Offshore – Drill Ship PACNORSE I

One of the drilling ships that was seen in Malta during the early 80’s, even drydocked at Malta Drydocks was the PACNORSE I. She was built in 1979 by Scotts Shipbuilding Company Ltd, Greenock, United Kingdom as yard number 746 and named as PACNORSE I for Pacnorse Drilling Corporation 1 Ltd (Kristian Jebsens Rederi A/S […]
Lifeboats – Tower RNLI Pier end of an era – 24.01.2023

On Tuesday 24th January, 2023 the longest serving station pier has finally left her mooring where she has been since the opening of Victoria embankment in 1870. The superstructure has changed a few times but now it’s all change and upgrades. She will be still afloat BUT to be used by Thames Marine Services on […]
Preserved Ships – HMS BRISTOL D 23 bid launched to preserve her – December 2022

A bid was launched to preserve the Type 82 destroyer HMS BRISTOL D 23 , the only ship of her class built for the Royal Navy as a museum ship in Portsmouth. In fact she’s the only FALKLANDS WAR survivor in Britain. During 1991 while she was part of the Dartmouth training squadron, she suffered […]
Towage – CMS SEALION towing barge SANTORINI III – 17.05.2012

On Thursday 17th May 2012 the 1974 built MLT flag and owned tug CMS SEALION towing the 52 metres VCT flag barge SANTORINI III entered Grand Harbour, Malta coming from Tripoli, Libya. CMS SEALION was built in 1973 by Richards (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Crownworks, Lowestoft, UK (Yard no 515) as RALPH CROSS for Tees Towing Co, Middlesbrough, UK […]
Special Purpose Vessels – ITF Exhibition and Campaign Vessel GLOBAL MARINER at Malta – 1999

Founded in 1896, the International Transport Workers Federation better known as ITF is a confederation of 500 transport workers unions in 125 countries, representing 5 million workers in every branch of transport. During March 1998 a former Bank Line ship was purchased for $3 million and refurbished for a worldwide tour to raise public awareness […]
Tugboat – 1958 built tug BEAUFORT SPIRIT

One of the British built tugs trading in the United Kingdom (UK) Area seen in Malta was the 1958 built tug BEAUFORT SPIRIT. She was built by Henry Lobb at Leith, Scotland as yard number 467 launched on 3rd April 1958 and completed during May the same year of which she was delivered to Leith […]
Yachting – Saudi Superyacht SARAFSA dispute Pits Credit Suisse Against Gulf Prince – January 2022

A Swiss bank is pursuing a Saudi prince in court over claims he failed to pay back millions in interest and loans he took out to refinance his English mansion and his superyacht – SARAFSA. Credit Suisse Group AG claims that Prince Fahad Bin Sultan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk province, failed to repay roughly $78million […]
Malta Drydocks – Vessels VRISSI and BREITENBURG for repairs after collision – March 1996.

On Saturday 16th March 1996 the 1974 built SD 14 cargo ship VRISSI collided with the 1982 built BREITENBURG in good conditions, close to Cap Bon, near Tunis, Tunisia. BREITENBURG suffered extensive bow damage and made it to Grand Harbour for repairs at Malta Drydocks (MDD) seen below here in April 1996. VRISSI in disabled […]
Former Military – Maltese Fishing Vessel MADONNA TA POMPEI F 14
One of the former British Forces vessels left in Malta and acquired for various services was the Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) ML 1271 built in 1943 by and used as the fishing vessel MADONNA TA POMPEI F 14. As HDML’s their numbers were from ML 1001 to ML 1600, designed by the Admiralty and […]
Research/Survey Vessel – NORTHELLA
One of the ships that sent to war during the Falklands Crisis in 1982 was the 1973 built ship NORTHELLA. She was built at Clelands Shipbuilding Co Ltd at Willington Quay, Wallsend,Tyne, UK with yard number as 325 for J Marr & Sons Ltd as the fishing vessel NORTHELLA with fishing matricola H206 at Hull, […]