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 […]

Virtu Ferries – Spend your Public Holidays in Sicily – December 2021

During November/December 2021 Virtu Ferries announced a robust schedule and special fares for Easter and Summer 2022 operating with 2 High Speed Craft – JEAN DE LA VALETTE and SAINT JOHN PAUL II . Infact JEAN DE LA VALETTE did an engine refit worth Euro 8 million by the German Engine Manufacturers MTU. Sea Trials […]

Law Enforcement – Guardia di Finanza Corrubia III Class G 114 PULEO

The GUARDIA di FINANZA is an Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. It is a militarized police force, forming a part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not the Ministry of Defence. Guardia di Finanza is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy’s […]

Towage – MACISTONE escorting ALK to Malta – 18.10.2021

On Monday 18th October, 2021 the 1982 built tug MACISTONE was seen again for the second time this year escorting the 1965 built NLD flag diving support yacht ALK at 0720 hrs. At 0924 hrs ALK was handed over to tug GOZZO for further assistance and to moor at Manoel Island Marina. Of which was […]

Weather Conditions – Easterly Strong Wind on Friday 16th April 2021.

With a mild winter around the Maltese Islands, the first spring season strong winds occurred on Friday 16th April 2021 with wind blowing Easterly Force 8 wind decreasing and backing NE Force 7 overnight. All Bunkering Operations were suspended due to the current weather conditions and most of the vessels were sheltering on the lee […]

Bunkering – Tugboat WAF 3 – 10.04.2021

On Saturday 10th April, 2021 the 1977 built tugboat WAF 3 called for bunkers coming from Catania, Sicily on her way to Dakar, Senegal with ETA on Wednesday 12th May. Originally she arrived on Friday 9th April around 1127 hrs but had to wait for instructions outside territorial waters (otw). She was built in Italy by Bacino […]

Passers By – Naval Units during February & March 2021.

Various naval units pass the Malta-Sicily straits like other ships and to mention some – On Friday 5th February, 2021 the 103 metre Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship USNS CARSON CITY T-EPF 7 passed by on her way to Sudan, the first US Navy ship to visit Port Sudan since the founding of U.S. Africa Command […]