Warships, superyacht vie for attention in Grand Harbour
The American destroyer USS Carney has arrived in Grand Harbour, the latest warship to take a break in Malta from operations off Libya.
The destroyer joins British assault ship HMS Ocean and supply ship RFA Fort Rosalie, which have been in harbour for several days.
Another assault ship, the French Navy's Mistral, left Grand Harbour yesterday after a crew change, but is expected to return shortly. It was the first time in decades that two helicopter carriers - Ocean and Mistral, were in Grand Harbour at the same time.
But they are not the only attractions in Grand Harbour.
Gracing the Grand Harbour Marina in the superyacht Serene, one of the biggest and most luxurious motoryachts in the world, whose equipment includes a submarine, a helicopter and internal swimming pool. The 134-metre yacht was built in the Italian shipyard of Fincantieri and is brand new.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
53 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Mr Alex Buds
Aug 15th 2011, 15:46
If you want peace, prepare for war...
guido cutajar
Aug 16th 2011, 08:43
Where did you got this ? Who said it..........Bin Laden jew.
Anthony Farrugia
Aug 17th 2011, 09:30
I think it was Julius Caesar actually.
Mr Stephen Borg
Aug 15th 2011, 13:59
All the bloggers which post rhetoric comments as regards these naval vessels would better appreciate the exact role of these vessels which are not intended to kill people but to save people's lives and to preserve freedom. In the Persian Gulf and in the Indian Ocean such vessels patrol the seas 24 by 7 to ensure that no cargo ship is taken over for ransom by pirates and thus ensuring a reliable flow of goods from Asia to Europe. In times of natural disasters like those in Haiti and Japan these ships are used as floating hospitals and transport much needed foods and medicines to the people in need. Last but not least the presence of these warships off the coast of Libya ensure that the Qaddafi regime does not get any fuel and arms supplies to continue killing innocent civilians just to hold on to power. I hope that all the bloggers posting rhetoric comments depicting these vessels as a plague would refrain from doing so and will start to appreciate the real use of these vessels.
JJ Debono
Aug 15th 2011, 12:37
Who cares we got to get some revenue from somewhere and all the business that goes with it., when i was in the RN we too used to go ashore and have a good time, so whats wrong with that. THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 15th 2011, 14:21
Dedicated to you. Nostalgia won't get you anywhere.
Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
Anthony Farrugia
Aug 15th 2011, 20:28
Mr Tony Camilleri : You have quoted the lyrics of the song "Those were the days, my friend" sung by Mary Hopkins in the late 60s. Better do a quick search on Google or Wikipedia to find the name of the lyrics' writer and do a proper attribution because you are giving the impression that you have penned these verses yourself. Remember Nikita (Zammit ) Alamango - you might be banned from posting on this blog to the relief of many !
Pule' Carmel
Aug 14th 2011, 23:22
There are three necessities in life, "Food, Shelter, and a means to Defend them" as other will definetely try to steal it away form you.
guido cutajar
Aug 15th 2011, 09:40
Imma nistaqsi...min qeghed jiprova jisirqilna il Helsien ? Qeghdin tinfaxxaw raskhom meta l`anqas hemm min ser iwaddab il gebla. Nahseb li veru irridu niddefendu il Helsien...min dawn il bicciet tal gwerra li qeghdin jithlu juzawna bhala latrina.
Alfred Grech
Aug 14th 2011, 19:00
To all those who seem to think that there is no use for these warships may I reiterate that "Freedom is not free" and that if you value your Freedom you should be obliged to defend it. That's what's going on here.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 14th 2011, 23:51
No Alfred Grech, that's not what's going on here. They are simply carrying out an illegal war because the UN never authorized attacking Libya but only enforcement of a no-fly-zone. They are only after Lbya's oil.
