Icebreaker – German Research Icebreaker POLARSTERN
One of the German Government Ships is the 1982 built German research icebreaker POLARSTERN (meaning Pole Star) of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. She was built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel and Nobiskrug in Rendsburg as yard 707 with keel laid down on 22nd September 1981, launched on 6th January, […]
Tugboats – FAIRPLAY 21
One of the Spanish built tugs trading in the German Towage Industry is the 1997 built tug FAIRPLAY 21 which has identical sisters – FAIRPLAY 22, 23 and 24. She was built by Naveles Santodomingo to a design from Aarts Marine BV for the German Towage Company – Fairplay Towage of which invested 19million in […]
Maiden Call – Cruise Liner SAGA PEARL II at Malta – 09.11.2010
Saga Shipping, also known as Saga Cruises, a division of the Saga plc, is a cruise line headquartered in Folkestone, England founded in 1996. The fifth vessel that was part of the fleet was the 638 passenger capacity – SAGA PEARL II that was acquired in 2010 from Transocean Tours. She was built in Germany by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft […]
Malta Shipyards – Drillship GSF EXPLORER Operations – May 2005.
One of the most interesting drillship operations at Grand Harbour, is no doubt the one of the American GSF EXPLORER that happened during June 2005. On Saturday 7th May afternoon the 189 metres long (loa) drillship GSF EXPLORER coming from the Gulf of Mexico and homeported at Houston, Texas (USA Flag) was spotted entering Grand […]
Naval Visits – FGS U 35 S185 – 16-19.09.2021
One of the 6th submarine Type 212 Class of the German Navy FGS U35 with pennant number as S 185 paid a diplomatic visit at Grand Harbour, Malta on Thursday 16th September of which she passed breakwaters at 0902 hrs. Berthing Preparations commenced on Wednesday 15th September using for the first time 2 Pneumatic Floating […]
Casualties – Indonesian Navy Submarine sunk with all 53 souls – April 2021.
Debris believed to be from the missing Indonesian navy submarine KRI NANGGALA 402 has been found, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Yudo Margono told a news conference on Saturday 24th April, 2021. Six pieces of debris believed to be from the submarine, which was lost in the Bali Sea on Wednesday, were presented to journalists.The latest update […]
Breaking Up – Cruise Liner ASTOR – 23.11.2020
The 33 year old cruise liner ASTOR was sold last 15th October at an auction by C.W. Kellock London Ltd. She was built in 1987 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), Kiel in West Germany as ASTOR for the Mauritius-based Marlan Corporation, although originally ordered by the South African Safmarine as a combined ocean liner/cruise ship for the Southampton-Cape Town service. In 1988, she was sold to the Soviet Union Black Sea Shipping […]
Casualties – Tugboat MACISTONE lost deck barge AMT MARINER in a storm – 06.02.2020
On Wednesday 5th February, 2020 the Italian tugboat MACISTONE lost her tow – the deck cargo barge AMT MARINER and finished aground 5 nautical miles South of Bari near San Giorgio beach. MACISTONE left Augusta, Sicily on Thursday 30th January (Above images are on mentioned day) towing the 91 metre long deck cargo barge AMT […]
Towage – HOROZ towing SCHIEDAM – 20.01.2020
A year after she was spotted the first time approaching Grand Harbour (Towing VON PERLE on 20.01.2019) the 1978 built tugboat HOROZ was seen towing the 72.96 m long floating sheerlegs SCHIEDAM on Monday 20th January, 2020. SCHIEDAM was built in 1971 in Germany by HDW Kiel originally Bugsier ROLAND. She’s 72.96 m long with 24.00 […]
