buoys to be made fast on the centre lead aft for a brake after the Beach End turn into the harbour. The pilot was confident that he would not require a powered in-direct but if she struggled the Deben would be in a position just incase. Coming to a Northerly heading and the speed dropping off to 6.5 knots the Svitzer Sky make her approach under the bow to be made fast. Svitzer Deben was instructed to go 50% straight back to drop off more speed and the pilot put the main engine astern to slow up some more. Using the forward momentum the pilot starts the swing by getting the Deben out on the starboard quarter and the Sky out on the port shoulder to take her round. Swung around the pilot lets the tide and wind take her onto the berth with the Deben checking on the stern to straighten up for a soft landing against the fenders. Final tie up 5 and 2 fore and aft with spring lines first followed by the aft lines Approx. time of departure 10am on 9th March 2017