Towage – Disabled Suezmax tanker GULF SCANDIC towed to Malta – June 2007

On Saturday 9th June, 2007 the 1984 built 274 metres crude oil tanker GULF SCANDIC reported that she had engine failure off Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean Sea. After few hours, Tug Malta 1998 built tugboat SEA SALVOR was dispatched and commenced towing the next day on Sunday 10th June. Towage arrived 3 miles off […]

Cruise Liners – CELESTYAL OLYMPIA – 27.10.2023

One of the Finnish built cruise liners still trading is the 1981 built liner CELESTYAL OLYMPIA. She was built at Wartsila Hietalahti Shipyard at Helsinki, Finland with yard number 431 for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) as SONG OF AMERICA at the cost of $ 140 million. She was laid down on 17th February, 1981, […]

Gaza−Israel War – US Navy moves Carrier Strike Group – 08.10.2023

On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched a large-scale invasion and offensive against Israel from the Gaza Strip, breaking through the Gaza–Israel barrier and forcing entry via the Gaza border crossings, into nearby Israeli settlements and military installations. Hamas called it OPERATION AL AQSA STORM and it is the first direct conflict within Israel’s boundaries since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Hostilities […]

Malta Naval Visits – HMS ALBION L 14 – 07.11 to 11.11.2022

On Monday 7th November 2022, Royal Navy’s amphibious assault ship HMS ALBION L 14 arrived in Malta berthing starboard side alongside to Boiler Wharf. The visit coincided with a series of Remembrance Day commemorations happening in Malta of which her Country Flag was flown half mast as per below images. Her last call to Malta […]

Vehicle Carriers – SEA PATRIS

One of the Greek owned car carriers trading around is the 1985 built 176 metre long SEA PATRIS. She was built in Japan at Imabari Shipbuilding Marugame Yard in 1985 as FRANCONIA of which was renamed to her current name on May 2014. Her Maiden Call at Grand Harbour, Malta was during July 2017 and […]

BFT Season 2023 – 2021 built French OPV for Fisheries Patrol

The eastern bluefin (BFT) migration has supported valuable fisheries in the Mediterranean since antiquity. Initially based on hand lines and beach seines, these fisheries were dominated after the 16th century by tuna cages placed in the path of migrating tuna. After the expansion of purse seines and longlines in the Atlantic (in the 1950s) and […]

STS Operation – SIGNAL MAYA and WHITE TRADER – 20.07.2020

On Monday 20th July, 2020 a ship to ship (STS) Operation between the 249.97 m crude oil tanker SIGNAL MAYA and the 274 m crude oil tanker WHITE TRADER was photographed from the air by MALTA SHIP PHOTOS offshore Malta. SIGNAL MAYA was built in South Korea by Hyundai Samho on 17th July, 2017 with […]

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Death toll rises to 500 souls offshore Greece – 17.06.2023

More than 500 illegal immigrants from Syria are presumed to have drowned after their fishing vessel involved in the clandestine journey sank  in the Aegean Sea offshore Greece earlier this week. 104 survivors were rescued from the sea and 78 bodies were recovered, but have not located any more since late Wednesday, local time. The […]

Malta Drydocks – Nanuchka Class Missile Corvettes for repairs – 1985

Over a 47 year period Malta Drydocks (MDD) from 1963 to 2010 evolved into a conundrum that baffled successive governments, the Maltese and the Dockyard workers themselves. Few people know that after Malta became neutral (Freedom Day is celebrated annually – 31st March) and we still have Brainwashed People saying that no more warships since […]