The world’s biggest long car and truck carrier, the MV Titania, sailed out of the Grand Harbour yesterday flying a Maltese flag exactly 70 years after a ship owned by the Norwegian company sailed in carrying vital supplies.

One of five vehicle carriers, the Titania belongs to Wilhelmsen and has a capacity of 8,000 cars. Having 13 car decks, the ship is 52 metres high, 227.8 metres long and 34.7 metres deep.

The vessel was launched yesterday by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who pointed out that, in March 1942, the Talabot – also owned by the Wilhelmsen – had sailed into the Grand Harbour with supplies during the war.

Malta’s history “is woven” around the Grand Harbour and maritime activities and the port was crucial to the Knights of St John, the French, the British during World War II and, more recently, welcomed thousands of evacuees from the Libyan conflict.

With a “deep sense of pride”, Dr Gonzi said the Titania “allows us to reflect on Malta’s evolutionary interactions with the sea” and the establishment of an internationally recognised cluster.

It was also testimony to Malta’s reputation as a prime investment destination, among other things, where foreign direct investment increased by more than €500 million in the past year, Dr Gonzi said.

This, in turn, meant more opportunities with 20,000 jobs generated over the past four years with the “private sector being the engine of growth”.

Dr Gonzi said Wilhelmsen’s presence in Malta was set to expand.