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 side of Malta and bunkering tankers were anchored/sheltering at Bunkering Area 6.
Interesting vessels sheltering were 21 Italian stern trawlers –
They included the 1994 built 29.81 metre stern trawler BALDASSARE with fishing matricola as MV 1202.
The 2001 built 27.07 metre stern trawler DAVIDE INGARGIOLA the former GISTERODA with fishing matricola as MV 399.
The 2001 built 29.05 metre stern trawler DIAMANTE the former MARIA PINA SECONDA with fishing matricola as MV 393.
The 1973 built 29.57 metre stern trawler FAMAVIA the former LUCIANO GANCITANO with fishing matricola as MV 307.
The 2000 built 31 metre stern trawler FILIPPO MARIA with fishing matricola as MV 363.
The 1993 built 31.95 metre stern trawler GEMMA PRIMA with fishing matricola as MV 388.
The 2005 built 32.43 metre stern trawler GIOVANNI VINCENZO with fishing matricola as MV 390.
The 1995 built 28.10 metre stern trawler GIUSEPPE FRANCESCO the former BARTALOMEO ASARO with fishing matricola as MV 371.
The 2004 built 24.04 metre stern trawler GLADIUS with fishing matricola as MV 381.
The 1999 built 30.09 metre stern trawler LEOVITO the former VITO MANCIARACINA with fishing matricola as MV 349.
The 1979 built 33 metre stern trawler MICHELE GIACALONE with fishing matricola as MV 365.
The 1999 built 28.45 metre stern trawler NATALINO with fishing matricola as MV 409. She used to be homeported at Catania with fishing matricola as CT 292 based in Pozzallo.
The 1996 built 29 metre stern trawler NUOVO LORENZO with fishing matricola as MV 404. She used to have matricola as MV 1283.
The 1980 built 38.67 metre stern trawler SOFOCLE the former BAGONE with fishing matricola as PA 1352.
The 2000 built 28.45 metre stern trawler VINCENZO RUTA the former VINCENZO PADRE with fishing matricola as CA 626.
Other fishing vessels were ANASTASIA RUTA, FRANCESCO MORETTI, LUCIANO GIACALONE, MEDINEA and OLYMPIA.
At 2358 hrs GIOVANNI VINCENZO and FILIPPO MARIA advised Valletta VTS that they are leaving the sheltering area and proceeding towards west direction.
The 31 metre tugboat HUNTER towing a 63 metre newbuilt fishing vessel hull from Tuzla, Turkey towards Vestnes, Norway was also sheltering and completed her voyage late in the evening.
The 2010 built MHL flag bulker MERCURIUS which was due to uplift bunkers on her way to Morocco was seen going up and down drifting.
Also the 2000 built sail passenger ship ROYAL CLIPPER was seen sheltering.
And another interesting vessel was the chartered Gozo Channel Line ropax NIKOLAOS sheltering off Golden Bay.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dalli otherwise stated. NO PHOTOS can be used or manipulated without our permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Saturday 17th April, 2021.
