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Maritime Squadron, Armed Forces of Malta

What is today known as the Maritime Squadron, was established in November 1970 as the Maritime Troop of the Malta Land Force. In July 1971, the Maritime Troop was transformed into a Battery and became to be known as the 1(Maritime) Battery of the Malta Land Force and was based at Senglea. In October 1977, the 1(Maritime) Battery moved office to its current location at Hay Wharf, Floriana.

On April 1, 1980 the 1(Maritime) Battery was absorbed in the newly formed Task Force and renamed Maritime Squadron.

On May 11, 1988 the Task Force was amalgamated into the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) and the Maritime Squadron became to form part of the 1 Regiment, AFM.

In 1992, with the re-organisation of the Armed Forces of Malta, the Maritime Squadron became to form part of the 2 Regiment, now a composite regiment, together with two other sub-units: the Air Squadron and the Air Defence Battery. All patrol boats on strength with Squadron had the 'C' prefix changed to 'P'.

With the re-organisation of the Armed Forces of Malta and the disbandment of 2(Composite) Regiment on October 30, 2006, the Maritime Squadron became an independent unit - on regimental level - with its own headquaters, chain of command and logistic structure.

Roles

The Maritime Squadron, remains responsible for safeguarding territorial integrity, law enforcement in connection with contraband, narcotics, arms and migrant trafficking; patrolling the continental shelf and fisheries conservation zones; search and rescue; and assistance to civil authorities.

The Maritime Squadron is the prime maritime security and law enforcement agency, and search and rescue and rescue unit on the island. The duties of the Maritime Squadron encompass those duties generally assigned to independent organisations in other countries including the navy, coast guard, customs, police, environmental protection agencies, and maritime rescue units. Due to Malta's limited budget, the Government is compelled to assign most of these duties to the AFM in order to prevent duplication of resources.

Although the role of the Maritime Squadron has hardly changed since its establishement in 1970, the volume of operations has increased dramatically. With Malta's entry into the European Union on April 1, 2004 the volume of operations continued to surge in certain field, such as fisheries, border control and ship safety in particular.

The most salient duty of the Maritime Squadron is monitoring and controlling maritime trafficking, especially since Malta is now Europe's southernmost island nation that is surrounded by sea borders. The Squadron also promotes safety at sea by ensuring that craft are properly registered and insured; remain outside swimmer zones; and always maintain speed limits.

The Squadron's logistic system is semi-independent, having a vast range of tradesmen and therefore facilitating repair work and maintenance of the patrol craft on the base itself.

Organisation

Squadron Headquarters
Base Party
Division 1 - Medium/Offshore Craft
Division 2 - Inshore Patrol Craft
Division 3 - Training and Rapid Deployment Team (MSRDT)
Division 4 - Marine Engineering
Division 5 - Integrated Logistics

Patrol Assets

To perform her duties, the Maritime Squadron is equipped with:

1 "Modified" Diciotti Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (P 61)
2 Protector Class Coastal Patrol Boats (P 51 & P 52)
2 Bremse Class Inshore Patrol Boats (P 32 & P 33)
2 Swift Class Inshore Patrol Boats (P 23 & P 24)
2 Melita (Vittoria) Class Fast Search & Rescue Launches (Melita I & Melita II)
1 RIB 33' SC Fast Interceptor Craft (P 01)

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Last revised: March 26, 2007

P 61 Offshore-Patrol Vessel

Type: Offshore-Patrol Vessel
Class: "Modified" Diciotti (of the Italian Coast Guard)
Builders: Fincantieri S.p.a. at Muggiano Shipyard, La Spezia, Italy
Yard Number: 61
Propulsion: 2 x Isotto Fraschini V1716 T2 MSD diesel engines
Displacement: 393 tons full load
Length, overall: 53.4 metres
Length, between perpendiculars: 47.2 metres
Breadth, moulded: 8.1 metres
Depth: 5.4 metres
Speed: 23 knots maximum
Range: 2100 nautical miles at 16 knots
Complement: 25
Armament: 1 x OTO Breda 25mm electrical diven cannon
Equipment and Capabilities: Capabile of launching and recovering a fast interception craft in Sea Force 4 by means of a stern ramp; Fin stabilizers to reduce excessive movement of vessel and to be capable to perform patrols in rough seas force 5 and to withstand sea conditions up to force 7; Reverse Osmosis plant for the supply of fresh water, sewage treatment plant, bilge-water de-oiling plant, fire fighting equipment, towing capabilities and an air-condition environment; Aft platfrom, but with no hangar, to accommodate and replenish up to a medium size helicopter.

P 61, 100% funded from the 5th Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol, was handed over to the Armed Force of Malta at Muggiano Shipyard on September 1, 2005 when the Maltese Ensign and Jack were hoisted on the vessel for the first time. After undergoing further sea trails, P 61 finally departed Muggiano on September 26, 2006 arriving in Malta in the early morning of October 1, 2006 after making a short spell in Messina for urgent repairs. P 61 was finally commissioned in an official ceremony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Hay Wharf, Floriana, on November 4, 2005. During the ceremony, P 61 was presented on behalf of the Italian Government by the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Senator Roberto Antonione and accepted on behalf of the Maltese Government by the Prim Minister, the Hon Dr. Lawrance Gonzi.

