Casualties – Tanker SANTA LUCIA disabled – March 2023

On Saturday 11th March the 2003 built local owned tanker SANTA LUCIA which had a machine failure off the coast of Çanakkale Kepez whilst she was underway from Malta to Tuzla, was safely anchored in the Dark Harbor by the crews of the General Directorate of Coastal Safety. After the captain of SANTA LUCIA reported […]
Towage – CMS SEALION towing barge SANTORINI III – 17.05.2012

On Thursday 17th May 2012 the 1974 built MLT flag and owned tug CMS SEALION towing the 52 metres VCT flag barge SANTORINI III entered Grand Harbour, Malta coming from Tripoli, Libya. CMS SEALION was built in 1973 by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Crownworks, Lowestoft, UK (Yard no 515) as RALPH CROSS for Tees Towing Co, Middlesbrough, UK […]
AFM – Arrival of P 71 , largest Patrol Vessel for Malta – 07.11.2022

On Monday 7th November, 2022 at 0751 hrs the 74.8 metres Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) P 71 as C 890 entered Grand Harbour, Malta during her delivery voyage coming from Chioggia, Italy. She berthed port side alongside at Ras Hanzir Dolphins (RHD). With a full load displacement of over 2,000 tonnes, 74.8 metres as length […]
High Speed Craft News – PONTE FERRIES cancels trip with passengers aboard – 21.09.2022

And once again we have PONTE FERRIES in the news this time with Passengers stranded both at Wine Wharf, Valletta, Malta and at RoRo Jetty West, Augusta, Sicily. After queuing with their vehicles from 0300 hrs to board the 0500 hrs scheduled departure with the 1999 built High Speed Craft HSC ARTEMIS from Valletta, they […]
Local Shipping – Damen built workboat MFC 1

One of the Damen built vessels trading at Malta was the 1974 built Damen Pushy-Cat 46 workboat HAM 774 for the Dutch dredging company HAM (Hollandsche Aannemings Maatschappij). During the 90’s she was seen at Malta with a HAM dredger and was lifted on her hard at Bezzina Ship Repair Yard (BSRY). She was 14.45 […]
Dredging – Haywharf Dredging – July/August 2022

During July and August 2022 Dredging Operations of Inert Material was carried out at the AFM Maritime Squadron Base at Haywharf at Marsamxett Harbour with the Ports & Yachting Directorate of Transport Malta issued Local Notice of Mariners – 091 dated 21st June, 2022 and Amendment – 118 dated 14th July 2022 . Vessels engaged […]
Fishing Vessels – Maltese Fishing Support Workboat GANG PIL LEE

One of the Spanish built vessels trading in Malta is the 2002 built 25.23 metres long fishing support workboat GANG PIL LEE. She was built at Astilleros Nodosa at Marin Shipyard, Spain as yard number 247 and named as AJD 1 for the Maltese Blue Fin Tuna farming Venture AJD Tuna that was established in […]
Local Shipping – 1939 built tug SABU

One of the Dutch built vessels serving around the Maltese Islands was the 1939 built 21.67 metre single screw tug SABU. During the Golden Days all tugs were named by taking the first letters of the owner’s name, Salvatore (SA), and the first letter of his surname, Bezzina (B) and then adding a vowel infact […]
Local Shipping – Luzzu Cruises LADY SHELLEY

One of the 6 vessels operated by the Family run Luzzu Cruises is the 1997 built 24.7 metres long glass bottom (the ONLY one in the Maltese Islands) catamaran hull passenger boat LADY SHELLEY. She was acquired in 2019 bought from the family run ferry company Biosfera Express based on the Island of La Graciosa […]
Port Closure – Delays in Disembarking Passengers from High Speed Craft JEAN DE LA VALETTE – 30.04.2022

Over 700 passengers were left stranded out at sea for more than two hours last Saturday 30th April due to a delay in re opening the Grand Harbour following a fireworks show. The delay was caused by a setback in the clearing of barges and lighters used for the fireworks display, which marked the finale of […]