Virtu Ferries – Schedule Changes for 19th and 20th April 2024 due to weather conditions

Due to weather conditions happening lately in a strange month since normally the month of May is associated with winds VIRTU FERRIES had to make the following changes for today Friday 19th and tomorrow Saturday 20th April, 2024 – M/V ‘Saint John Paul II’ & M/V ‘Jean de la Valette’ – Friday 19th April 2024: […]
AFM – 4 newbuilt Patrol Craft arrive from Australia to Malta – 11.02.2010

Last week 14 years ago the latest 4 Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) arrived to Malta after a long voyage from Australia as a deck cargo aboard the 1990 Dutch built and owned Multi Purpose Carrier (MPP) – ARCHANGELGRACHT of which she arrived at Malta last 11th February, 2010 and was assisted by local tug MARI. […]
High Speed Craft – SPEED JET

Last 17th May, 2023 we issued an article regarding the towage of SPEED JET by tug DUKE II in the Mediterranean Sea last October – https://maltashipphotos.com/aerial-photography-duke-ii-towing-high-speed-craft-speed-jet-06-10-2022/ And today we have for you readers the history of this lovely Austal Built AUTO EXPRESS 82… Built in 1996 as FELIX I for the Danish Ferry Operator Scandlines […]
Delivery – High Speed Craft EXPRESS 5 – 08.04.2023

On Saturday 8th April, 2023 the 115 metre newbuilt high speed craft EXPRESS 5 entered Grand Harbour, Malta during her delivery voyage at 1825 hrs coming from her builders in Philippines via Suez Canal. She was built by Austal Philippines as yard number 423 with Austal Australia as designer. She’s a follow-up order to the […]
Delivery – Passenger Ship DANAT DUBAI – 20.10.2008

On Monday 20th October, 2008 around 1530 hrs the 1990 built UAE flag 34 metre passenger ship DANAT DUBAI was spotted entering Grand Harbour, Malta during her delivery voyage from Spain to United Arab Emirates. She was built in Australia by Austal Ships Pty Ltd with yard number 3 as BALI HAI in 1990 trading […]
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY – DUKE II towing High Speed Craft SPEED JET – 06.10.2022

One of the towages around the world operated by Dutch Marine Contractors (DMC) was the towage of the Austal 82 catamaran SPEED JET towed by the 34 metre tug DUKE II was photographed from the air by Malta Ship Photos in the Mediterranean Sea . DUKE II was built by Scheepswerf Gebr. Kooiman BV, Zwijndrecht, […]
State Visit – Pope Francis at Gozo – 02.04.2022

Malta welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis during his Apostolic visit to the country from Saturday 2nd April to Sunday 3rd April of which on Saturday 2nd April he visited the sister island of Gozo. The island of Gozo was wearing Holy Week dress and Vatican City Flags mounted on road roundabouts, balconies, roof flagpoles etc […]
Virtu Ferries – MARIA DOLORES at Mgarr Harbour, Gozo – 22.03.2022.

Two years after the largest catamaran operating in the Mediterranean and the second largest in the world SAINT JOHN PAUL II entered Mgarr Harbour, Gozo last Monday 2nd March, 2020 it was the turn for the Austal built 68.4 metres long High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES to enter Mgarr Harbour, preparations for the Pope Francis Apostolic Visit […]
Virtu Ferries – Spend your Public Holidays in Sicily – December 2021
During November/December 2021 Virtu Ferries announced a robust schedule and special fares for Easter and Summer 2022 operating with 2 High Speed Craft – JEAN DE LA VALETTE and SAINT JOHN PAUL II . Infact JEAN DE LA VALETTE did an engine refit worth Euro 8 million by the German Engine Manufacturers MTU. Sea Trials […]
AFM – Live GUNEX – November 2021
Between Monday 15th and Friday 19th November 2021 the Maritime Squadron conducted a live gunnery firing practice involving maritime assets from Pembroke Ranges (LMD-1). The Ports & Yachting Directorate issued Notice to Mariners – NtM 38 dated 5th November, 2021. On Monday 15th November the Emer Class OPV P 62 was seen in the area […]