P 51 & P 52 Coastal Patrol Boats

Type: Coastal Patrol Boat
Class: Protector (of the U.S. Coast Guard); based on the Damen STAN 2600
Builders: Bollinger Shipyards Inc., U.S.A.
Yard Number: 51 (P 51) & 52 (P 52)
Propulsion: 2 x MTU diesels; 1,500-bhp
Displacement: 90 tons full displacement
Length: 26.1 metres
Breadth: 5.79 metres
Depth: 1.8 metres
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 1900 miles
Complement: 11
Armament: 7.62mm machine-gun(s)
Endurance: 3 days
Radio Equipment: UHF, VHF FM/Marine, HF DSC INMARSAT-C
Other Equipment: Safe boat 5.6 metres RHB c/w its recovery system

P 51, 100% funded by the U.S. Government, was commissioned during an official ceremony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Hay Wharf, Floriana, on November 13, 2002. During the ceremony, P 51 was presented on behalf of the U.S. Government by the Ambassador of U.S.A. to Malta, Mr A.Gioia, and accepted on behalf of the Government of Malta by the Prim Minister, the Hon Dr Eddie Fenech Adami.

P 52, funded 75% by the U.S. Government and 25% by the Maltese Government, was commissioned in an official ceremenony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Hay Wharf, Floriana, on July 7, 2004. P 51 was presented on behalf of the U.S. Government by Mr Thomas M.Murphy, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S.A. Embassy in Malta, and accepted on behalf of the Government of Malta by the Prim Minister, the Hon Dr Lawence Gonzi.

P 32 & P 33 Inshore Patrol Boats

Type: Inshore Patrol Boat
Class: Bremse (Type KB123)
Propulsion: 2 x DM 6VD 18/5 diesel engines; 2 x Iveco 8281 SRM-70 diesel engines in P 32 only from 2004
Displacement: 42 tons full load
Length: 22.6 metres
Breadth: 4.7 metres
Depth: 1.1 metres
Speed: 24+ knots
Complement: 6
Armament: 12.7mm machine-gun/s
Radars: TSR33 surface search; I-band

P 32 (ex East Germany Navy G 33/GS 20) and P 33 (ex East Germany Navy G 22/GS 22), both built in 1971-72, were commissioned in an official ceremony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Hay Wharf, Floriana, on November 30, 1992. In 2004, P 32 underwant a general refit, and the original DM 6VD 18/5 diesel engines were replaced by two Iveco 8281 SRM-70 diesels. Unlike P 32, P 33 did not have a change of engines.

P 23 & P 24 Inshore Patrol Boats

Type: Inshore Patrol Boat
Class: Swift
Builders: Sewart Seacraft Ltd., U.S.A.
Propulsion: 2 x General Motors 12V-71 diesels; 680-hp sustained; 2 shafts
Displacement: 22.5 tons full load
Length: 15.6 metres
Breadth: 4 metres
Depth: 1.5 metres
Speed: 25 knots
Range: 400 miles at 18 knots
Endurance: 24 hours
Armament: 12.7mm M2 machine-gun/s
Radars: Surface Search; Furano 1040; I-band LN66

P 23 (ex USA C6823) and P 24 (ex USA C6824), both built in 1967, were donated by the U.S. Government to the Maltese Government in February 1971 to be operated by the newly formed Martime Troop of the Malta Land Force to guard the Maltese territorial waters. Both Swifts were delivered to Malta on board the U.S. Naval vessel USS Wood County. The two patrol-boats were unloaded at Parlatorio Wharf and the operation was carried out by the Maltese port workers. C 23 and C 24, as the Swifts were originally coded, were officially handed over to the Martime Troop of the Malta Land Force on April 5, 1971 by the then Ambassador to Malta, Mr J.C. Pritzlaff. C 23 and C 24 were re-coded in 1992 as P 23 and P 24 respectively.

Melita I & Melita II Fast Search & Rescue Launches

Type: Fast Search And Rescue Launch
Class: Melita (CP800 Vittoria)
Builders: Cantiere Navale Vittoria, Adria, Italy
Propulsion: 850-hp
Length: 12.6 metres
Breadth: 5.1 metres
Depth: 0.7 metres
Speed: 32 knots
Range: 200 nautical miles

Melita I & Melita II, both Vittoria Class Fast Search & Rescue Launches, were originally delivered to the Civil Protection Department, Malta, on August 10, 1998. Both launches were constructed by Cantiere Navali Vittoria of Italy and were financed by the 4th Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol. Prior to their arrival Maltese personnel went for a specialised familiarisation course in Italy. In 1999 the administration of both launches was handed over to the Maritime Squadron.

P 01 Fast Interceptor Craft

Type: RIB 33' SC Fast Interceptor
Builder: FB Design Srl, Italy
Length, overall: 10.43 metres
Length, hull: 10.20 metres
Beam with inflated collar: 2.72 metres
Beam with deflated collar: 2.20 metres
Propulsion: 2 x Cummins Mercruiser
Draught, static: 0.80 metres
Draught, dynamic: 0.30 metres
Range: 200 nautical miles at 35 knots

P 01, acquired by the Armed Forces of Malta through the 2003 pre-accession E.U. funding, was officially handed over to the AFM in a short ceremony on February 22, 2006 at Maritime Squdron's base at Hay Wharf, Floriana.