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 […]
Port Closure – Delays in Disembarking Passengers from High Speed Craft JEAN DE LA VALETTE – 30.04.2022
Over 700 passengers were left stranded out at sea for more than two hours last Saturday 30th April due to a delay in re opening the Grand Harbour following a fireworks show. The delay was caused by a setback in the clearing of barges and lighters used for the fireworks display, which marked the finale of […]
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 […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Fishing vessel with 400 souls ran aground while entering Pozzallo Port – 09.11.2021
On Tuesday 9th November, 2021 after 2100 hrs with Easterly Wind blowing 20 knots a wooden stern fishing trawler packed with 400 souls ran aground whilst entering Pozzallo Port scrambling all Law Enforcements units including commercial tugboats. Weather conditions were hampering the situation with the strong wind and sea very rough of which at one […]
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 […]
Virtu Ferries – JEAN DE LA VALETTE joining SAINT JOHN PAUL II on Malta-Pozzallo Route from May 2021.
Due to social distance and safety measures of the Pandemic Disease COVID-19, lately the Austal built High Speed Craft JEAN DE LA VALETTE has joined the Incat built High Speed Craft SAINT JOHN PAUL II in Valletta – Pozzallo route. This service was started on Friday 14th May, 2021 when SAINT JOHN PAUL II left […]
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 […]
