Fishing Vessel – Greek Purse Seiner AGIOS GEORGIOS at Malta – October 2024

One of the vessels that was rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) due to water ingress was the 1997 built Greek purse seiner AGIOS GEORGIOS and had to berth at the West Quay of Malta Freeport in the early hours of Wednesday 9th October passing Marsaxlokk Harbour breakwaters at 0527 hrs. On Friday […]
Malta Naval Visits – FS Malabar A 664 from 23-26.05.2016

One of the interesting ocean going tugs in service with the French Navy (Marine Nationale) that visited Malta was the Tenace Class Ocean Going Tug FS MALABAR A 664 assigned as a Fishery Protection Vessel during BlueFin Tuna Season 2016. The Tenace Class were designed to tow disabled French nuclear submarines under any conditions. All […]
Casualties – 4 Fishermen rescued after their fishing boat MFA 1564 SANT ANNA capsized and sunk – 30.06.2024

On Sunday 30th June, 2024 around 0300 hrs the Maltese fishing support vessel SAN PIETRO called Marsaxlokk VTS stating that she was proceeding around 20 nautical miles to assist another fishing boat in distress. Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was informed and immediately deployed a MELITA SAR rescue Launch & Helicopter from the Armed Forces […]
BFT Season 2024 – First Moroccan fishing vessel at Malta – 27.05.2024

On Monday 27th May, 2024 the first Moroccan fishing vessel to enter Grand Harbour, Malta was the Spanish built purse seiner MIMOUNA 1 bearing fishing matricola as 12-122 with radio call sign as CNA 6020 passing breakwaters at 0837 hrs. She was built by Astafersa at Ferrol, Spain as the Spanish Purse Seiner AITA FRAXKU […]
Aqua Cultural Zone – Bulker GOLDEN ARSENAL entered Mare Blu Tuna Farm – 16.05.2024

On Thursday 16th May, 2024 around 1530 hrs the 2011 built bulker GOLDEN ARSENAL disobeyed Valletta VTS instructions to keep at least 1 mile away from the fish farm after completed conveyance operation and was on her way to Benghazi, Libya. 1535 hrs – Valletta VTS called the vessel to declare that no damage was […]
BFT Season 2024 – French & Libyan Purse Seiners at Malta – 18-21.04.2024

The eastern bluefin (BFT) migration has supported valuable fisheries in the Mediterranean since antiquity. Initially based on hand lines and beach seines, these fisheries were dominated after the 16th century by tuna cages placed in the path of migrating tuna. After the expansion of purse seines and longlines in the Atlantic (in the 1950s) and […]
BFT Season 2024 – First 2 Italian Fishing Vessels at Malta – 19.04.2024

The eastern bluefin (BFT) migration has supported valuable fisheries in the Mediterranean since antiquity. Initially based on hand lines and beach seines, these fisheries were dominated after the 16th century by tuna cages placed in the path of migrating tuna. After the expansion of purse seines and longlines in the Atlantic (in the 1950s) and […]
Maiden Call – Greek Refrigerated Ship AVRAMAR FRY at Malta – 08.04.2024

On Monday 8th April, 2024 the former Maltese owned refrigerated vessel SANTINA passed breakwaters at 13o5 hrs as the Greek flag and owned boat AVRAMAR FRY. She was built in Spain by Rodman Polyships at Vigo, Spain as the PUNTA LA GAVIOTA homeported at Santa Cruz De Tenerife (ESP Flag) in March 1999 with fishing […]
BFT Season 2005 – 45 meters Icelandic Trawler EYBORG at Malta

During the early stages of Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) fishing industry, several interesting vessels were engaged in towing tuna cages with one of them was the Icelandic 44.95 meters trawler EYBORG built at Estaleiros Sao Jacinto in Aveiro, Portugal in 1994. During June 1992 her keel was laid and 6 months later she was launched, […]
Fishing Vessels – Italian purse seiner S. RAFFAELE

One of the Italian purse seiner that used to be seen during the Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) Season was the 1974 built S.RAFFAELE which on radio vhf she was called as SAN RAFFAELE. She was built at Cantieri Navali Codecasa at Viareggio with yard number F23 as S.RAFFAELE for Cooperativa S. Michele based at Cetara, […]