Malta Naval Visits – December 2024
Tuesday 3rd December . The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Dock Landing Ship RFA MOUNTS BAY L 3008 left Valletta passed breakwaters at 1422 hrs assisted by 2 tugs from her berth at Pinto 1 and 2 wharves. (On another note she arrived home on Wednesday 18th December after she stopped at HMNB Gibraltar for few days) […]
Local Shipping – Converted RAF Rescue Launch into Motor Yacht BARRACUDA at Malta
One of the former British Admiralty Boat still trading around is the 21 metre motor yacht BARRACUDA. Built by Vosper Ltd at Portsmouth, UK in 1957 with yard no 2512 for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Rescue Target Towing Launch (RTTL) Mk II 2758 Above image is of RTTL C 71 (Ex 2771) […]
Aerial Photography – HMS ARK ROYAL R 07 last voyage towed by CHRISTOS XXIII – 05.06.2013
11 years ago also on a Wednesday the last voyage of the light aircraft carrier and former flagship of the Royal Navy HMS ARK ROYAL R 07 was photographed from the air by MALTA SHIP PHOTOS (MSPAP) while being towed by the Greek anchor handing tug/supply vessel CHRISTOS XXIII while underway to Leyal Ship Recycling […]
Passer By – Tug VB HISPANIA towing RFA DILIGENCE for scrap – 02.04.2024
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Forward Repair Ship RFA DILIGENCE A 132 towed by the 2011 built Spanish anchor handling tug (aht) VB HISPANIA passed by Malta today Tuesday 2nd April, 2024. Built in Landskrona, Sweden, as the offshore support vessel STENA INSPECTOR, she was chartered by the British government during the critical months of […]
Naval News – Royal Navy divers searching for vessel’s jackstaff – December 2023
During Week 50 of this year a Royal Navy navigation warning was issued after one of her vessels inadvertently lost the jackstaff and tripod overboard. The notification has been sent out to all all vessels operating just off North Corner Jetty (East) in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. They were being warned to “navigate with particular […]
Maritime Accident – Cruise Liner SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY caught up in storm with 100 souls injured – November 2023
Around 100 souls were injured when the cruise liner SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY was caught up in a storm and veered dramatically during a safety manoeuvre. Most of the injuries were described as minor by cruise company Saga, but five people were taken to hospital when the ship docked in Portsmouth on Monday 6th November. One […]
Naval News – HMS CORNWALL F 99 arrived at the breakers today 10 years ago – 30.10.2023
Today 30th October, 10 years ago the former Royal Navy Batch 3 Type 22 Class frigate HMS CORNWALL F 99 arrived at Swansea Drydocks for demolition after in July 2013 she was sold and towed from Portsmouth on 24th October, 2013 Laid down at the shipyard of Yarrow Shipbuilders on 14 th December 1983, launched […]
Anti Piracy Vessels – AL 345
One of the Anti Piracy Vessels based in Malta of which everyone thinks that she’s a former naval vessel is the Japanese built 22 metre vessel AL 345. She was first seen berthed at Dock 7 , MMH Facilities back to June 2013 and homeported at Plymouth (GBR Flag). She was built in Japan by […]
Naval News – HMS MONTROSE F 236 decommission – 17.04.2023
On Monday 17th April, 2023 the Royal Navy formally retired the Type 23 frigate HMS MONTROSE F 236 from service at Portsmouth Naval Base. HMS MONTROSE was the eight of the sixteen-ship Type 23 or Duke class Frigates, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and […]
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 […]
