OOCL Germany arrives heavily laden for Felixstowe Berth 8. 4 tugs assist her onto the berth 230518

The heavily laden OOCL Germany with a draught of 15.55 metres from her last port of Singapore boards a pilot at the Sunk Pilot Station. A Harwich Haven pilot boards from a pilot launch about 12 miles out in the North Sea. The pilot talks with the captain to finalise a berthing plan. After a little while the pilot orders four tugs for berthing. This would have been three but new regualations with the two new automated cranes in the middle of the berth's 8&9 meant an extra tug had to be ordered. He continued that he would like two outside and the other two inside the harbour but the fourth wouldn't be made fast. Svitzer Kent heading for 7&8 Buoys and waits for the OOCL Germany. Svitzer Shotley wasn't too far behind the Kent. The pilot begins to ease off to reduce her speed for the Beach End an to let the OOCL Indonesia pass. In the mean time Svitzer Sky and Svitzer Deben leave the tug pontoon and head down the harbour. Shotley makes fast on the starboard quarter and gets ready to push up. In the mean time, the pilot gets the Kent to assist with steering the ship into the harbour by going out on the portside for a powered indirect. Kent builds up power to produce a brilliant angle of around 15°. The Sky radios the pilot to find out where and when they would like the assistance of the fourth tug. The pilot says that he wouldn't require them until they were pushing up to the berth and he didn't want to swing too quickly. Deben makes their approach for the centre lead forward and the crew onboard throw a heaving line down for the Deben's tow line to be winched up. Kent pulls straight astern to slow the OOCL Germany down. Just off the berth, the pilot gets the Deben to move onto the port shoulder and stands by, Shotley to go out on the starboard quarter and stands by and finally Kent moves out on the starboard beam and stands by. The three tugs increase power to swing the OOCL Germany to port. The swing progressing, Sky comes in to a push position on the starboard shoulder and builds to a full push. Shotley comes in for a push aswell. The pilot gets Kent and Deben to get in check position while the Shotley and Sky pin her onto the berth. Final tie up 6 and 2 with springs first fore and aft.