Local Shipping – Bezzina’s former Scottish Ferries ABERCRAIG and SCOTSCRAIG at Malta
Salvatore Bezzina, the founder of BEZZINA GROUP, began offering commercial services to the British Admiralty in the early 1940s. His company, Salv. Bezzina & Sons Ltd, was established in May 1966 and provided various services in the heavy engineering industry, including civil marine engineering, heavy haulage, dredging, steel fabrication, and erection of steel structures. Over the […]
Diving – HMS X127 wreck known as Carolita at Malta
One of the few shallow wreck dives in Malta, is the 1915 built 24 metre water lighter HMS X127 known as Carolita. Originally built as a landing craft she was converted into a water lighter and later again into a fuel lighter ferrying fuel for Royal Navy (RN) 10th Submarine flotilla. She’s one of the […]
Research – Underwater volcanoes and shipwreck discovered in the Mediterranean Sea – August 2023
3 large underwater volcanoes and a 100 metre shipwreck have been discovered off Sicily’s south-west coast by a team of researchers that included scientists from the University of Malta (UOM) The volcanoes are at least six kilometres wide and extend up to 150 metres above the seabed. They share the area with several smaller volcanoes […]
Scuttling Operation – COMINOLAND and KARWELA – 12.08.2006
On Saturday 12th August 2006, 2 short sea ferryboats COMINOLAND and KARWELA were towed from Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa to Ras il-Hobz, Gozo that is a submerged pinnacle also known as the Middle Finger, to be scuttled by the Gozo Tourism Association. The Pinnacle is one of the most breathtaking dives in Gozo. The top of this pinnacle […]
Wrecks – Chinese Ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks – May 2023
Malaysia’s maritime authorities on Monday 29th May, 2023 said cannon shells believed to be from World War Two have been found on the 2014 built Chinese dredger CHUAN HONG 68 detained at the weekend for anchoring in its territorial waters without permission. The discovery came amid reports that scavengers have targeted two British World War […]
Offshore – Offshore Support Vessel THE PERFORMER at Malta – April 2002.
One of the Norwegian built offshore vessels was the 1977 built Diving Maintenance Support Vessel THE PERFORMER. She was built by Nylands Verksted in Oslo, Norway with yard number 784 as the ARCTIC SEAL with red hull trading until January 1987, then as V.S.O PERFORMER until 1989; VSO PERFORMER for few months and with her […]
Casualties – MFA 384 PEPPINA at Marsalforn Bay, Gozo – 13.11.2021
On Saturday 13th November, 2021 thanks to Alldive Ltd Personnel together with TugMalta Personnel saved the 12.65 metre fishing vessel MFA 384 PEPPINA from sinking though her stern was already underwater at Marsalforn Bay, Gozo. Normally MFA 384 PEPPINA is moored at the Menqa in Marsalforn Bay of which last June she was spotted there […]
Bunkering – Offshore Convoy at Malta – 19.10.2021.
On Tuesday 19th October, 2021 the convoy of the 1984 built offshore tug/supply ship ARTEMIS together with the 2008 built cable layer ATALANTI though both entered separate with different harbour pilot aboard. First to enter was the ARTEMIS at 1046 hrs berthing starboard side alongside Pinto 4 Wharf. This was her second call this year […]
Towage – MACISTONE escorting ALK to Malta – 18.10.2021
On Monday 18th October, 2021 the 1982 built tug MACISTONE was seen again for the second time this year escorting the 1965 built NLD flag diving support yacht ALK at 0720 hrs. At 0924 hrs ALK was handed over to tug GOZZO for further assistance and to moor at Manoel Island Marina. Of which was […]
Ship of the Week – FALCON originally SOUTHLEIGH
One of the Lowestoft trawlers that was seen in Malta was the diving support vessel FALCON that was seen both at Sliema Creek, Marsamxett Harbour and at Grand Harbour in 1997. She was built in Lowestoft by the Shipyard of Richards Iron Works Ltd as Yard Number 417 for Small and Co Ltd of Lowestoft […]
