Looking at the scale of HHA’s operations, can you share some little-known facts about the organisation and the range of its responsibilities?

Harwich Haven Authority is one of the UK’s major trust ports. In addition to being a Statutory Harbour Authority with a jurisdiction that covers an area of 150 square miles, we are designated not-for-profit. Of course, we operate as any other commercial organisation does, earning revenue from tariffs we charge vessels to enter the Haven waters and pilotage. Every vessel over 50 metres must have a Harwich Pilot onboard. These highly trained individuals possess a unique knowledge of the local area, which visiting mariners do not possess. Each year, we handle more than 4,000 vessels, including some of the largest container vessels in operation that regularly visit the Port of Felixstowe. The growing breed of ‘megavessels’ are in excess of 399 metres long with a container capacity of 24,000 TEUS. Vessels are also arriving with deeper draughts, and earlier this month, we welcomed the MSC Elenoire, the deepest draught vessel, at 17.1 metres, to enter a UK port.

As the organisation responsible for coordinating arrivals and departures in and out of the UK’s busiest container port, what volumes of cargo are typically handled through Felixstowe and Harwich?

The Port of Felixstowe remains the largest container terminal in the UK. Almost 40% of all containerised goods entering the country enter via this trade gateway each year. The Authority’s key focus is to maintain the safety of navigation for all vessels within our area of jurisdiction. This includes all vessels, from large ships to an estimated 10,000 leisure vessels, that enter the area each year. We manage the movements of vessels via our state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Services  (VTS) operation, which operates similarly to air traffic control services. Our VTS operations are manned 24/7, 365 days a year, and it is their role to monitor the safety of all arriving and departing vessels.

With Felixstowe the only UK port capable of accommodating the world’s biggest and deepest draught container vessels, what can you tell us about the challenges of handling these ships?

Harwich Haven Authority Pilots handles larger and deeper draught vessels than any UK pilotage authority. As I’ve already mentioned, they are highly skilled individuals who train for many years to be able to manage the biggest and deepest vessels in operation. Our teams are out around the clock, in all weather conditions, to get ships in and out of the Haven. Vessels arriving are met by a Harwich Pilot at a position that is almost 12 miles out to sea. They must then transfer from one of our Pilot Launches to the vessel via a rope ladder. You can imagine how challenging it can be when the vessel is lurching in rough seas. There is a huge amount of trust between the Coxwain of our Pilot Launches and the Pilot because the transfer process is potentially hazardous and demands the highest levels of skills.

The training of pilots and crews is vital, but what is unique about HHA’s training programme. Also, how can people get involved if they are interested in a new career?

We are the only pilotage authority to run a collaborative training programme, HIPOC, which includes our own team of Coxwains, Vessel Traffic Services operators and Pilots. In addition, the training programme includes our towage providers. The training we provide our marine teams starts in many instances whilst a new vessel is still being built. Working closely with the vessel’s owner, we take the dimensions of a new build and develop it in a virtual simulator environment. This approach allows our teams to get to know the capabilities of vessels before they even arrive in our waters. Many of our Pilots, and indeed our marine support team members, come to the Authority following a career at sea. We have Pilots who have previously served in the Royal Navy, Trinity House, or the Merchant Navy. However, our Pilot Launch Service recently introduced a comprehensive apprenticeship programme. Some of our current group are working towards a career as a Coxswain but do not have a maritime background. Through our recruitment process, we very much focus on attitudes as we know that skills can always be taught.

With Christmas almost upon us, how does the festive season impact container ship traffic, and how busy is 25th December likely to be?

Worldwide trade continues to flow at any time of the year, so we do not expect to see a massive dip in operations over the festive period. We will work 24/7, as we always do, to keep UK trade flowing and ensure that all vessels entering our waters arrive and depart safely.

Harwich Haven Authority