Ships at Valletta: September 2008

Finding myself back in Malta for another week, the "Two Harbours" boat trip was inevitable. A second unscheduled voyage was also made while waiting for the flight home.....that's why I've got so many photographs! I've split them into two parts to make them a bit more manageable: cruise ships and cargo/offshore vessels. Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.

~  ~  ~  PART 1: CRUISE SHIPS  ~  ~  ~

NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS
The NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS was the largest cruise ship to call during my week in Malta and arrived on 16th September. The first four images show the vessel alongside in Valletta's Grand Harbour and taking bunkers from tanker PARADISE BAY. The fifth sees her under way after sailing later the same day.

NORWEGIAN GEM
On the same day, the NORWEGIAN GEM had also arrived. Again, the first four images show her alongside in the Grand Harbour, and the last shows her after sailing, in slightly choppy waters. She also took bunkers while in port, from tanker XLENDI BAY. A picture further down this page shows both ships alongside together.

MSC SINFONIA
The next three vessels were all seen alongside on 19th September. I caught the MSC SINFONIA at sea before she entered the Grand Harbour, then photographed her alongside later that afternoon.

COSTA CONCORDIA
Below is a similar sequence of images of COSTA CONCORDIA with a couple of close-ups thrown in. A photo of these two ships in port together can be seen a few rows down.

GRAND CELEBRATION
The GRAND CELEBRATION made her first appearance after dark, on the evening on 12th September. I hadn't been planning to take any night shots, so this ship (and the NOORDAM, below) appearing at short notice certainly caught me out, hence I missed them when they were close to the shore and had to make the best of a bad job. The other images show her at sea, with a pilot about to board, and alongside when she returned on 19th September.

NOORDAM
The NOORDAM seemed reluctant to leave Maltese waters as I watched her sail out to sea just before dusk on 12th September. However, shortly before disappearing over the horizon, she turned to starboard and eventually began heading back towards the Grand Harbour. She eventually disappeared from view behind an apartment block, but never made it back to port. Wondering if she had maybe headed South and therefore remained out of view, I was about to give up waiting for her to reappear when she slowly drifted out from behind the apartment block. By now it was dark and I had to fumble with shutter speed settings while trying to observe the view, which became even more impressive as she was passed at close quarters by the GRAND CELEBRATION.

CRUISE SHIP SELECTION
Below is a variety of images of cruise ships. Firstly, a photograph of COSTA ATLANTICA shortly after sailing from Valletta on 14th September. Then follow a pair of pairs: the NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS and NORWEGIAN GEM in the Grand Harbour on 16th September, and the COSTA CONCORDIA and MSC SINFONIA in the same location three days later. The final two images see the SAPPHIRE leaving her berth on 16th September and the RHAPSODY after she sailed the following day.

TRIPLE SEVEN
Roman Abramovich's motor yacht TRIPLE SEVEN (her name taken from her builder's yard number: 777) was berthed in Marsamxett Harbour. The first four images show her alongside on 16th September while the final picture, taken three days later, allows a brief glimpse inside.

~  ~  ~  PART 2: CARGO AND OFFSHORE VESSELS  ~  ~  ~

JOLLY INDACO
A brief visit to the Upper Barracca Gardens on 15th September coincided with the departure of JOLLY INDACO from the Grand Harbour, her orange hull contrasting nicely with the limestone surroundings and blue water.

EMERALD
The EMERALD, probably better known as the former UNION EMERALD, arrived shortly afterwards. She was seen discharging her cargo the following day and then discovered laying up on 19th September.

BUNKER TANKERS
The bunkering trade appears to be very healthy in Valletta, due in no small part to the increasing volume of cruise ships visiting the Grand Harbour each year. The following images show the PARADISE BAY bunkering NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS and the XLENDI BAY providing a similar service to NORWEGIAN GEM on 16th September. The latter is then seen leaving the Grand Harbour after completing her duties. Finally, she reappeared on 19th September with BALLUTA BAY alongside, waiting for the next customers to arrive.

WILD LOTUS
The refrigerated cargo vessel WILD LOTUS was coming to the end of a period in drydock at Malta Shipyards. Between the 16th and 19th of September, the below images show she gained a name, port of registry and IMO number on her stern, a couple of lifeboats and a number of 40' reefer containers (presumably empty) on her deck.

MISCELLANEOUS: 16TH SEPTEMBER
The next nine images are of various ships in the Grand Harbour on 16th September. The first two show the heavylift vessel DANIELLA with a yacht lashed to her deck. The following pair depict the container ship VENTO DI PONENTE in the process of being loaded and/or discharged.

Also present on that day were the offshore tug / supply vessel RAMLA BAY and general cargo vessel CHALLENGER. The last three images show the tanker LADY JASMINE adjacent to Malta's largest drydock.

MISCELLANEOUS: 19TH SEPTEMBER
Finally, a selection of images showing vessels alongside on 19th September, mainly those designed for use in the offshore industry. The first four photographs are of the recently completed supply vessel BASE EXPRESS and the GEO CHALLENGER, a seismic research vessel that was originally constructed as a cable laying vessel.

The BOURBON ANTOINETTE is another newly built vessel, this one being classified as a crewboat. The tug / supply vessel CARIBBEAN FOS was also alongside, as was the EUROCARGO ISTANBUL with her recently added upper car decks. The final image shows the refrigerated cargo vessel TUNA PRINCESS.