guido cutajar
Aug 15th 2011, 08:24
Mela jinzlu ajruplani ( tal gwerra )bl-iskuza ta emergenza, u il vapuri ( tal gwerra ) bhala kortesija...Pero minghajr il " visits " tal poplu, bhas soltu. Allura mhux ghax ikunu armati sa snienhom. Issa jekk xi mignun iffettillu jghamlilna bhal ma ghamlu lil USS Cole ? Pero il punt krucjali jibqa il fatt li il Kostituzzjoni qeghedha tigi imzebilha miz zewg partiti. Jekk ihossu li ghandha nghejnu lil xi hadd jibdlu dik il parti fejn tghejd li ma nstawx NIPPARTECIPAW FIL GWERRER. Mela l-ewwel iggelled lil poplu sakemm tibnijlu Kostituzzjoni u wara titmejjel bih ghax tkun int ( il gvern )stess li tiksira bl approvazzjoni tal l-oppozizjoni, ( ghax la ma titkellimx tkun qeghed tapprova ).. Allura il poplu gifa daqshekk ? Naqbel mieghek li il HELSIEN trid tiddeffendih..Imma f`dan il kaz, ahna bhala Malta min min il HELSIEN taghna qeghed jigi meddhed ? X`kien dak il hoss misterjuz ta Had Dingli ? Hadd ma jaf hux ?...............
Mr Peter Korsten
Aug 15th 2011, 12:29
@Tony Camilleri
"They are simply carrying out an illegal war because the UN never authorized attacking Libya but only enforcement of a no-fly-zone."
Nonsense, and you know it. The Security Council resolution was extremely broadly phrased, and as such could be (and was) extremely broadly interpreted. All countries that abstained knew what was going to happen, and after some token protests, did we hear anything from China or Russia? No. Everybody is happy for Gaddifi to disappear, or swing from a noose if he's stupid enough to stay until the end.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 15th 2011, 14:26
Mr Peter Korsten NO, the SC did not authorize bombardment of Libya.
It is simply NATO, the USA and the ex-colonizers wanting to rob Libya and other countries of their OIL.
What would NATO countries, Libya and the ex-colonizers do if some country aided those who revolted against their governments?
As for Gaddafi swinging from a noose, I certainly don't support him or his ways, but how about the Bushes and other NATO and ex-colonialist countries leaders also swinging from the gallows for their illegal wars, the mass murder of other countries citizens and the robbing of other countries natural resources?
Why two weights two measures?
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 14th 2011, 17:22
I just can't see whats so special with this destroyer.
For me its just a piece of fairly useless mass of metal, that is incapable of protecting the shipping routes in the Indian ocean, from the ill equipped but certainly cleverer Somali pirates.
It is also part of the reason why the USA has a13.5 TRILLION dollar debt which is bankrupting the country.
As for the yacht Serene, it would be interesting to know who the owner is, and how he managed to amass such a fortune to be able to finance such a boat?
Anthony Farrugia
Aug 14th 2011, 18:28
As for your last sentence, I see that the green eyed monster (ENVY) rears its head up again. Why don't you ask him for his income tax return as well ? !
Joe Degiorgio
Aug 14th 2011, 20:31
Admiral Koludrovic spoke.
Have you been to Somalia? Have you experianced what looking for a tiny speck in a vast ocean is like?
Have you met the "ill equipped but certainly cleverer Somali pirates"?
If you haven't been there then refrain from passing useless comments.
Ships like the Carney and many others are ensuring (till now) that YOU do NOT pay triple the price for imported items due to a longer sea voyage around Africa and even higher insurance rates.
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 14th 2011, 22:30
As the saying goes, "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Peace"
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 15th 2011, 08:24
No I'm not envious. Just curious.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 15th 2011, 17:40
@ Joe Degorgio,
My friend the shipping lines are already paying a much higher insurance premium because of this piracy.
However since these glorious navies are incapable of stopping this piracy, and only giving an escort service for the pirates, the western side of Africa is fast catching on to start their own piracy trade, with the countries of Benin, and Nigeria leading the charge.
The function of any Navy is to keep the shipping lines free, which unfortunately these fancy ships are not doing.
