Last June 2019 preparations from the Netherlands to Malta were being made after the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) purchased 2 SA316B Alouette III helicopters completed with main rotor blades and engines.
Discussions between the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF), AFM, NUNNER Logistics B.V – the ocean airfreight Operations in the Netherlands together with O&S Shipping (Malta) were being made. On Friday 23rd August tender was closed and O&S Shipping (Malta) was notified to secure it.
On Wednesday 28th August loading and lashing in Arnhem, Netherlands was done on flatbed trucks. Both Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) helicopters were from 300 Squadron stationed at Gilze-Rijen Air Base.
Thursday 29th August all cargo were delivered to port consisting of 4 pieces. The helicopters delivered were –
A-247 with construction number 1247 with main rotor blades (3) serialed as 2184; 15148 and 10497 with Turbomeca Artouste Engine serialed EA 831 and A-292 with construction number as 1292 with main rotor blades (3) serialed as 10519; 11296 and 14634 with Turbomeca Artouste Engine serialed EA 446. They are in blue colour scheme, that was in use for the Dutch Royal Flight/VIP Flight
Loading Port was at Rotterdam, Netherlands by the 398 m long container vessel APL RAFFLES with voyage number as OKN34E1PL and entered Malta Freeport on Thursday 19th September at 0150 hrs berthing at Terminal 1 exchanging berth with 272 m boxship MONTE CERVANTES.
Discharging of the helicopters from the ship to shore onto the Haulage Contractor – Miksons Transport Co Ltd was completed on Thursday 19th in the morning.
Same day at 1555 hrs the A-292 arrived at Miksons Transport warehouse at Hal Far and an hour later the A-247 arrived.
On Friday 20 th September at 0645/0700 hrs the convoy started the way from Miksons Transport Co Ltd Warehouse, Hal Far towards the Air Wing Base at Park 7, Malta International Airport escorted by Malta Police Traffic Section motorcycles avoiding Safi Tunnel –
By 0815 hrs both helicopters arrived safely –
Total Alouette III Helicopter Airframes at the Air Wing are 7 – (3 former Libyan; 2 former Dutch Army (serials A-209 and A-399) and these 2)
Handling Operations was trusted in Malta by O&S Shipping – www.oands.com.mt
Photos at Netherlands by NUNNER Logistics BV and Watermarked Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
