Cape Akritas departs Felixstowe very light for Rotterdam 21st July 2017

The 11010TEU Cape Aritas was built for Costamare in 2016 but had been laid up for around 9 months until it was chartered to OOCL in April this year. She is on a 6-12 month charter at a cost of $18,000 a day.

Cape Akritas sailed from Singapore to Felixsowe with a draft of 13.7 metres. Over the 2 days she was in Felixstowe she had almost been striped of all her cargo on top deck as it was a discharge only. Cargo operations finished she was very light with a maximum draft of 9.5 metres at the stern and just 7.2 metres at the bow. Incredable sight as she was waiting for the two tugs to help her off the berth. Svitzer Deben was made fast starboard of centre af and the Svitzer Kent was made fast centre lead forward.

Once the tugs were fast the crew began to slacken the fore and aft lines and bought them back onboard. As the springs were released the pilot began with an easy pull of with both tugs pull off 25%. Deben increases to 50% and then the Kent goes all easy to help the stern go with the tide. Shortly after the pilot gives a kick astern and then gets the Kent to go back on 50% just to swing the bow into the channel.

As the pilot comes ahead on the main engine he gets the kent to come in and let go as the Cape Akritas had a robust dead-slow ahead of 10 knots. The pilot wanted to keep the Deben fast around the 90deg Beach End turn as a precaution.

[vlado]

Thank You very much dear Deano C for this magic and very interesting video !
I'm impressed...
I take my hat off ...