Maria Vassallo
Aug 14th 2011, 16:31
Thank you very much, Mr. Seychell, for reminding us of Malta's contemporary history.
As regards TC comments, who laughs last laughs best!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 14th 2011, 16:17
The visit by HMS Brazen was one single courtesy visit not a whole fleet coming and going as they please using Malta as their lavatory.
Secret agreement? Then how come everyone knew about it?
As for your last point, whether you like it or not we are going to have a Labour government come next election.
You have an axe to grind with Labour but you have been honing it so much that you have ended with just the handle.
Mr Henry Spiteri
Aug 14th 2011, 19:20
Mr Tony Camilleri
As for HMS Brazen visit, courtesy or not it was still a warship!
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 14th 2011, 23:53
Mr Henry Spiteri one single warship when there were no wars is not a whole fleet during several wars.
I do not agree with any warship visiting us at any time.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 15th 2011, 10:07
Mr Henry Spiteri
it was only one occasion of a courtesy visit while there were NO WARS going on.
I am against all warships visits whether it is during a war or not but especially during a war and especially warships of a super power who is hell-bent on instigating illegal wars all over the world.
Michael Seychell
Aug 14th 2011, 14:00
At Guido Cutajar and those that agreed with him.
You are all probably young in age or, getting old and therefore your memory is starting to fail you.
On 31st March 1979 consequent to an agreement reached between Mintoff's Malta goverment and the British Goverment, the British Services left Malta, and at the time we were told 'once and forever.
During 1986 - I do not remember the month of the year as my memory sometimes plays games with me as well, the present International Secretary of the Malta - Labour Party Dr. Alex Sciberras Trigona, the one who signed a secret agreement with Nort Comunist Korea - and who in 1986 was Malta's Foreign Minister, went to the Grand Harbour to welcome a British Naval War Ship, when barely seven years had passed awe were assured that we will never see again andy Military vessels in our Ports.
All this happened under the Labour government with KMB Prime Minister who was beinmg led by Dom Mintoff from the back benches.
As it happened the Naval ship's name was HMS Brazen and Dr. A lex Sciberras Trigona boarded the War Ship to welcome it in Port, and to top it all doned on his head a Sailor's Cap in celebration of the return of the War Ships under Socialist Malta.
In my opinion on that occasion Dr.AST proved that he was as Brazen faced as the name of the Warship, not only for going on it to welcome the War Ship in our port, but also for using the Cap of the lower rank in the British Navy when he could have borrowed a high officers' cap - at least to prove that our Country was not subservient anymore to the British Crown.
My last point or rarther reminder to one and all is that Dr. AST cuold become Malta's Foreign Minister once more in 2 years time, if God Forbid the unprepared Malta - Labour Party takes the government.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
guido cutajar
Aug 14th 2011, 16:28
@ Micheal Seychell......Qadt tahli il hin tikkumenta, ghal lasta, ghax l-argument tieghi ghamiltu ghal kull min qeghed jizzufjetta bil Kostituzjoni .Hu min Hu. Jien dejjem ghedt sabiex iz zewg partiti iduru madwar mejda u ibiddlu il Kostituzjoni u it tnejn jieqfu jitmejjlu bil poplu, ghax il Kostituzzjoni hija cara daqs il kristall " Chapter 1..1.3..Malta is a neutral state actively pursuing peace, security and social progress among all nations by adhering to a policy of non -alignment and REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY MILITARY ALLIANCE. Ghandi zmien bizzejjed li nghejdlek li meta dahlu bastimenti tal gwerra taht gvern laburista, ma kienx ghawn din it tensjoni fil Mediterran u ma konnhiex qeghed nippartecipaw f`xi gwerra bhal lum. Xorta jien ma naqbilx. Sakemm l-oghla ligi fil pajjiz tghejd li ma nistawx nipparticipaw, ghalija iz zewg partiti qeghdin jghamlu zball........Ghax wiehed qeghed jaccetta, u l-iehor ihallih allura komplici .
