AFM to acquire four new patrol boats

Rod Abela

Feb 18th 2009, 18:11

One other thing about the Austral patrol boats - ALUMINIUM boats!! Memories are really short... did you know that the loss of the two Type 21 Amazon Class frigates (HMS Ardent and HMS Antelope) during the Falklands war in 1982 was attributed largely to the fact that these frigates had an alunimium superstructure???

Rod Abela

Feb 18th 2009, 18:07

Another botched acquisition! The AFM do NOT need 4 INSHORE patrol boats but they only need 2 to replace the obsolescent SWIFT class patrol boats. The money saved should be spent on another modified Diciotti class OFFSHORE corvette to patrol the southern maritime approaches on anti-immigration duties and serve in the fishery protection role. Think again before signing the deal!!

Eh by the way - any one of readers knows what happened to the UH-72A Lokata 'half-a-copter" that was supposed to be delivered last November? Why all this silence? What went horribly wrong?? Sorry I did not explain the term '"half-a-copter".... if ever delivered this helicopter will have the dubious distinction of being the first and only HALF helicopter ever donated by the USA! Another thing..what happened to that famous white M35 truck donated by the US and delivered with so much pomp... We await answers dear Brigadier!

Joe Vella (Mellieha.)

Feb 18th 2009, 08:12

@ Louise Vella and John Portelli

What we need to defend Malta from is from certain people with a certain mentality.

Carmel Camilleri, well said.

T Mifsud

Feb 17th 2009, 16:30

@Edwin Formosa

Although I agree with you that people should praise the authorities/AFM for managing to acquire such vessels, I understand the common cry of the Maltese people. Please do not politicise this. We need to modernise our fleet to guard against today's tsunami of illegal immigrants. Perhaps if we take a leaf out of Australia's anti immigration policy we would stem the problem for good.

More than that, may I also suggest that in view of today's major illegal immigration crisis, the Maratime Law with regard to SAR needs to be reviewed. As it is illigal immigrants are abusing the law by willfully and illegally creating an emergency at sea so as to invoke Maratime Law of compulsory Search and Rescue. The person in charge of the boats (usually armed with GPS and Satellite phone) should first be rescued then charged of willfully seriously endangering the passengers on board, sailing without authorization/licence, sailing on an unseaworthy vessel, sailing without proper equipment etc etc etc. He should NOT be held at a detention center or open center or given 5000 Euros to repatriate himself and do it all over again, BUT be imprisoned, one after the other, for a decade.

Edwin Formosa

Feb 17th 2009, 15:18

< Austal boats are the best military boats in the world > ....U din l-Orkestra Qrid u Tnewwieh li rat il-bidu taghha wara t-Tielet Telfa Konsekuttiva. Tassew li Ingergru b'opri ta din il-kwalita meta konna nghoxew bir-racanc obsolete li kien jarmi fuqna haddiehor.

M.Gauci

Feb 17th 2009, 12:39

John Portelli.

Easier said, than done. What can you do when there is a boat load of people in middle of the big pool asking for assistance ? I mean, come on, lets be serious here and this counts for Igalea as well. What on earth are you suggesting? There are international laws for SAR zones. We cannot murder people.

In the short term we can only repatriate them when they come from political stable countries, but that again comes at a cost. And keep the ones that come from countries where sending them back will jeopardise their life. The EU should take on some of these from Malta, but there is a limit. Europe cannot take on Africa.
So I believe that the long term solution is agreeing with other African countries to hold some of their brothers. Invest in Africa so we get less migrants, somehow make Gaddafi stop (and not encourage) the mass moving of people from Libya to Malta/Italy/Europe.
But of course we are open to your suggestions, if they are practical and lawful, but please avoid the shooting at site comments like some people imply (not Mr. Portelli/Galea)

Stephen Mumford

Feb 17th 2009, 11:41

Joke of the week !! Pajjiz tal Mickey Mouse

Why not organise pick ups from Libya with these boats ? We have become the laughing stock of the mediterranean. Less talk more actions needed. We must rise as a whole population and state that these immigrants are NOT WELCOME on our island.

Anthony Baldacchino

Feb 17th 2009, 11:35

You all mean to say that if it is dark and they cannot make out the color of the skin of a drowning human being , should the AFM ask for credentials before rescue? and if from Africa abstain from assistance?

victor vella

Feb 17th 2009, 11:34

Carmelo Camilleri
Search and rescu has become to mean collect and deliver here in Malta.Collect the illegal imigrants and deliver them to Hal Far.Complete with land transport free medical insurance and free lodging.I only thank the EU for one thing about these boats , at least they cost less to run and the soldiers on them would be a bit more comfortable.

F Spiteri

Feb 17th 2009, 11:34

John Portelli - well said. Malta should adopt Australia's same policy when it comes to illegal immigrants. But all suggestions seem to fall on deaf ears here !!

D Vella

Feb 17th 2009, 11:21

I'm sure the illegal immigrants that the AFM pick up on a regular basis and bring to Malta, will be suitably impressed by the new boats ! !

Darren Mallia

Feb 17th 2009, 11:04

Well said Carmel Camilleri.

Thanks for confirming that these boats will end up being used as taxis. And NO, it is not irrelevant what they are used for. If we are being taken for a ride by the EU when the whole bloc is shifting its responsibilities under the conventions you mention on the Maltese people at least have the decency and a modicum of mental brightness to admit that you are bing taken for a ride.

John Portelli

Feb 17th 2009, 10:44

Austal boats are the best military boats in the world even the US NAVY has them they are ALL ALUMINIUM,and rivet free .And they are built in Henderson WESTERN AUSTRALIA,Just a15 minute drive from where I live in South Perth.And I most certianlly agree with Louise Vella,DON'T USE THEM AS A FERRY SERVICE FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS.USE THEM TO DEFEND MALTA AND HER PEOPLE,LIKE WE DO HERE.

Carmel Camilleri

Feb 17th 2009, 10:34

Louise, the AFM will use them for any Search and Rescue operation carried out in the Maltese Search and Rescue Area which is defined by the SAR and SOLAS conventions, which Malta signed decades ago. The AFM does not carry out duties in what you call "Libyan Waters".

Whether these are used to save illegal immigrants, an injured turtle, or the crew and passengers of a sinking cruise liner within our search and rescue area is totally irrelevant.

These are international obligations that Malta must meet with its limited means. These boats will make that task easier.

louise vella

Feb 16th 2009, 18:36

Great! But it depends what they will serve for. Will they be used as a robust coastguard to defend Malta and its waters from incursion by illegal immigrants? Or will they serve as a taxi service to ferry illegal immigrants from Libyan waters to Malta?