Preserved Ships – WWII Concrete Ship SIP at Belgrade, Serbia – October 2023

One of the interesting maritime craft found at Sava River, Belgrade Serbia is no doubt the 1943 built concrete ship SIP. The first official idea of using concrete to build a ship dates back to 1848 France. During World War I, due to lack of raw materials, especially iron about a hundred concrete ships were […]
Maltese Islands – Tunnara Museum at Mellieha

One of the gems around the Maltese Islands is the TUNNARA MUSEUM which is housed in Westreme Battery, also known as ir-Rasus Battery or Mellieħa Right Battery, at the Northern Part of Malta – Mellieha. Westreme Battery was built between 1715 and 1716 as part of the Order of Saint John’s first building program of […]
Local Shipping – BEEZER
One of the ships involved in Oil Spill Response is the 1990 built RTK 412 Ramped Craft BEEZER. She arrived aboard the research ship NORTHELLA back in 2001 (NORTHELLA article – https://maltashipnews.com/2021/10/17/research-survey-vessel-northella/ )of which she was stored at Cassar Ship Repair Yard. Apart from oil spill response she’s used for other purposes such as transportation […]
Maltese Islands – Senglea Clock Tower

One of the clock Towers around the Maltese Islands looking on the three cities is the Senglea Clock Tower. It was built by the British Naval authorities in 1908 and has four faces. It’s machinery, manufactured in 1905, came from John Smith & sons, Midland Clock Works, Derby. The foundation stone of Fort St. Michael was laid on 8th May […]
Maltese Fortifications – Lippija Tower

LIPPIJA TOWER also known as ĠNEJNA TOWER is a small watchtower overlooking Ġnejna Bay, limits of Mġarr, Malta. It was completed in 1637 as the first of the 10 Lascaris towers (9 are still intact and other one was destroyed ). LIPPIJA TOWER was built in 1637 on the edge of Wardija Ridge overlooking Ġnejna Bay on the north west coast of Malta. The tower has Għajn Tuffieħa and Nadur […]
Emergency Vehicles – M-0032 Dennis F 44 Rolls Royce Fire Engine at Malta

The Fire Section within the Malta Police was set up in 1934. In April 1936, it started making use of the first ever fire engine at its disposal. For many years the responsibility for Fire Services was in the hands of the British services in Malta. In 1883 the Malta Police were given some fire […]
Yachting – SS DELPHINE in the Mediterranean Sea – August 2020

One of the wonderful classic motor yachts around, a remnant of a bygone era is the 1921 built SS DELPHINE. Built in 1921 in USA by the Great Lakes Engineering works yard for Horace Dodge (who sadly died before she was launched) one of the largest American automotive manufacturers, this luxury motor yacht has retained […]
Malta Naval Visits – ITS SPICA P 403 – 14-16.02.2020

The 1991 commissioned offshore patrol vessel of the Italian Navy (Marina Militare Italiana) ITS SPICA P 403 paid a diplomatic visit to Malta during February 2020 with Commanding Officer LT (N) Peppino Sambiagio. She entered Valletta on Friday 14th February, 2020 at 0726 hrs assisted by 2 tugs LIENI and ST. ANGELO and berthed Port […]
Yachting – 1962 built motor yacht ENTRANCER

One of the most luxury classic motor yacht seen last August was the British flag motor yacht ENTRANCER. She’s a magnificent and luxurious classic motor yacht measuring 27 metres, perfect for cruising the Mediterranean in style. She was originally commissioned by Randolph Churchill, the son of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and built in 1962 by […]
Maltese Fortifications – Joint Operation between AFM and Royal Navy with St. Mary’s Battery, Comino – 21.08.1997

ST. MARY’s BATTERY or Trunciera, as it’s known in Malta, is a semi-circular gun platform at the eastern end of the island. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands and to protect the channel between […]