Anthony Farrugia
Aug 14th 2011, 13:28
Here they are again, the usual suspects moaning about our pseudo joke neutrality, "Gensna" (what a bore!) , Malta ghall Maltin (the usual Mintoff/KMB mantra) and apprehensive of declaring themselves pro-Gaddafi. Take a few days off and go to Gozo !
Jon Vercellono
Aug 14th 2011, 16:17
and don't forget, if it wasn't for the support of those usual suspects and their political heroes - Ghadaffi wouldn't be around right now, and there wouldn't be any warships in the Grand Harbour in any case then. Pot meet Mr. Kettle.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 15th 2011, 00:11
Sour grapes, Mr Farrugia? Don't you wish the PN had people capable of putting up something even remotely approaching the class of "Gensna"?
Watch, listen and enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcMih-S_COg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9190ec0tEtM&feature=related
Pule' Carmel
Aug 14th 2011, 11:36
All modern way of thinking. education and technology and logic which helped Maltese to improve their capacity to advance, all came thorugh the Grandharbour and the Airports, and it is the surroundings districts who first got a glimpse of the modern logic. The Maltese people living inland away from the ports were more interested in social behaviour and giving social servicies to the local community including the religious beliefs which thought that keeping traditions and the old local cultures will earn us a living . Than God for our ports especially our beautiful and truly GRAND HARBOUR which was always our life line with ANY TYPE OF SHIP and its cargoes that ply its simmering surface from St Elemo to Menqa. I am so proud that I lived all this. While people all over Malta enjoyed the local cikkcifogu we at Cottoenra enjoyed studying the incoming technology thorugh our ports which would eventually save us all and give us a new social structure for our " semi independence" we as yet are not fully independent and we never shall be. It is our logic that needs changing and the majority of this new logic must cone inthorugh our ports and not through our schools.
Mr Alex Buds
Aug 14th 2011, 18:37
Very true. Nowadays "ports" could also mean an internet port through which one's humble little computer is connected to the entire world of all information. Aside from that, the comment is right on.
Pule' Carmel
Aug 14th 2011, 22:49
Well Mr Buds, being an electronic engineer id did go thorugh my minds to suggestthat I would include input and output ports in computors. How delightful it is to know that the logic of our sea and air ports is being used to program the computor ports as input and output ports just by software.
I still use the old BBC computer where ?&FE62=264 will cause the ports to be output ports and ?&FE62 will cause the ports to change into input ports while the adress ?&FE60=xyz is the data that I wanted to be ourputed!
The above was the user port but to increase the capacity of my input output I threw away the printer and used the printer port where ?&FE63=1+2+4+8+0+0+0 prorammed the first 4 bits as output and the last four bits as input ports while ?&FE61=prt was the adress and the data which I wanted to output thorugh the printer port. I do enjoy my life using all the ports I can lay my hands on in Malta, but I prefer my beautiful Grandharbour port. I had such a lovely childhood swiming in it and watching it when it was calm and so angry in bad whether where it could not be used as either an infuto or an output port!!
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 14th 2011, 11:09
So once again our Grand Harbour has become a Naval Base, dedicated to death and destruction.
The dream did not last ling - the lust for power always wins in the end.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 14th 2011, 12:40
That's what allowing PN into power means.
The sorry example of the most obsequious lackey Prime Minister in the world is allowing NATO to store weapons and other war materials in Malta in violation of the Constitution which HE and all MP's swore to uphold.
He is also allowing storage of war materials in Malta.
He is also allowing military aircraft landings in Malta.
No wonder he is cursed and shall not enjoy a moment's rest for stealing the election and for being such an obsequious foreigners lackey.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 14th 2011, 16:59
Come on Victor,
both you and I know what the gaxin boats were all about.
A naval officer would come on board maybe slightly tipsy and a bit peckish. The Maltese steward would very conveniently remember that he ran out of tinned peaches, so he opens a fresh tin, two peaches for his officer and the rest on to the gaxin boat.
