Seventy years after the Wilhelmsen owned ship Talabot sailed into the Grand Harbour delivering vital supplies to Malta, the Wilhelmsen owned Titania will sail out of Grand Harbour under a Maltese Flag.
Speaking at the naming ceremony of the Titania this morning, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the Titania, the world's biggest long car and truck carrier, allows one to reflect on Malta's evolutionary interactions with the sea and on the establishment of an internationally recognised maritime cluster.
It was also testimony to Malta's strong economic fundamentals, future prospects and reputation as a prime investment destination.
The Titania is the fifth Wilhelmsen owned ship to sail under the Maltese flag following the establishment of a local subsidiary in 2008 and Wilhelmsen's belief in Malta's potential as a maritime centre of excellence in the Mediterranean was in line with the government's national vision.
"You, private sector investors, are not only partners in this national endeavour but also protagonists. The Wilhelmsen family and Group are contributing in transforming this vision a reality," Dr Gonzi said.