Two boats that were former Libyan Customs and Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Patrol Craft and were never used as short sea passenger boats were the 31.4 metres craft PRINCESS DIANA and PRINCESS ELIZABETH.
PRINCESS DIANA was built in 1963 for the Libyan Customs by Brodogradiliste Kraljevica in Hrvatska at Yugoslavia as ARRAID and on Wednesday 16th January 1974 she was transferred to Malta as donation by the Libyan Government and given the Pennant Number as C 25 with the 1st Maritime Battery of the Malta Land Force based at Senglea as per below image –
In 1977 the Battery moved to the present base at Haywharf or as known in Maltese – Xatt it-Tiben and on 1st April 1980 it was renamed Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta, as it is today.
She was powered by 2 x Mercedes Benz MB820B Diesel Engines with 2 shafts with maximum speed of 21 knots. Her 12.7mm Browning M2 Machine Gun could be mounted both forward and aft. In 1990 she was decommissioned and put up for sale.
She was bought locally to be used as short sea passenger boat and was shifted to the Menqa Basin at Marsa and was repainted in Green Livery. After sometime she was shifted to Sliema Creek as part of the Fleet of S.M. & D.Co Ltd operating under the name of Sun Island Cruises.
During the year 1994 she was repainted in Nivea Sun Livery like the other vessels in the Fleet.
During 1998 her hull colour was changed again now with red hull with a yellow cheatline
During 2006 her hull colour was changed again sporting local beer CISK LAGER Yellow with some modifications to her deck as seen below on 9th August,2006 –
After sometime she was shifted to Marsaxlokk Harbour to be broken up near Delimara Power Station – Images on 9th October 2007 –
PRINCESS ELIZABETH was built in 1963 for the Libyan Customs by Brodogradiliste Kraljevica in Hrvatska at Yugoslavia as TARIQ and later in 1974 she was transferred to Malta as donation by the Libyan Government and given the Pennant Number as C 26 with the 1st Maritime Battery of the Malta Land Force based at Senglea .
Like her sister she was powered by 2 x Mercedes Benz MB820B Diesel Engines with 2 shafts with maximum speed of 21 knots. Her 12.7mm Browning M2 Machine Gun could be mounted both forward and aft. In 1991 she was decommissioned and put up for sale.
She was bought locally to be used as short sea passenger boat and was shifted to Haywharf where the former Gozo Channel ferry used to berth (Nowadays Marina di Valletta) to be repainted in the livery of COLOMBUS CRUISES where she even foundered
During 1992 she was shifted to Sliema Creek as part of the Fleet of S.M. & D.Co Ltd operating under the name of Sun Island Cruises. During the year 1994 she was repainted in Nivea Sun Livery like the other vessels in the Fleet
During 1998 her hull colour was changed again now with red hull with a yellow cheatline.
During 2004 she was shifted to Bridge Wharf with other vessels from the Fleet but vessels were in abandonment state and starting to founder again and at one time they were stranded on a silt bank.
On Friday 23rd April, 2010 Transport Malta issued Advt. No. TM 015/2010 of Removal of wreck, stranded and/or abandoned vessel MV Princess Elizabeth tender up to Tuesday 4th May 2010.
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Published – Friday 24th December, 2021
