Drug Bust – Spanish police seize $114 Million in cocaine from Livestock Carrier ORION V – 26.01.2023
On Thursday 26th January, 2023 Spanish Police seized 4.5 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of €105 Million ($114 Million) after raiding the livestock carrier ORION V off the Canary Islands. The Police arrested the 28 crew members on the Togo flag (TGO) ship, which had been trailed from Colombia in an operation […]
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 […]
Law Enforcement – Guardia di Finanza Corrubia III Class G 114 PULEO
The GUARDIA di FINANZA is an Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. It is a militarized police force, forming a part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not the Ministry of Defence. Guardia di Finanza is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy’s […]
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 […]
Malta Naval Visits – USCG HAMILTON WMSL 753 – 17-20.05.2021
The fourth ship in the Legend Class of the United States Coast Guard USCGC HAMILTON WMSL 753 called for the first time at Grand Harbour, Malta on Monday 17th May, 2021 making her the first of the class to call here too. She passed breakwaters around 1505 hrs with 2 tugs ready to assist coming […]
Coastguard – USCG decommissions last Hamilton Class Cutter – 24.04.2021
On Saturday 24th April, 2021 after 49 years of service the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Hamilton Class Cutter WHEC 724 USCGC DOUGLAS MUNRO was decommissioned at Kodiak Coast Guard Base, Alaska marking the end of an era. The first ship in the 12 Hamilton Class Cutter was commissioned in March 1967; her keel was […]
Tugboat – Singapore Built THOR SERVER
One of the Faroe Islands operated vessel that was a regular visitor in Malta was the tug THOR SERVER that was used as a guard/chase boat with seismic operations. She was built in 1978 by Marine Builders Pte Ltd at Singapore as yard number 1016 named as AL JUBAIL VIII trading until 1985 where she […]
Drug Bust – Colombian Navy seized 1,080 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean – 07.04.2018.
Colombia’s navy has intercepted 14 semi-submersible vessels, known as “narco subs,” in the Pacific Ocean in 2018, more than triple what it seized all last year, and the uptick comes as the country grapples with a sustained increase in cocaine production. Together with United States Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine […]
Drug Bust – HMS MONTROSE F 236 seizes drugs – February 2020
The Type 23 Class Frigate HMS MONTROSE F 236 has bagged more than a tonne of cannabis on the infamous “Hash Highway” in the waters of the Middle East. Royal Marines Commandos with Royal Navy Officers boarding team recovered bales of hashish from the waters of the Gulf of Oman of which it was found […]
Drug Bust – Around US$1 Billion in drugs seized on MSC GAYANE – 18.06.2019.
An estimated US$1 billion in illegal narcotics was discovered on board the container ship MSC GAYANE berthed at Philadelphia, USA on Tuesday, June 18th. Agents of the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Philadelphia, the US Coast Guard, the US Department of Homeland Security, and various local police departments boarded the containership MSC […]
