Our pilots and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) work closely with Svitzer Towage, whose tugs play a vital role in the safety and reliability of port operations.

Svitzer has four tugs based at Felixstowe, the most recent arrival being the 80 tons bollard pull Azimuth stern drive Svitzer Kent to join the Svitzer Deben (another 80 ton BP) and two other tugs offer 70 tons BP.

Manoeuvring the largest ships in the world to and from their berths involves far more than sheer force; the task requires precise timing and constant communication between the pilot on the bridge and the tug crews.

The process begins when the pilot boards the ship out at the Sunk embarkation station; he or she will then notify Harwich VTS of their tug requirements, depending on the ship itself, the master’s views and the weather conditions.

Svitzer’s tug crews and our pilots regularly go through joint simulator training at HR Wallingford to ensure they work as a highly skilled team. The focus is on close working between tug masters, pilots and VTS – working together, they can effectively double the bollard pull of the tugs through technical means as indirect towage and bow-to-bow towage.

The technique of bow-to-bow towage has been established in the Haven for some years. Indirect towing has also increased in use recently, mainly when guiding large vessels round the main channel’s hard turn into or out of the harbour, to prevent the stern swinging around too far.

Facts and figures

Name	Svitzer Deben Damen ASD Tug 3212	Svitzer Kent Damen ASD Tug 3212	Svitzer Shotley Damen ASD Tug	Svitzer Sky Damen ASD Tug	Gray Test Conventional tug	Gray Salvor Tug coastal
Dimensions	Length: 32.70m Beam: 12.82m Max Draught: 5.25m	Length: 32.70m Beam: 12.82m Max Draught: 5.35m	Length: 24.47m Beam: 11.33m Max Draught: 5.35m	Length: 24.47m Beam: 10.70m Max Draught: 5.31m	Length: 18.98m Beam: 6.00m Max Draught: 2.6m	Length: 16.5m Beam: 5.18m Max Draught: 2.2m
Max speed	14.6 knots	14.6 knots	13.84 knots	12.5 knots	8.0 knots	10.0 knots
Main Engines	2 x Caterpillar 5050bkW (6772bhp) at 1800rpm	2 x Caterpillar 5050bkW (6772 bhp) at 1800 rpm	2 x Caterpillar 3516BTA HD/D	2 x Caterpillar 3516BTA HD/D	2 x Caterpillar 34 12A TA/B	2 x450 hp Cummins
Bollard Pull Ahead	80 tonnes	80 tonnes	70 tonnes	70 tonnes	18 tonnes	12 tonnes