Barracuda 2024 Exercise – Malta-Italy Bilateral Exercise – May 2024

Malta’s strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, intersecting major shipping lanes linking the east and west, underscores both its strength and vulnerability to maritime incidents. Recognising the imperative to safeguard its vital tourism industry, ports, and desalination plants, Transport Malta (TM) explained that ”Malta has diligently worked over the past decade to […]

Barges – Cassar’s barges during Malta International Fireworks Festival 2024 – April 2024

The 23rd edition of the Malta International Fireworks Festival is here with Local Licensed Fireworks Factories & Clubs to organize traditional fireworks displays. These Local Licensed Factories are required to serve as a transition between one display and another, and they will also have dedicated days to show their amazing work throughout the Festival. Festival took off last […]

Offshore – DP3 oil rig TRANSOCEAN BARENTS at Malta – August 2023

On Saturday 5th August, 2023 the 2009 built 6th generation, semi submersible drilling oil rig (ssdr) TRANSOCEAN BARENTS was spotted approaching Bunkering Area 4, Malta as scheduled. Upon completion of her position at Bunkering Area 4 the only self propelled sheerlegs in the Maltese Islands – SEAWOLF II, towing a barge that left Medserv Base […]

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 top of this pinnacle […]

Accidents – MFD 79 MAREBLU at Grand Harbour – November 2020

On Saturday 7th November, 2020 around noon the Maltese owned tuna ranch workboat MAREBLU MFD 079 had an accident at Bighi Bay, Grand Harbour, Malta. Shortly afterwards the workboat ONNELLA MFD 015 was on site together with the 14 metre tugboat GOZZO. By attaching lifting bags to her stern since she was partially sunk (engine […]

Local Shipping – GOLDEN BAY

One of the local tankers that is no longer with us is the 1959 built MLT flag and owned bunkering tanker GOLDEN BAY. Vessel arrived in Malta in 2003 as ELDAREN after she was bought from Swedish Navy surplus and run by a local company as bunkering tanker. She was built as the BROTANK and […]

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 […]