Icebreaker – German Research Icebreaker POLARSTERN

One of the German Government Ships is the 1982 built German research icebreaker POLARSTERN (meaning Pole Star) of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel and Nobiskrug in Rendsburg as yard 707 with keel laid down on 22nd September 1981, launched on 6th January, […]

Casualties – One dead in fire onboard car carrier FREMANTLE HIGHWAY – 25.06.2023

Around 2230hrs on Tuesday 25th July, the Dutch coastguard received a report that a major fire broke out on the car carrier FREMANTLE HIGHWAY with 23 crew members onboard  at the time and was sailing 27 kilometres north of Ameland. She left Bremerhaven, Germany around 1430hrs UTC bound for Egypt. The fire erupted around 2130hrs […]

Yachting – Former German Government SOLEA

One of the former Government vessels converted into a yacht is the 1974 built SOLEA. She was built in 1974 with yard number 162 at the Sieghold shipyard, Bremerhaven in Germany for the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry. The delivery was on May 29th , 1974 for which the Federal Republic of Germany did […]

Passenger Ships – PALOMA I

One of the Polish built ships originally bound for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was the 1980 built ferry DMITRIY SHOSTAKOVICH from a Class of 7 as Project B492/B493 by Stocznia Szczecinska im Adolfa Warskiego Warskiego in Szczecin, Poland. She was the lead of her class which she was named for the Soviet era Russian composer […]

Delivery – 2021 newbuilt tug MED VEGA at Malta – December 2021

The Damen newbuilt tug MED VEGA that is owned by MedTug – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Towage Division was in Malta for uplifting bunkers and sheltering from Gale Force Winds/Weather. She entered Grand Harbour on Sunday 5th December, 2021 at 1506 hrs coming from Sri Lanka, via Suez Canal. She was built in Vietnam at […]

Casualties – Crew Abandon Ship EEMSLIFT HENDRIKA – 05.04.2021

In the morning of Monday 5th April, 2021 the 2015 built the multipurpose ship (MPP) EEMSLIFT HENDRIKA issued distress call in Norwegian sea 60 nm west of Olesund, Norway. Reportedly, the ship developed a heavy list after cargo shift. According to local media, 8 crew out of 12 were already evacuated, understood by helicopter. Salvage […]

Ferry Service – GNV CRISTAL at Malta – January 2021

The German built ropax GNV CRISTAL called again for the second time within a week entering Grand Harbour, Malta on Friday 29th January, 2021 at 1244 hrs coming from Palermo, Sicily. Originally her eta was at 1130 hrs but due to Malta Maritime Pilots meeting she had to adjust eta at 1230 hrs. She was […]

MBL News – AMERA maiden call – 13.11.2019

The latest cruise ship for the German based Phoenix Reisen is the AMERA that made a maiden call to Valletta, Malta berthing at Pinto 1 and 2 wharves at the Valletta Cruise Port on Wednesday 13th November, 2019. AMERA was launched in 1988 as ROYAL VIKING SUN for the Royal Viking Line of which was […]

Yachting – Converted Superyacht ARCTIC P at Malta – August 2019

One of the most beautiful converted superyachts in the world the 88 m long ARCTIC P currently is cruising around the Maltese Islands. She was built in 1970 as an ocean going salvage tug ARCTIC owned by German Tug company Bugsier GmbH & Co Kg (still in existence). She was built in Germany by Schichau […]