Maltese Fishing Vessels – MFA 283 SAN NIKOLA

One of the Danish built vessels that used to trade around the Maltese Islands was the 1963 built 25.03 metre fishing vessel SAN NIKOLA. She was built in Denmark by Marstal Traeskibsverft at Marstal as the SLEIPNIR VE 62 for scampi fishing at Iceland. In 1996 she was bought to Maltese owners and brought to […]

Maltese Fishing Vessels – MFA 7053 CRYSTAL STARLIGHT

One of the Belgian built vessels trading around the Maltese Islands is the 1986 built 23.85 fishing vessel CRYSTAL STARLIGHT. Built by Fulton Marine NV at Ruisbroek, Belgium as the Belgian (BEL) vessel MANTA with call sign OPBL. She was seen in Malta back to May 2010 berthed at the Old Fishmarket. Then during August […]

Local Shipping – Luzzu Cruises Passenger Boat HELENA G

One of the Inland Passenger Boats around the Maltese Islands is the 2006 built GRP hull HELENA G. Named for the wife of the owner (G stands for surname as Gheiti) she was seen at the Hardstanding Facilities, Marsaxlokk Harbour few days after she was brought to Malta back in 2009. She was built in […]

BFT Season 2022 – Movements – 21 to 26.05.2022

May is here and Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) Season is here with interesting Turkish fishing vessels coming to tow tuna cages from various spots that belong to Licensed Tuna Farms – Saturday 21st May, 2022. 1453 hrs – 1993 built TUR flag purse seiner SUAYIP KETENCI with fishing matricola 34A 4901 entered Grand Harbour coming from […]

Casualties – Turkish Fishing Vessel WHITE ANGEL at Malta – 01.01.2022

On New Year’s Day – Saturday 1st January 2022 at 1943 hrs the Turkish fishing vessel WHITE ANGEL requested assistance (rudder problem) to Valletta VTS being the second vessel that had asked for assistance. Vessel was on transit to Morocco and unfortunately there was a language barrier since the radio officer claimed that he don’t […]

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 […]

Tugboat – 1970 built SIR IAN

One of the 22 ships built by Appledore Shipbuilders at Appledore was the 1970 built tug COLERAINE. She was ordered in 1969 with her keel laid on 29th September 1969 and launched on 8th January 1970 as yard number A.S. 70 completed for J. Cooper (Belfast) Ltd and homeported at Belfast. During June, 1971 she […]

Fishing – Fishing Vessels Movements from 07 – 13.06.2021.

Maltese aquaculture produce is almost entirely exported to European and Asian markets. Over 65 percent of annual landings originates from the tuna and dolphin fish fisheries, which contribute about 56 percent in value terms (about US$ 6 million). Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) Season is on the way too. Here are some of Week 24/25 interesting movements – […]

Fishing – Fishing Vessels Movements from 30.05 – 06.06.2021

Maltese aquaculture produce is almost entirely exported to European and Asian markets. Over 65 percent of annual landings originates from the tuna and dolphin fish fisheries, which contribute about 56 percent in value terms (about US$ 6 million). Blue Fin Tuna (BFT) Season is on the way too. Here are some of Week 21/22 interesting movements – […]