Cable Layer – CERTAMEN

The world’s first icebreaking cable repair ship built was the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) ship CCGS JOHN CABOT  named after John Cabot, a Venetian explorer from the Age of Exploration of which was built in Montreal, Canada and commissioned on 31st May 1965. During 1996 she was decommissioned, refitted for more service and acquired by the […]

Former Military – Maltese Fishing Vessel MADONNA TA POMPEI F 14

One of the former British Forces vessels left in Malta and acquired for various services was the Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) ML 1271 built in 1943 by and used as the fishing vessel MADONNA TA POMPEI F 14. As HDML’s their numbers were from ML 1001 to ML 1600, designed by the Admiralty and […]

Local Shipping – Sea Malta’s – PINTO

Sea Malta Company Limited was the Maltese National Shipping Line. Established on 10th November 1973 during the tenure of the Labour Government led by Dominic Mintoff, which had the majority of the shares in the new company. The quest of this company was to provide maritime services company as well as to the need of the nation in general, and to […]

Local Shipping – Tanker SEAGULL I

A floating Fuel Hub located at Marsamxett Harbour is the 1955 built tanker SEAGULL I. She was built in 1955 by H.B.Peters , Te Dedimsvaart, Netherlands as SEAGULL, a name she kept until she she was sold to Cornflower Shipping Limited (Shell Agents in Malta) and renamed SEAGULL I with official number 5048 in 1997. […]

Broken Up – SEVE-SEAS I at Malta – Q 4 of 2021.

The 62 year old tanker SEVE-SEAS I was broken up at Malta after being shifted to MMH Facilities by the tug GOZZO on Thursday 16th September, 2021. Started her life as HSwMS FRYKEN A 217 with the Swedish Navy she was delivered on 24th November, 1959 supporting the navy with fresh water. She was built […]

Breaking Up – 1971 built fishing vessel MAR NOVA

One of the former local vessels that were broken up this year in 2021 , was the former stern trawler F 301 CARMELA named as MAR NOVA. Built in UK by W. R. Cunis Ltd., Woolwich as FARID with yard no 667 completed for Mohammed Javed Motoghri, Iran. After several ownerships she was brought to […]

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 […]

Maltese Fishing Vessels – 1975 built GOLDEN DAWN

One of the United Kingdom (UK) based fishing vessels bought locally was the 1975 built GOLDEN DAWN. She was built at Cubow Ltd, Woolwich, London as yard no 704 for Skipper A. Cowe (later to become assistant harbour master at Peterhead) as GOLDEN DAWN with fishing matricola as PD 211. She was a Tynedraft 86 […]

Maltese Fishing Vessels – 1971 built CARMELA

One of the North Sea Standby Safety Vessel that was bought locally in Malta was the 1971 built steel hulled CARMELA. She was brought to Malta early 90’s as CAM SPRITE sporting black hull and was based at Mgarr Harbour, Gozo. She was built in UK by W. R. Cunis Ltd., Woolwich as FARID with […]

Local Shipping – Fishing Vessel AQUARIUS

One of the Dutch built fishing vessels that used to be owned by a Maltese owned company was the 1972 built Beam Trawler AQUARIUS. Built by W. Visser & Zoon N.V. Werf De Lastdrager in Den Helder, Netherlands as yard number 68 launched as GUSTA EN JENNY trading until 1974; LAURENS ELISABETH trading until 1984 […]