Broken Up – Salvage Tug SALVAGE TITAN – December 2022

One of the famous Dutch built ocean going salvage tug SALVAGE TITAN was broken up at Kaohsiung, Taiwan last December 2022. She was built by Verolme Shipyard – Heusen; Netherlands with yard number 934 for Smit International Rotterdam as SMIT NEW YORK. Below image is while she was berthed at the old Medserv Base at […]
Broken Up – Tug CHRISTOS XXII – 2021

The 1972 built single hull oceangoing salvage tug CHRISTOS XXII was broken up at Aliaga, Turkey during December 2021. She was built at H.H. Bodewes at Millingen in the Netherlands as yard number 702 named as SMIT ENTERPRISE for Smit International (Antilles) BV with 43.53 metres length overall (loa) and a beam of 10.62 metres […]
Dredging – Haywharf Dredging – July/August 2022

During July and August 2022 Dredging Operations of Inert Material was carried out at the AFM Maritime Squadron Base at Haywharf at Marsamxett Harbour with the Ports & Yachting Directorate of Transport Malta issued Local Notice of Mariners – 091 dated 21st June, 2022 and Amendment – 118 dated 14th July 2022 . Vessels engaged […]
Port Closure – Grand Harbour, Marsamxett & Marsaxlokk Harbour Closed due to fog and no visibility – 17.05.2022

On Tuesday 17th May, 2022 early morning from around 0500 hrs Valletta VTS decided to close Grand Harbour, Marsamxett & Marsaxlokk Harbour due to heavy fog with no visibility. This resulted with the grounding of the workboat RUSAND for few minutes with no injuries and very slight damage at Taqtiegha ta Delimara, few metres away […]
Port Closure – Delays in Disembarking Passengers from High Speed Craft JEAN DE LA VALETTE – 30.04.2022

Over 700 passengers were left stranded out at sea for more than two hours last Saturday 30th April due to a delay in re opening the Grand Harbour following a fireworks show. The delay was caused by a setback in the clearing of barges and lighters used for the fireworks display, which marked the finale of […]
Tugboat News – AMERSTROOM at Malta again – 2022.

One of the Dutch Companies that repairs at Malta is Van Wijngaarden Marine Services that offers worldwide maritime services. Lately we saw once again the 2013 built Eurotug 2308 26.68 metre tug AMERSTROOM entering Marsamxett Harbour, Malta on 26th March, 2022 at 1655 hrs coming from Abu Qir, Egypt. She berthed at Manoel Island Yacht […]
Broken Up – Greenpeace Ship ESPERANZA – 21.02.2002

After 2 decades the Greenpeace ship ESPERANZA has arrived at the port of Gijon, in Spain on Saturday 12th February, 2002 for recycling procedures by DDR Vessels XXI, one of the 2 companies specialised in ship recycling authorised by the EU. She was built in Poland by Stocznia Polnocna at Gdansk as yard number B98/04 […]
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 […]
Maritime Issues – Courtesy Flag in Malta – Nov 2021
It is a custom among merchant ships or any kind of vessel that when entering or leaving a foreign port and during their stay in the port to fly the colours of that country. as a mark of respect. Also, never fly one country’s flag beneath another’s on the same mast. This is a sign […]
AFM – Live GUNEX – November 2021
Between Monday 15th and Friday 19th November 2021 the Maritime Squadron conducted a live gunnery firing practice involving maritime assets from Pembroke Ranges (LMD-1). The Ports & Yachting Directorate issued Notice to Mariners – NtM 38 dated 5th November, 2021. On Monday 15th November the Emer Class OPV P 62 was seen in the area […]