Casualties – Former Naval Ship A 963 STERN on fire at Malta – 21.06.2024
With summer officially starting on Friday 21st June, 2024, the former Swedish Coastguard Vessel KBV 171, Belgian Navy Support Ship A 963 STERN and since 2016 as an anti piracy control vessel with local interests caught fire and in few seconds she became as an inferno while on her Hull Hard (NOT as reported by […]
Haifa Port – November 2021 Movements
The Port of Haifa is the largest of Israel’s three major international seaports, the others being the Port of Ashdod, and the Port of Eilat. It has a natural deep water harbor, which operates all year long, and serves both passenger and merchant ships. It is one of the largest ports in the eastern Mediterranean in terms of freight volume and […]
Breaking Up – Belgian Navy Command & Support Ship BNS GODETIA A 960 – September 2021.
On Friday 25th June, 2021 the Belgian Navy Command & Support Ship BNS GODETIA A 960 returned to Zeebrugge, Belgium after she completed her final deployment after spending 5 months patrolling the North Sea and the Baltic. 2 x Alouette III helicopters escorted BNS GODETIA as she entered Zeebrugge docks marking an end for both […]
Malta Naval Visits – BNS LEOPOLD I – 06.05.2021
The second naval unit to visit the Maltese Islands during 2021 was the Karel Doorman Class Frigate F 930 LEOPOLD I of the Marine Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. She was here on Thursday 6th May coming from Abu Dhabi passing breakwaters at 1014 hrs. Prior to 29th March 2007, the ship was known as HNLMS KAREL DOORMAN F […]
Passers By – Naval Units during February & March 2021.
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 […]
Passer By – Super Servant 4 with 2 Naval Vessels aboard – 17.09.2020
On Thursday 17th September , 2020 morning the 1982 built semi-submersible yacht carrier SUPER SERVANT 4 passed by North of Malta on her way to Varna, Bulgaria. Interesting cargo inside her dock were 2 former Dutch Navy Tripartite Class Minehunters M 856 Hnlms MAASLUIS (Commissioned 12th December 1984) and M 859 Hnlms HELLEVOETSLUIS (Commissioned 20th February […]
Demolition Naval Vessels – BNS GEORGES TRUFFAUT M 908 – 30.06.2007
M 908 BNS GEORGES TRUFFAUT was a minesweeper of the famous Aggressive. She was built in 1955 by Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Florida in USA as AM 515 for the United States Navy. Reclassified as an Ocean Minesweeper MSO 515 on the 7th February 1955 of which she was launched 1st November 1955 and completed 21st September […]
Demolition Naval Vessels – BNS ZINNIA A 961 – 30.06.2007
A 961 BNS ZINNIA was a command and logistic support ship for mine countermeasures vessels, development of BNS GODETIA A 960. She was built in 1967 by Cockerill Yards, Hoboken, Antwerp, Belgium as yard no 837. Her modifications throughout the years were setting of the bridge further aft, allowing a second supply hold and crane […]
Casualties – HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE – 06.03.1987
On Friday night of 6th March 1987, the 1980 German built ferry HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE capsized few minutes after she left Zeebrugge Port, Belgium at 1920 hrs bound to Dover, UK killing 193 passengers and crew, of the 539 people aboard. The eight deck car and passenger ferry, owned by British Townsend Thoresen, had […]
CASUALTY – 31 Years Ago – HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE – 06.03.1987 During the evening of 6th March 1987 MS Herald of Free Enterprise, a Townsend Thoresen branded RORO passenger and car ferry owned by European Ferries capsized shortly after sailing. The ferry left the Belgium port of Zeebrugge bound for Dover. At 1920 hrs […]
