Passenger Ships – PALOMA I

One of the Polish built ships originally bound for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was the 1980 built ferry DMITRIY SHOSTAKOVICH from a Class of 7 as Project B492/B493 by Stocznia Szczecinska im Adolfa Warskiego Warskiego in Szczecin, Poland. She was the lead of her class which she was named for the Soviet era Russian composer […]
Ferry – 1975 built ELEGANT I
One of the Dover – Ostend route ferry, the PRINCESS MARIE CHRISTINE was scrapped in December 2011 and was seen as ELEGANT I. She was launched by Belliard Hoboken as the PRINCESSE MARIE CHRISTINE in 1975 as yard no 878 for Regie voor Maritiem Transport (RMT), Belgium on their Ostend to Dover route. In 1987 she was repainted in […]
Ferry – 1980 built SHERBATSKIY
One of the last remaining ships built for Townsend Thoresen for the Dover – Calais route as the PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE was scrapped in December 2015 and was seen as SHERBATSKIY. She was launched on 31st May 1980 by Schichau Unterweser AG, Germany as yard number 2281 as PRIDE OF FREE ENTERPRISE for Townsend Thoresen […]
Casualties – Collision between 2 ferries at Palermo Port – 03.10.2021
On Sunday 3rd October, 2021 morning the Tirrenia ropax RAFFAELE RUBATTINO coming from Naples, Italy collided with the berthed Siremar ferry ANTONELLO DA MESSINA at Palermo Port, Sicily. It seems there was a stern thruster failure with both ships sustained damages with ANTONELLO DA MESSINA nose damaged while RAFFALE RUBATTINO had stern ramp and starboard […]
Ferry Service – Grandi Navi Veloci calling to Malta with different ships – 17.05.2021 to 07.07.2021

Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) started a connection of ferry service linking Malta with Palermo with first ship calling on Saturday 16th January, 2021 – Read our article – https://maltashipnews.com/2021/03/15/ferry-service-grandi-navi-veloci-calling-to-malta-with-different-ships-16-01-2021-to-15-03-2021/ On Monday 17th May the 1999 German built and owned ro/ro ELISABETH RUSS called at Grand Harbour, Malta berthing at Flagstone Wharf. Also called on Monday 31st May. On […]
Bookships – GBA Ships 50 Years of Service at Sea – 2021

GBA Ships is celebrating 50 years of Service at Sea this year, 2021. Serving others with ocean-going ships began in 1970 with the purchase of the original LOGOS. Since then the ships (LOGOS, DOULOS, LOGOS II and LOGOS HOPE) have visited over 500 different ports in more than 150 countries and territories and welcomed over […]
Ferry Service – Grandi Navi Veloci calling to Malta with different ships – 16.01.2021 to 15.03.2021
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) started a connection of ferry service linking Malta with Palermo with first ship calling on Saturday 16th January, 2021 at 1515 hrs – the 1994 built ropax AF MARINA which entered Grand Harbour, Malta for the first time coming from Palermo via Messina Straits. Within a week we saw the German built ropax GNV […]
Palumbo Malta Shipyard – 225m sisters CRUISE OLYMPIA and CRUISE EUROPA drydocked within a month – Feb/March 2021.
On the morning of Friday 5th February, 2021 the 2010 built 225metre ropax CRUISE OLYMPIA entered Grand Harbour, Malta bound to Palumbo Malta Shipyards for drydocking at Dock 6. The ship has a maximum capacity of 2,850 passengers and 963 cars (or 610 cars and 180 trucks/trailers). The vessel was operating on the Greece Italy […]
Virtu Ferries – Applies for licence to operate Malta – Gozo fast ferry – March 2021.
On Monday 8th March, 2021 Virtu Ferries has applied for a licence to be able to provide a fast ferry service between Malta and Gozo after Transport Minister Ian Borg said that multiple ferry operators will be able to provide a fast service between Malta and Gozo by June on Friday 26th February, 2021. The […]
Ferry – GNV AZZURRA
One of the GNV’s (Grandi Navi Veloci) ferries around is the 1981 built ropax GNV AZZURRA. In the late 70s the Swedish shipbuilding industry was suffering from a downturn, with little to no ships in order from Swedish shipyards. To help the industry the Swedish Prime Minister Ola Ullsten persuaded Rederi AB Gotland to order new ferries from Öresundsvarvet […]