Maiden Call – Research Vessel OCEAN VANGUARD at Malta – August to September 2024
The former Norwegian Government fishing support vessel DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN built in Norway was seen at Malta as the research vessel OCEAN VANGUARD homeported at Majuro, Marshall Islands (MHL Flag). Built in Norway by Flekkefjord Slipp & Maskinfabrikk as yard no 152 with keel laid on 18th November 1992, launched on 13th March 1993 and […]
Maiden Call – Former Frigate rebuilt as superyacht YAS at Malta – 18.09.2024
One of the largest superyachts in the world and a former naval vessel is the 141 m long (loa) YAS called at Grand Harbour, Malta during her maiden call on Wednesday 18th September, 2024 passing breakwaters at 1810 hrs from Souda Bay. She was built at Schelde, Netherlands by NV Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde (KMS) […]
Local Shipping – Bezzina’s former Scottish Ferries ABERCRAIG and SCOTSCRAIG at Malta
Salvatore Bezzina, the founder of BEZZINA GROUP, began offering commercial services to the British Admiralty in the early 1940s. His company, Salv. Bezzina & Sons Ltd, was established in May 1966 and provided various services in the heavy engineering industry, including civil marine engineering, heavy haulage, dredging, steel fabrication, and erection of steel structures. Over the […]
Local Shipping – Converted RAF Rescue Launch into Motor Yacht BARRACUDA at Malta
One of the former British Admiralty Boat still trading around is the 21 metre motor yacht BARRACUDA. Built by Vosper Ltd at Portsmouth, UK in 1957 with yard no 2512 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Rescue Target Towing Launch (RTTL) Mk II 2758 Above image is of RTTL C 71 (Ex 2771) […]
Naval News – Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles from Converted Boxship in the Gulf of Oman – February, 2024
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is claiming a historic first with the test firing of two ballistic missiles from the deck of a former commercial ship turned warship in the Gulf of Oman. The IRGC reported the successful launch of two ballistic missiles from the SHAHID MAHDAVI. These missiles have the capability to reach […]
Passer By – Towage of Cable Laying Barge ULISSE by aht EDT AEOLUS – 20.01.2024
On Saturday 20th January , morning the towage of the 2011 built 120.11 m long (loa) cable laying barge ULISSE towed by the anchor handling tug (aht) EDT AEOLUS passed by within territorial waters of Malta underway to her next port of call – Limassol, Cyprus from Rotterdam, Netherlands. ULISSE was built in China by […]
Research/Survey Vessel – HAWK EXPLORER
One of the converted fishing vessels that used to be around was the 1984 built HAWK EXPLORER. She was built in 1984 in Kragero, Norway by Tangen Verft as the Faroese fishing trawler HOGIFOSSUR with grey hull , fishing matricola as VA 65 trading until May 2006 when she was sold and renamed as HAWK […]
Research/Survey Vessel – BERGEN SURVEYOR
One of the converted fishing vessels that used to be around was the 1972 built BERGEN SURVEYOR. Above and timeline image is back to April, 2011 while leaving Aberdeen, Scotland. She was built in 1972 in Lowestoft (United Kingdom) by Brooke Marine as the fishing trawler SUB SURVEYOR I with red hull trading until 1982. […]
Preserved Ships – WWII Concrete Ship SIP at Belgrade, Serbia – October 2023
One of the interesting maritime craft found at Sava River, Belgrade Serbia is no doubt the 1943 built concrete ship SIP. The first official idea of using concrete to build a ship dates back to 1848 France. During World War I, due to lack of raw materials, especially iron about a hundred concrete ships were […]
Former Military – Yacht PLAN B at Malta
One of the former naval vessels that was given a second life, converted as the luxury yacht PLAN B is the former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Hydrographic Ship HMAS FLINDERS A 312. She was built by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia. HMAS FLINDERS was commissioned into the RAN in 1973, and was used […]
