ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Crossing in the Mediterranean Sea finish as a tragedy – 23.02.2024

On Friday 23rd February, 2024 the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Operations Centre based at Luqa Barracks received a phone call around 1045 hrs stating that around 3-5 miles east of Malta there was a boat with immigrants heading to shore. Immediately AFM notified the aircraft that was airborne to go to the area and […]
Migrant Rescue Ship – THEBACKLASH leaving Malta fresh from refit/drydocking – January, 2024

With 26 hospital beds the 2000 built vessel, THEBACKLASH left Malta last Monday 29th January, 2024 passing breakwaters at 0931 hrs after 4 months refit including drydocking. She was originally built as the HAVILA STAR in Norway by Kleven Verft – Ulsteinvik, with yard number 288 for Atlantic Offshore Rescue – Aberdeen, UK. During 2007 […]
Tanker News – DOMINIA’s crew standoff OPL Malta – 28.09.2023

An international legal battle has erupted around the 2009 built tanker DOMINIA that used to be owned by the Bari, Italy based shipping company Morfini. Originally the tanker was arrested by Transport Malta via court order with CW 870/2023 on 23rd May, 2023 following the action of the Irish fund Nassau Maritime Holdings, which in […]
Port Closure – Delays in Disembarking Passengers from High Speed Craft JEAN DE LA VALETTE – 30.04.2022

Over 700 passengers were left stranded out at sea for more than two hours last Saturday 30th April due to a delay in re opening the Grand Harbour following a fireworks show. The delay was caused by a setback in the clearing of barges and lighters used for the fireworks display, which marked the finale of […]
Virtu Ferries – MARIA DOLORES with His Holiness Pope Francis – 02.04.2022

On Saturday 2nd April, 2022 His Holiness Pope Francis during his Apostolic visit to Malta crossed to the sister island of Gozo by the High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES. After leaving the Apostolic Nunciature, Rabat , Malta the entourage proceeded to DWQ 5 to board the Virtu Ferries High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES to cross […]
Casualties – CHEM P salvage update – 13.04.2022

While the tanker CHEM P is anchored Within Territorial Waters of Malta awaiting various permissions to complete her voyage here are the latest movements – Monday 28th March, 2022 1630 hrs – CHEM P received a court warrant – 425/2022 from Enemalta plc with the claimed amount of € 30,000,000. Friday 1st April, 2022 1226 […]
Virtu Ferries – MARIA DOLORES at Mgarr Harbour, Gozo – 22.03.2022.

Two years after the largest catamaran operating in the Mediterranean and the second largest in the world SAINT JOHN PAUL II entered Mgarr Harbour, Gozo last Monday 2nd March, 2020 it was the turn for the Austal built 68.4 metres long High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES to enter Mgarr Harbour, preparations for the Pope Francis Apostolic Visit […]
Palumbo Superyachts – Superyacht TRANQUILITY from 04.10 – 12.11.2021
The Oceanco built 91.50 metre superyacht TRANQUILITY was seen for the second time in Malta since she was built in 2014. This time she called to Palumbo Superyachts (PSY) Facilities situated at French Creek, Grand Harbour, Malta. She arrived on Monday 4th October from Antibes, France and passed breakwaters at 0816 hrs berthing at Hamilton […]
Bulkers – OCCITAN SKY at Malta – 17.04.2021

On Saturday 17th April, 2021 the Chinese built 178 metre long bulker OCCITAN SKY left Grand Harbour at 1540 hrs with less than 5 metres away from St. Elmo breakwater. She was built by New Century Shipbuilding at Jianjing, China in 2004 as CLIPPER MERCURY of which she was renamed in the second week of […]
Conveyance – Busy Wednesday 24th March, 2021
Vessels calling for crew change, provisions, fendering operations, disembarking/embarking personnel etc are positioned 3/5 miles depending on the cargo for conveyance services. Below is an example of a busy morning that happened on Wednesday 24th March 2021 – The 2013 Romanian built and owned chemical/oil products tanker HISTRIA AMBRA was seen receiving yokohama fenders for […]