ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Migrant Rescue Ship ELEONORE

On Saturday 24th August, 2019 the 1961 built former fishing vessel ELEONORE started her first rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea. Two days later on Monday 26th August rescued 104 distressed migrants off the Libyan coast from a sinking rubber boat. Most of them were transferred on board by the ship’s RHIB, some had to be […]
Maltese Islands – National Museum of Natural History

One of the gems at Mdina also known as Città Vecchia (Old City) , Città Notabile (Notable City) and Silent City, is no doubt the French Baroque palace rebuilt in 1726 by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena to designs of Charles François de Mondion – Palazzo Vilhena which houses the National Museum of Natural […]
Dangerous Goods – Damaged Bulker RUBY entered Great Yarmouth, UK for repairs – 28.10.2024

Today Monday 28th October, 2024 the damaged South Korean built bulker RUBY entered Peel Ports at Great Yarmouth, UK at 0652 UTC time. She loaded a 20,000-tonne cargo of ammonium nitrate and departed the port of Kandalaksha, Russia in late August. She ran aground in a storm shortly after getting under way and sustained damage […]
NAZLAB News – AFM Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) P 71 – December 2022

On Monday 19th December 2022, the leading vessel of the Maritime Squadron of Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), the P 71, an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) which was two years past her delivery deadline was seen entering the floating dock NAZLAB for immediate repairs. The 74.8 metres P 71 an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) was […]
Emergency Vehicles – M-0032 Dennis F 44 Rolls Royce Fire Engine at Malta

The Fire Section within the Malta Police was set up in 1934. In April 1936, it started making use of the first ever fire engine at its disposal. For many years the responsibility for Fire Services was in the hands of the British services in Malta. In 1883 the Malta Police were given some fire […]
Maltese Islands – Milk in Malta

In the years gone by, the Maltese Islands were seriously affected by many cases of undulant fever and these were the cause of serious concern and preoccupation to the Maltese Government. Various committees were appointed to report on ways of preventing or eliminating this disease. The Commission appointed in 1931 to report on the feasibility of […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Over 400 illegal immigrants disembark after mutiny occured – 06/07.06.2020

After the mutiny saga for the crew and Maltese security personnel aboard the short sea ferry boat EUROPA II after threatening with knives and gathering sleeping bags and other material including gas to set up a blaze and with at least more than 3 hours to take a decision from MALTA VTS and other authorities […]
Coronavirus – Non Essential crossing between Malta and Gozo stopped & Updated Gozo Channel Schedule – 03.04.2020

All travel between Malta and Gozo, except for specific reasons, has been restricted in a bid to prevent Covid-19 from spreading further. Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said on Tuesday 31st March, 2020 that all travel between the two islands would be prohibited unless for specific purposes. KERCEM at Gozo All passengers boarding the Gozo Channel at Ċirkewwa, Malta or Mġarr, Gozo […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Spanish Fishing Vessel FRANCISCO Y CATALINA crisis with 51 rescued immigrants – July 2006.

On Friday 14th July 2006 the Spanish Gill Netter FRANCISCO Y CATALINA rescued 51 irregular migrants, all thought to be of Eritrean nationality, and attempted to seek permission to land them in Malta. Malta had refused permission on the basis that Malta had not been the territory closest to the point of recovery by the […]
Local Shipping – ANADRIAN

One of the dredgers that used to operate in the Maltese Islands was the 1952 built grab dredger ANADRIAN. The Crown Agents for the colonies ordered a dredger for the Maltese Government in 1950 from the firm Ferguson Brothers Ltd of Port Glasgow. She was laid in 1951 and launched on the 8th May of […]