A visit to Valletta's Grand Harbour always provides an ideal opportunity to see a wide variety of shipping within the historical setting of this fascinating
city. September 2006 was no exception. On the 25th the cruise ship ROTTERDAM was alongside at the cruise terminal and looked very impressive from the city's Upper Barracca
Gardens overlooking the harbour. Across the water was EUROCARGO VALENCIA. Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.
It was another two days before the boat trip around the harbour, but it was well worth waiting for. Again the cruise terminal was occupied, this time by the
COSTA ROMANTICA and the COSTA MARINA, the latter taking bunkers from the tanker SANTA ELENA.
Further up the harbour the coaster MARA was being discharged by a number of mobile cranes. Two familiar tankers were also present, these being the ANCHOR BAY
and MISTRA BAY, formerly the OARSMAN and IRISHGATE of the old Rowbotham Tankships (later P&O Tankships) fleet which I recall often calling at Avonmouth in
the 1980's and 1990's. The SLOMAN TRADER was also alongside, although there were no signs of any cargo operations.
Malta Drydocks appear to be keeping busy - the barge FAIRMOUNT FJORD (formerly BOABARGE 19) could just about be seen in dry dock, whilst container vessel
CATALINA DEL MAR (formerly WEC ROTTERDAM and KARIN S) was afloat, towering over the repair yard.
