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 […]
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 […]
Naval News – Hard drugs found on Zr. Ms JOHAN DE WITT – September 2019

Hard drugs were found at Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean Island with a soldier aboard the amphibious naval ship Zr. Ms JOHAN DE WITT L 802 whilst berthed at Willemstad. It is not clear which drugs are involved and how many were found, but the lot would be too large for personal use. The amphibious transport […]
Naval News – Drugs on Navy Training Ship JADRAN – 19.04.2019

Montenegrin military police have seized around 50 kilograms of drugs on board the naval training ship JADRAN, hours before she was scheduled to take students on a training cruise, while moored in the Adriatic Port of Tivat the defence ministry and local media said on Friday. In a dawn raid prompted by a tip off, […]
Catania Port Movements – Monday 10th September 2018

The Port of Catania was first built in 1438. Repeatedly rebuilt over the centuries, today it is one of the most important ports in Sicily. With a total surface area of 615,000 m2 used for goods storage yards, Catania Port is home to a variety of different activities: a tourist and commercial port (with national and […]