Sea Malta Company Limited was the Maltese National Shipping Line. Established on 10th November 1973 during the tenure of the Labour Government led by Dominic Mintoff, which had the majority of the shares in the new company. The quest of this company was to provide maritime services company as well as to the need of the nation in general, and to assist the Maltese industry.
One of the first ships was the 80.69 m general cargo ship BORMLA that was completed as LISE NIELSEN for M. Nielsen & Son, Danmark, built by N.V. Scheepswerf Van Diepen, Waterhuizen with Yard No. 993. In 1971 she was sold to another Danish company and in 1974 she was chartered to Prince Line Ltd. and renamed TUDOR PRINCE.
On Sunday 17th February, 1974 whilst she was on a passage from London to Limassol, she ran aground on the rocks beneath St. Lazarus Curtain after entering Grand Harbour in stormy conditions. She was later berthed at Gun Wharf, listed to starboard side and sank in shallow water.
On Wednesday 4th December 1974 she was refloated with the help of the RMAS (Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service) Wild Duck Class Salvage vessel RMAS GARGANEY P 194. She was towed to Malta Drydocks (MDD) Dock 1by 3 local tugs ST. ANGELO; ST.LUCIAN and ST.ROCCO for the necessary repairs of which lasted 4 months and during 1975 she was purchased by Sea Malta and renamed her as BORMLA (One of the 3 cities – COSPICUA).
She traded till 1984 where she was sold to Norwegian interests and Sea Malta purchased the ro/ro ship ZEBBUG.
Since then she was sold and renamed 4 times and on 17th July 1991 named as SANDRA K , she suffered an engine room fire when 40 miles from Cadiz and was towed to Cadiz whilst on passage to Puerto de Santa Maria. A year later she was towed to Portugal from Cadiz since she was declared as total loss.
On Wednesday 14th August 1991 she arrived at Lisbon for demolition.