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 14th 2011, 22:35
@ Mr. Tony Camilleri
When the P.L. get back in ask for the following:-
1. Get out of NATO
2. Get out of the E.U.
3. Get out of the Euro
4. Get KMB back.
Malta will be heaven on earth.
Nicolai Schembri
Aug 15th 2011, 01:04
@Tony Camillieri
I can laugh at your jokes all day.....but luckily I have a life and I enjoy living my life and not complain about everything.
Anyways, keep them coming, military ships and especially aircraft are always welcome here.....and let the moaners moan.
Mr joseph formosa
Aug 14th 2011, 10:36
welcome to ALL NAVY ships in malta, it's like the old days we all lived with them wlecome,nice to see our harbour busy.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 14th 2011, 14:26
Who knows? Maybe we'll see children diving for the pennies (sorry, cents) thrown to them by the sailors once again ("Penny, Joe", the used to cry) ... or the "gaxin" boats picking up the leftovers .....
Only those who did not live through it could become nostalgic for the time when the Maltese lived off the charity of the British forces.
Mr Henry Spiteri
Aug 14th 2011, 19:24
@ Victor Laiviera
We are not living in the 1950s or 1960s, we are in 2011!!
Today`s children don't need sailors's pennies any more!
We are living a different world.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 14th 2011, 23:53
@ Mr Henry Spiteri
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
(George Santayana)
Colin Stanley
Aug 15th 2011, 09:43
Agree 100%. I come from Valletta and I remember those days, they were good days. yes Mr. Laiviera some of us did go down Stait street saying "Penny Joe, and most of the time we did get pennies from the British serviceman, what's wrong with that? making some easy cash. all the bussiness there used to be in Town. look at our City to day in the evening GHOST TOWN.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 15th 2011, 14:59
Yes, Mr Stanley, I am old enough to remember "all the bussiness there used to be in Town" - such as in Strait Street.
R. Borg
Aug 14th 2011, 10:11
Dawn turisti???????!!!!!!
Mr Mike Farrugia
Aug 14th 2011, 10:05
x'ghandu x'jaqsam? Hawn xi kura ghal-ghanqbut???
john muscat
Aug 14th 2011, 10:01
What an appropriate name "Serene" and what a contrast of ships, one is serene and the others the opposite!
guido cutajar
Aug 14th 2011, 09:32
Viva Malta Indipendenti 21 September 1964......Viva Malta Repubblika 13 December 1974..........Viva Malta Hielsa 31 Marzu 1979................X`inhu hielsa u indipendenti ? Trid ticcajta hux.
Wenzu Vella
Aug 14th 2011, 09:53
Naqbel mieghek Guido, Malta reget inbiet il-barrani halli jigi aw jaghmel li jrid. Xtahseb li jsir mit-turizmu f’Malta jekk isir xi attak terroristiku min xi wiehed barrani kontra dawn il bastimenti ta qerda navali ta potenzi li qieghdin ikissru in NEWTRALITA TA MALTA??????????
Victor Baldacchino
Aug 14th 2011, 09:56
Jien nahseb li hemm izjed hsara f'ilsienek milli dawn dahlu fil-port.Tinsiex x'qal Joseph Muscat dejjem sfrutta bil hsara ta haddiehor.Waterfront ikun ippakjat bihom.
Tony Dalli
Aug 14th 2011, 10:01
Il Gvern tal-gurnata biss mhux hieles. Ghax ghandu madmad Ewropew ma ghonqu.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 14th 2011, 12:42
Victor Baldacchino il-ħsara kbira qed issir minn dawn il-bastimenti tal-gwerra u j'Alla jinsteħtu forsi xi darba jkollna l-paċi.
Tony Mizzi
Aug 14th 2011, 14:52
So, true. Viva The Republic of Malta!!! More so now, if we are helping fellow democratic countries fulfil a UN Security Council resolution