Local Shipping – Bomb Threat on Gozo Channel Line ropaxes – 25.10.2024

Around 1935 hrs, the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit within 3 Regiment was dispatched via Maritime Squadron Fast craft heading to Mgarr Port, Gozo due to a Bomb Treat on all Gozo Channel ropaxes. At the time both GAUDOS and MALITA were berthed at Mgarr Port. In the meantime Valletta […]

Malta Naval Visits – May 2024

Sunday 5th May.  The Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera)  Multipurpose vessel CP 920 BRUNO GREGORETTI called at Grand Harbour, Malta passing breakwaters at 1455 hrs berthing at Boiler Wharf using Mooring Services ONLY. More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/cp-920-bruno-gregoretti-05-05-2024/ Nearly an hour later at 1540 hrs the Angeli Del Mare Class Patrol Craft […]

Barracuda 2024 Exercise – Malta-Italy Bilateral Exercise – May 2024

Malta’s strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, intersecting major shipping lanes linking the east and west, underscores both its strength and vulnerability to maritime incidents. Recognising the imperative to safeguard its vital tourism industry, ports, and desalination plants, Transport Malta (TM) explained that ”Malta has diligently worked over the past decade to […]

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 […]

AFM – Air Wing SAR Demo at Open Day in Gozo – 02.10.2010

Commemorating its 40th anniversary, the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) held its first Open Day at Gozo at Mgarr Harbour. Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Acting President Anton Tabone, who visited the Open Day  had the opportunity to meet Gozitan AFM personnel. They were shown around by AFM commander Brigadier Martin G. Xuereb and Colonel […]

Virtu Ferries – MARIA DOLORES with His Holiness Pope Francis – 02.04.2022

On Saturday 2nd April, 2022 His Holiness Pope Francis during his Apostolic visit to Malta crossed to the sister island of Gozo by the High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES. After leaving the Apostolic Nunciature, Rabat , Malta the entourage proceeded to DWQ 5 to board the Virtu Ferries High Speed Craft MARIA DOLORES to cross […]

State Visit – Pope Francis at Gozo – 02.04.2022

Malta welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis during his Apostolic visit to the country from Saturday 2nd April to Sunday 3rd April of which on Saturday 2nd April he visited the sister island of Gozo. The island of Gozo was wearing Holy Week dress and Vatican City Flags mounted on road roundabouts, balconies, roof flagpoles etc […]

Local Shipping – PRINCESS DIANA & PRINCESS ELIZABETH

Two boats that were former Libyan Customs and Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) Patrol Craft and were never used as short sea passenger boats were the 31.4 metres craft PRINCESS DIANA and PRINCESS ELIZABETH. PRINCESS DIANA was built in 1963 for the Libyan Customs by Brodogradiliste Kraljevica in Hrvatska at Yugoslavia as ARRAID and on […]