Russia-Ukraine War – Ukrainian Navy sank her frigate to avoid Russians capturing her – March 2022
U 130 HETMAN SAHAIDACHNY was a frigate of the Ukrainian Navy that was originally built at the Kerch Shipyard as a Project 1135.1 frigate of Krivak III Class. She was launched on 29th March 1992 and commissioned on 2nd April 1993. Homeported at Odessa since March 2014, she was the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy. She was built at the Zalyv Shipbuilding yard, the […]
Maltese Islands – Mgarr Ix-Xini at Gozo
MGARR IX-XINI, is a very picturesque bay set within a creek and a steep sided natural valley. It is close to Għajnsielem, Xewkija and Sannat on the island of Gozo. During the Order of Saint John it was apparently an occasional hiding place for the Knights galleys and was also used by the invading Turks to load captive Gozitans onto their ships […]
Local Shipping – Tugboat LIENI leaving Malta after 30 years – 30.05.2021.
On Sunday 30th May, 2021 the 28 metre Twin Screw Azimuthing Ulstein Z-Peller Stern Drive Tugboat LIENI left Grand Harbour breakwaters for the last time at 0616 hrs bound to Augusta, Sicily. Images by Capt. Alexei Borg She was built in 1991 as GOLDEN PHOENIX TUG by Tai Kong Trading Company, Singapore as yard number TK-178 […]
Local Shipping – HANINI
One of the ships that was used as a ferry between Malta and Gozo was the 1926 twin screw steel built yacht HANINI. She was completed by George Brown & Co at Greenock, UK for Sir Richard A. Cooper as ALICE. In 1933 she was sold to Teodoro Morisini at Naples, Italy and in 1937 […]
Scuttling Operation – LADY SANDRA aft found and scuttled by Tunisian Navy – 25.05.2020
The aft part of the 89.90 metre inland tanker LADY SANDRA that was split in two on Wednesday 25th March, 2020 was found drifting 8 miles off Djerba Island on Tuesday 12th May. 501 TNS LA GALITE offshore Malta back to 30th May, 2014. On Monday 25th May the Tunisian Navy towed the aft part from the […]
Local Shipping – ANADRIAN
One of the dredgers that used to operate in the Maltese Islands was the 1952 built grab dredger ANADRIAN. The Crown Agents for the colonies ordered a dredger for the Maltese Government in 1950 from the firm Ferguson Brothers Ltd of Port Glasgow. She was laid in 1951 and launched on the 8th May of […]
Local Shipping – XLENDI
One of the ferries that use to be run by Gozo Channel Line was the 1955 built XLENDI. Built in 1955 originally a Danish passenger/car/train ferry HELSINGØR as Yard no 321 at Helsingør Skibs. & Msk. in Helsingør, Danmark she was 80 meters long and a beam of 12 meters with 1,123 GRT trading until […]
Local Shipping – MELITA X
One of the oldest tugboats locally owned was one of the four 16m long steel motor tug MELITA X owned by Malta tug & Lighter Services Ltd of Marsa. She was assigned as Malta Port No 58 which it was visible under her name. During 1993 she was sold to Cassar Enterprises, Marsa and laid […]
Scuttling Operation – COMINOLAND and KARWELA – 12.08.2006
On Saturday 12th August 2006, 2 short sea ferryboats COMINOLAND and KARWELA were towed from Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa to Ras il-Hobz, Gozo that is a submerged pinnacle also known as the Middle Finger, to be scuttled by the Gozo Tourism Association. The Pinnacle is one of the most breathtaking dives in Gozo. The […]
