AFM patrol boat seizes Italian trawler in Maltese fishing zone

Galea. L

Jun 30th 2009, 22:44

Mike Agius
I don't know about the Malta VMS, but the international one is working. However, for the system to work the ships must report their position so that tracing could be kept.

For the international version have a look at http://9h1av.topcities.com/hp.html scroll down and click on the link Vapuri - Ships

You can also go straight to http://9h1av.topcities.com/vapuri.html where you can see the ships anywhere you want.

The opening map is on Malta and you can zoom in, out, move right, left and if you hold down the left mouse button you can shift the area. If you place the cursor on the ship and other symbols it gives you the name of the ship, its speed and course.

If you click the left mouse button once on the ship symbol a small window will open on the same screen and it will give you further details about the ship. from the same window you can also track the particular ship. The map updates every 100 seconds.

By the way, all the square boxes many of them on hurd bank at 12 miles to the East are tankers.

Dennis Zammit

Jun 30th 2009, 21:31

Well Done Armed Forces of Malta.

The next step is to catch those Italian vessels that escaped and which where spotted by the AFM aircraft. Some time or another, they will approach the Maltese waters for duty free fuel, water or supplies. The Maltese Authorities should confiscate their vessels without return.

Once again, WELL DONE

John N Scerri

Jun 30th 2009, 19:41

Why don't we send GREENPEACE to Portapalo di Capopassero???

Mike Agius

Jun 30th 2009, 16:56

Hurd's Bank is approximately 12 nautical miles northeast of Valletta, an area well covered by land based radar at Valletta. Im sure the authority responsible for monitoring this particular radar station has trained its personell in discriminating between normal shipping traffic and illegal activity be it fishing, smuggling etc. I get the impression that this illegal activity by these Italian trawlers would not have been interrupted had it not been reported to the authorities. So much for the multi million euro Radar stystem co financed by the E.U. Oh yes and what about that marvellous VMS system, was that not working.

Charlie Mizzi

Jun 30th 2009, 16:45

Well done AFM. Let's hope the Maltese government uses this opportunity to send a strong message to the other boats that were not caught. A harsh punishment, like holding the boat for a long period of time plus a big fine should do the trick. (please no suspended sentences). I know we need to be nice with our neighbours but I don't think the Italian fisherman know how to play nice.

Paul Bonnici

Jun 30th 2009, 15:22

At least now the AFM are doing their proper job rather than 'rescuing' illegal immigrants.

I am sure Italian fishermen would rather see the AFM busy with illegal immigrants.

Dr Francis Saliba

Jun 30th 2009, 15:01

If the Italian fishing vessels were only transiting through our territorial waters why did they have to cut off their nets? The sindaco of Porto Palo will next ask us to believe that his fishermen need to come to Hurd's bank to wash their nets!

godfrey pisani

Jun 30th 2009, 13:58

well done afm keep up the good work.

J Farrugia

Jun 30th 2009, 12:30

this fishing boat was transiting (according to the Mayor of portopalo) with a hoard load of fish on board? From where did the fish came? It flew from the deep into the trawler????

J. Muscat

Jun 30th 2009, 12:27

well done!!

M. Tabone

Jun 30th 2009, 12:26

This is the work that AFM should do and not catching illegal immigrants! Well done AFM

Mike Micallef

Jun 30th 2009, 12:15

and how would the mayor of Porto Palo know what was happening on Hurd's Bank, over a 100 km away?? maybe we should have the Mayor of Hal-Muxi, dressed in full regalia, issuing a statement in rebuttal. It would have the same credibility.

Galea. L

Jun 30th 2009, 12:14

Good job AFM.

stephen farrugia

Jun 30th 2009, 12:02

Malta needs a military defence agreement because these last few months have shown us, that Libya and Italy have no intention to honour their agreement to protect Malta in case of war or an serious problems(immigration).
Our AFM are heros for all the work that they have done over the last five years, with such a poor pay. They did their duty to the full and now have more time to stop illegal fishing, once immigrants are being stopped at 14 miles out at sea, by the Italians, to defend THEIR national interest.
Thank God we have a police and army force that do their duty and work for our national interest, something that our politicians might care to copy, even after their huge pay rise.

Paul Dimech

Jun 30th 2009, 11:56

Good work AFM.

Donna Schembri

Jun 30th 2009, 11:51

A job well done by AFM Airwing and Maritime. Keep it up!

C.Camilleri

Jun 30th 2009, 11:45

Very good work from the AFM. This is what we need from them!! Protecting our tiny island with a mere space for fishing from these cash hungry fishermen! Well Done and keep it up! May all the arrogant italians learn some lessons!!!