High Speed Craft – 1997 built ALE M

One of the High Speed Craft trading in Italy is the 1997 built ALE M. She was built by Kvaerner Fjellstrand at Omastrand in Norway as WATERJET 5 with Philippine flag (PHL) until 1997 with yard number 34. Then she was renamed as VITTORIA M with Italian Flag (ITA) trading until 7th June 2004 and […]
Cruise Liner News – COSTA LUMINOSA transferred to Carnival Cruise Line – 08.09.2022

Last Thursday 8th September , the 2009 built 294 metre long cruise liner COSTA LUMINOSA officially joined the Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) renamed as CARNIVAL LUMINOSA flying a PRT flag at Palermo, Sicily, Italy. In Palermo, Costa Capt. Nicolantonio Palombella handed over the ship to Carnival Capt. Adriano Binacchi, with additional leadership team members from […]
Accident – Crane Vessel SAIPEM 7000 lifting accident – 14.04.2022

On Thursday 14th April, 2022 the world’s third largest semi submersible crane vessel SAIPEM 7000 heavily listed after suffering a lifting accident on a Norwegian Fjord near Stavanger, Norway. The Norwegian Rescue Services reported that during the 5 yo load test of the cranes, the main wire snapped with the cause of dropping 2 barges […]
Special Purpose Vessels – 2 Floating Docks sold from Sicily to Turkey – January 2022

During May 2021 the Palermo based company Vulcano Shipyard Srl won the auction for the purchase of the two floating docks of 19,000 tons and 52,000 tons located in the port of Palermo. The largest one of 52,000 tons left Palermo to Yalova, Turkey last September after she was sold for 2,041,000 Euros and she was […]
Casualties – Tanker FILICUDI M disabled – 26.11.2021
On Thursday 25th November at 0625 hrs the 2005 built Italian flag and owned chemical/oil products tanker FILICUDI M left Sarroch, Sardegna, Italy bound to Augusta, Italy. On the night of Friday 26th November the Italian Coast Guard (Guardia Costiera) of Mazara Del Vallo was engaged in rescue operation after an Engine Room Fire which […]
Valletta Cruise Port – Nicko Cruises VASCO DA GAMA maiden call – 05.11.2021
On Friday 5th November, 2021 the 1993 built cruise liner VASCO DA GAMA entered Grand Harbour, Malta on a foggy morning during her maiden call with Nicko Cruises at 0709 hrs coming from Syracuse, Sicily. She was built by Fincantieri at Trieste, Italy as the Holland America Line STATENDAM trading until 2015. She was acquired […]
Casualties – Collision between 2 ferries at Palermo Port – 03.10.2021
On Sunday 3rd October, 2021 morning the Tirrenia ropax RAFFAELE RUBATTINO coming from Naples, Italy collided with the berthed Siremar ferry ANTONELLO DA MESSINA at Palermo Port, Sicily. It seems there was a stern thruster failure with both ships sustained damages with ANTONELLO DA MESSINA nose damaged while RAFFALE RUBATTINO had stern ramp and starboard […]
Tankers – Chemical/Oil Product Tanker BAUCI

One of the frequent tankers around the world in Maltese waters is the 2002 built chemical/oil products tanker BAUCI. She was built in South Korea by STX Shipbuilding Co Ltd at Seoul and when tankers used to transfer fuel oil for Enemalta from Grand Harbour, Malta towards Marsaxlokk Harbour or vice versa, she used to […]
Ferry Service – Grandi Navi Veloci calling to Malta with different ships – 17.05.2021 to 07.07.2021

Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) started a connection of ferry service linking Malta with Palermo with first ship calling on Saturday 16th January, 2021 – Read our article – https://maltashipnews.com/2021/03/15/ferry-service-grandi-navi-veloci-calling-to-malta-with-different-ships-16-01-2021-to-15-03-2021/ On Monday 17th May the 1999 German built and owned ro/ro ELISABETH RUSS called at Grand Harbour, Malta berthing at Flagstone Wharf. Also called on Monday 31st May. On […]
Palumbo Malta Shipyard – Cruise Liner MSC SPLENDIDA 18.04.2021 – 06.05.2021.

For the second time within the first quarter of 2021 the 2009 built cruise liner MSC SPLENDIDA called at Palumbo Malta Shipyards, this time for drydocking at Dock 6 entering Grand Harbour at 0632hrs on Sunday 18th April, 2021. She was assisted by 1 tug SEA SALVOR on her stern to guide her into the […]