Various naval units pass the Malta-Sicily straits like other ships and to mention some –
On Friday 5th February, 2021 the 103 metre Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship USNS CARSON CITY T-EPF 7 passed by on her way to Sudan, the first US Navy ship to visit Port Sudan since the founding of U.S. Africa Command of which she entered on 24th February, 2021.
Above images are of USNS CARSTON CITY T-EPF 7 berthed at Catania Port, Sicily back to 9th March, 2018
Another interesting vessel which was a crane ship in ready reserve for the United States Navy as SS GOPHER STATE T-ACS-4 passing by on Sunday 7th February around 1000 hrs.
On Thursday 4th February, 2021 she was spotted uplifting bunkers off Rosia Bay, Gibraltar (West Anchorage ) by the 2018 built bunkering tanker BUNKER BREEZE. According to her AIS she was coming from Newport News, Virginia in USA and had containers on deck marked – US Department of State Diplomatic Pouch.
At the end of February, 2021 the French Navy (Marine Nationale) R 91 FS CHARLES DE GAULLE together with her Carrier Strike Group (CSG) including Belgian, Hellenic and US Navy assets passed through Messina Straits on the deployment called Mission Clemenceau 21 based on 3 phases with phase 1 – Off Libya in support of NATO and EU Operations.
On Wednesday 24th March around 2008 hrs the Lewis B. Puller Class Expeditionary Mobile Base USS HERSHEL WOODY WILLIAMS ESB-4 passed by 34 nautical miles off Malta bound to Croatia.
Interesting indeed when on Sunday 28th March the above vessel was spotted berthed at the Port of Urinj (Kostrena), Croatia together with the 103 metre Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport Ships USNS CARSON CITY T-EPF 7 and USNS TRENTON T-EPF 5.
On Friday 26th March, 2021 the Italian Navy Ninfe Class Hydrographic Vessel ITS ARETUSA A 5304 was spotted during a survey in Malta-Sicily strait. Last port of call was reported as Pozzallo.
On Saturday 27th March, 2021 at 0100 hrs the 103 metre Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport Ships USNS YUMA T-EPF 8 passed by 35 nautical miles off Malta on her way to Augusta, Sicily where she entered around 0800 hrs.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. NO PHOTOS can be used or manipulated without our permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Thursday 1st April, 2021
