Piracy – US forces sink ‘Houthi’ boats in Red Sea after attack on container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU – 31.12.2023
The 353 m container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a distress call after she was fired at by the Houthi boats, which came as close as 20m (65 feet) and also tried to board it, CENTCOM said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. As the US helicopters responded, they were also shot at […]
Naval News – Russian Navy to decommission world’s only nuclear powered cruiser RFS PYOTR VELIKY – December 2023
The Kirov Class nuclear-powered battlecruiser RFS PYOTR VELIKY of the Russian Navy will not undergo the anticipated refurbishment, but will head for decommissioning, leaving only one active Kirov Class vessel in the Russian fleet. The move marks a significant reduction in Russia’s ocean-going surface fleet, with the remaining cruiser RFS ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV set to complete […]
AFM – MELITA I conducts medevac with EAGLE BRISBANE – 29.12.2023
On Friday 29th December, 2023 the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) responded to a medical evacuation (medevac) call with the Aframax crude oil tanker EAGLE BRISBANE. The Vittoria Class SAR Boat MELITA I was dispatched to the tanker around 3 miles north east off Grand Harbour, since she was in ballast condition and around 0935 […]
Bunkering – 3 Offshore Units of the same Greek Company uplifting bunkers inside Grand Harbour, Malta – December 2023
With the 2011 built offshore support vessel ARGO which called inside Grand Harbour for the first time since she was acquired 3 years ago, this ship movement was the third vessel of the Greek Company Asso Subsea calling at Valletta for uplifting bunkers and other services. First ones to saw was the 2008 China built […]
Cargo News – C. CAPELLA discharging cargo at Kordin Grain Terminal – 26.12.2023
The Slovakia built 87.75 m long (loa) general cargo ship C. CAPELLA was seen again in Malta discharging her cargo at Kordin Grain Terminal (KGT). She entered Valletta on Tuesday 26th December, passing breakwaters at 0743 hrs originally coming from Split, Croatia. Berthing at Magazine Wharf, she was seen with the latest Buhler HL-SKT Type […]
Bunkering – Tugboat MUSTANG at Malta – 26.12.2023
One of the Dutch built tugs trading around – MUSTANG called again at Grand Harbour, Malta while on transit from Greece to Las Palmas, Canary Islands. She passed breakwaters at 0734 hrs berthing at Deep Water Quay (DWQ) 4 Wharf. Few minutes later road tankers from MZ Fuels starting bunkering operations. MUSTANG was built in […]
Naval News – Royal Navy divers searching for vessel’s jackstaff – December 2023
During Week 50 of this year a Royal Navy navigation warning was issued after one of her vessels inadvertently lost the jackstaff and tripod overboard. The notification has been sent out to all all vessels operating just off North Corner Jetty (East) in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. They were being warned to “navigate with particular […]
Russia-Ukraine War – Landing Ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK sunk – 26.12.2023
On Boxing Day of 2023 , Ukraine appears to have effectively destroyed another Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel – the Ropucha Class landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK. She was berthed in Feodosia in occupied Crimea when she was struck by aircraft-launched cruise missiles at around 0230 hrs.Photos posted on the Telegram channel by Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces […]
Delivery – Service Operation Vessel (SOV) GRAMPIAN TEES at Malta – December, 2023
Last Thursday 21st December, 2023 the North Star Group Hybrid Electric Service Operation Vessel (SOV), GRAMPIAN TEES called at Grand Harbour, Malta at 1730 hrs (1630 UTC) berthing at Pinto 3 Wharf for crew change, uplifting bunkers and stores/provisions. She’s the third vessel in a series of four destined for decade-long minimum charters to […]
Maltese Islands – Live Crib at Lija during Festive Season
Christmas cribs form a great part of the Malta’s tradition. Maltese Christmas would not be the same without the traditional presepju (crib) and pasturi (nativity figures). Cribs are positively everywhere, from private houses, garages, small chapels to large churches. Visiting cribs is actually a popular activity at Christmas time. Many locals and tourists alike spend […]
