Palumbo Malta Shipyard – Tanker HAI SHANG during March 2023

The 2018 built former Greek crude oil tanker ARGIRONISSOS as the CAMPO SQUARE entered Grand Harbour, Malta during the 3rd week of March bound for drydocking at Palumbo Malta Shipyard Dock 6.                                     Her interesting funnel colours of […]

Maritime Accident – Virtu Gozo High Speed Craft SAN FRANGISK – 30.03.2023

On Thursday 30th March the High Speed Craft SAN FRANGISK had to abort the 1645 hrs voyage just outside Mgarr Harbour breakwater due to an exhaust problem in the engine room that caused a thick smoke. As a precaution all passengers were evacuated onto smaller craft including Galaxy Charters Malta Boat CHIKO. At no time […]

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY – Tugs FAIRPLAY 90 and 91

On Saturday 25th March, 2023 the Damen Song Cam (Vietnam) newbuilt RSD 2513 design tugs FAIRPLAY 90 and FAIRPLAY 91 were photographed from the air by Malta Ship Photos around 45 nautical miles offshore Malta whilst on delivery as deck cargo aboard the SAL Type 183 Heavy Lift vessel LONE. With Polish Flag (POL) homeported […]

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY – Bulgarian Bulker VIDEN

On Saturday 25th March, 2023 the 2012 built MLT flag bulker VIDEN was photographed from the air by Malta Ship Photos around 25 nautical miles east offshore Malta. She was built in China by Zhejiang Zhenghe Shipyard at Zhoushan as the ADFINES NORTH for ABC Maritime, Switzerland and was acquired by the Bulgarian Company Navigation […]

Naval News – HMS ENTERPRISE H 88 Paid Off – 27.03.2023

The second Royal Navy Vessel to pay off during March,2023 is the Echo Class Hydrographic vessel H88 HMS ENTERPRISE. In Fact earlier today she was saluted by the 2010 built tug SD INDULGENT by giving her a water salute from her fire monitors at Portsmouth.   The tenth ship to bear this name HMS ENTERPRISE […]

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Guardia Costiera Detain Rescue Ship – 26.03.2023

On Sunday 26th March, 2023 the rescue ship LOUISE MICHEL funded by British street artist Banksy was detained in Lampedusa  after Italy’s Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera)  said the boat had disobeyed her instructions to head to Sicily after carrying out a migrant rescue operation.   Guardia Costiera stated that  it had ordered the LOUISE MICHEL […]

Malta Naval Visits – February 2023

Naval Visits for the year 2023 started from February – Saturday 4th to Tuesday 7th February The First Naval Ship was the Italian Navy Gaeta Class Minehunter ITS VIAREGGIO M 5559 that entered at 0924 hrs. She was seen for the first time in Malta back to 2001 when she was only 5 years old. […]

Passer By – 2023 newbuilt ferry P&O PIONEER – 24.03.2023

On Friday 24th March, 2023 at 2315 hrs the 2023 newbuilt Fusion Class ferry P&O PIONEER passed 48.8 nautical miles Malta whilst underway to Dover, UK from her builders at Guangzhou, China. On Wednesday  22nd March she entered Limassol, Cyprus berthing at DP World to uplift bunkers where she stayed for 13 hours before completing […]

Port State Control – Australia Bans Dutch Ship

Australia is continuing to move forward with a “crackdown on poor performers in the maritime industry,” announced the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issuing a ban to a Dutch flagged (NLD) general cargo ship, the second such action of 2023. This is part of an effort in which the safety authority has taken action against […]

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Guardia Costiera rescues 450 immigrants – 23.03.2023

Today Thursday 23rd March, 2023 the Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) rescued 450 illegal immigrants aboard a fishing vessel flying a Libyan Flag on her bow 100 miles east of Siracusa under the coordination or RCC Catania. The fishing vessel , in precarious navigable conditions, was reached and rescued by the Diciotti Class offshore patrol […]