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 […]
Drug Bust – 8 tons of cocaine found in Maersk container at Rotterdam – August 2023
Dutch customs have recently made the largest ever drug bust in the Port of Rotterdam by seizing 8 tons of cocaine from a container aboard a Maersk containership in a container reefer of bananas. According to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, the drugs represent an “enormous” street value of €600m ($653m). The container with more […]
Drug Bust – 97 kilos of cocaine found hidden on containership MSC SHREYA B – 06.08.2023 at Malta Freeport –
97 kilos of cocaine with a street value of over €11 million were found hidden in the 2017 built , 330 metre mother container ship MSC SHREYA B that entered Marsaxlokk Harbour on Saturday 5th August at 2314 hrs. A random inspection on Sunday 6th August morning by divers of a security company engaged by […]
Naval News – HMS MONTROSE F 236 decommission – 17.04.2023
On Monday 17th April, 2023 the Royal Navy formally retired the Type 23 frigate HMS MONTROSE F 236 from service at Portsmouth Naval Base. HMS MONTROSE was the eight of the sixteen-ship Type 23 or Duke class Frigates, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and […]
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 […]
