Drug Bust – Irish Defence Forces storm the bulker MATTHEW – September 2023
Irish military forces raided the Panamanian flag (PAN) bulk carrier MATTHEW on the morning of Tuesday 26th September and discovered a “significant quantity” of illegal narcotics, believed to be cocaine off the coast of Cork. The Irish Defence Forces said that the ship had been tracked for several days after traveling from South America. The Irish […]
Wrecks – Chinese Ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks – May 2023
Malaysia’s maritime authorities on Monday 29th May, 2023 said cannon shells believed to be from World War Two have been found on the 2014 built Chinese dredger CHUAN HONG 68 detained at the weekend for anchoring in its territorial waters without permission. The discovery came amid reports that scavengers have targeted two British World War […]
Breaking Up – Migrant Rescue Ship SEA WATCH 3 – May 2023
In the afternoon of Wednesday 3rd May, 2023 the 1973 built Migrant Rescue Ship SEA WATCH 3 arrived at Ghent, Belgium for breaking up. She was built at Shin Shimoda Dock at Shizuoka at Japan in 1973 with yard number 211 as an offshore supply ship ALEGRETE for Companhia Brasileira de Offshore, Brazil trading until […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Guardia Costiera Detain Rescue Ship – 26.03.2023
On Sunday 26th March, 2023 the rescue ship LOUISE MICHEL funded by British street artist Banksy was detained in Lampedusa after Italy’s Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) said the boat had disobeyed her instructions to head to Sicily after carrying out a migrant rescue operation. Guardia Costiera stated that it had ordered the LOUISE MICHEL […]
Tanker News – Iran warns further tankers could be detained – 30.05.2022
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that other Greek tankers currently in the Persian Gulf could be detained as the dispute between the two nations continues about the fate of an Iranian oil cargo onboard a Russian-flagged tanker that was seized in Greece in April. Iranian forces detained two Greek owned tankers – the […]
Heavy Lift – TOPAZ URAL at Malta – March 2022
The 2018 built 123 metres long RUS flag deck cargo ship TOPAZ URAL was seen at OPL Malta on Tuesday 15th March, 2022 with her deck clear from any cargo unlike her sisters. She was built at Vard Vung Tau, Vietnam as yard no 865. Design was known as VARD 9 21 and was built for Topaz […]
Yachting – 78 m yacht TANGO seized in Spain – 04.04.2022
On Monday 4th April, 2022 the 78 metre yacht TANGO owned by the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg was seized in Mallorca, Spain by the Spanish Authorities at the request of the United States. The seizure marks the first instance of the United States seizing an asset belonging to a sanctioned Russian oligarch since Russia’s invasion […]
Yachting – 65 m yacht LADY M seized in Italy – 04.03.2022
On Friday 4th March, 2022 the 65 metre yacht LADY M owned by Alexei Mordashov, the richest man in Russia was detained at Imperia Port, Italy by the militarized Police Force Guardia Di Finanza. The move followed similar seizures in France and Germany belonging to other Russian oligarchs, as Western states implement massive sanctions, including […]
Fishing Vessels – TOK TOK
A British built fishing vessel which ended her years in black events was the 1975 built TOK TOK. She was originally the Petershead Tynedraft 86 Class Fishing Vessel GOLDEN DAWN bearing fishing matricola PD 211 and later while she was delivered to Maltese owners she was flying Irish (IRL) Flag and with matricola as BS […]
Maltese Fishing Vessels – 1975 built GOLDEN DAWN
One of the United Kingdom (UK) based fishing vessels bought locally was the 1975 built GOLDEN DAWN. She was built at Cubow Ltd, Woolwich, London as yard no 704 for Skipper A. Cowe (later to become assistant harbour master at Peterhead) as GOLDEN DAWN with fishing matricola as PD 211. She was a Tynedraft 86 […]
