Local Shipping – Arrival of Floating Dock NAZLAB – 10.05.2014

On 28th April 2014 Melita Marine Group, Malta took over a Floating Dock with 5,000 tons lifting capacity from Western Ship Repair Yard, Klaipeda part of the BLRT Grupp to be renamed NAZLAB. With a length overall of 102 meters, inside width 20 meters and draft over keel blocks of 6 meters, the dock at […]

Casualties – Ferry COSSYRA on fire after leaving Lampedusa – 29.09.2023

On Friday 29th September, 2023 around 2340 hrs a fire broke out in the engine room on the 1980 built ITA flag and owned ferry COSSYRA, off Linosa Island whilst sailing from Lampedusa to Porto Empedocle, with 177 souls on board, including 150 passengers (83 of them were migrants) and 27 crew members. After the […]

Malta Naval Visits – February 2023

Naval Visits for the year 2023 started from February – Saturday 4th to Tuesday 7th February The First Naval Ship was the Italian Navy Gaeta Class Minehunter ITS VIAREGGIO M 5559 that entered at 0924 hrs. She was seen for the first time in Malta back to 2001 when she was only 5 years old. […]

Local Shipping – 1939 built tug SABU

One of the Dutch built vessels serving around the Maltese Islands was the 1939 built 21.67 metre single screw tug SABU. During the Golden Days all tugs were named by taking the first letters of the owner’s name, Salvatore (SA), and the first letter of his surname, Bezzina (B) and then adding a vowel infact […]

Casualties – CHEM P salvage update – 26.03.2022

A week after the saga of the tanker CHEM P that happened last Saturday 19th March (Public Holiday in Malta) on Saturday 26th March, 2022 (Election Day at Malta) it was the turn that the 59.25 metre offshore tug/supply ship OPAL take over. She arrived at OPL Malta on Wednesday 23rd March around 0647 hrs. […]

Casualties – CHEM P salvage update – 21.03.2022

With stormy weather including ESE gale force winds with very high swell the shifting of the tanker CHEM P from her current position to a designated area was hampered and cancelled for Sunday 20th March, 2022. With SITREP every hour or so to access the situation it was decided to leave it for today Monday […]

Casualties – CHEM P salvage update – 20.03.2022

Marine salvage is the process of recovering a ship and her cargo after a shipwreck or other maritime casualty. Salvage may encompass towing, re-floating a vessel, or effecting repairs to a ship. Today, protecting the coastal environment from spillage of oil or other contaminants is a high priority. Before the invention of radio, salvage services would be given […]

Towage – Cargo Ship EVALUNA towed to Malta for repairs – January 2022

On Saturday 1st January 2022 the 2011 built General Cargo Ship EVALUNA reported to VTS that she was in restricted manoeuvrability due to gearbox problems around 38 nautical miles offshore Malta coming from Bizerte, Tunisia. After towage arrangements were done the 38 metre tug SPINOLA let Grand Harbour at 1204 hrs and reaching the ship […]