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Maritime Squadron, Armed Forces of Malta

Last updated: September 3, 2010

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 Haywharf, 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.

On December 13, 2008, Republic Day, the President, on behalf of the Government and people of Malta paid public tribute to the Maritime Squadron by awarding them the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in recognition of the tough and demanding role they are carrying out on a daily basis on the country's borders.

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 & Rapid Deployment Team (MSRDT)
  • Division 4 - Marine Engineering
  • Division 5 - Integrated Logistics

Patrol Assets

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

  • 1x P61 ("Modified" Diciotti) Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (P61)
  • 2x P52 (Protector) Class Coastal Patrol Boats (P51 & P52)
  • 1x P32 (Bremse) Class Inshore Patrol Boat (P32)
  • 4x P21 (Austal) Class Inshore Patrol Boat (P21, P22, P23 & P24)  
  • 2x Melita (Vittoria) Class Fast Search & Rescue Launches (Melita I & Melita II)
  • 1x RIB 33' SC Fast Interceptor Craft (P01)

P61 Offshore-Patrol Vessel

  • Type: Offshore-Patrol Vessel (OPV) 
  • Class: P61 ("Modified" Diciotti - of the Italian Coast Guard)
  • Builders: Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.a., Muggiano
  • Yard Number: 6126 
  • Propulsion: 2x Isotto Fraschini V1716 T2 MSD diesel engines
  • Displacement: 393 tons full load
  • Length, overall: 53.4 metres
  • Length, between perpendiculars: 47.2 metres
  • Beam, moulded: 8.1 metres
  • Depth: 5.4 metres
  • Speed: 23 knots maximum
  • Range: 2100 nautical miles at 16 knots
  • Complement: 25
  • Armament: 1x 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. 

P61, 100% funded from the 5th Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol, was handed over to the Armed Forces 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, P61 finally departed Muggiano on September 26, 2005 arriving in Malta in the early morning of October 1, 2005 after making a short spell in Messina for quick repairs.  P61 was formally commissioned in an official ceremony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Haywharf, Floriana, on November 4, 2005.  During the ceremony, P61 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. L. Gonzi.

P51 & P52 Coastal-Patrol Boats

  • Type: Coastal Patrol Boat (CPB)
  • Class: P51 (Protector of the USCG); based on the Damen STAN 2600 
  • Builders: Bollinger Shipyards Inc., U.S.A.
  • Yard Number: 51 (P51) & 52 (P52)
  • Propulsion: 2x MTU diesels; 1,500-bhp
  • Displacement, full: 90 tons
  • Length: 26.1 metres 
  • Beam: 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 RHIB c/w its recovery system

P51, 100% funded by the U.S. Government, was commissioned during an official ceremony at the Maritime Squadron's base at Haywharf, Floriana, on November 13, 2002.  During the ceremony, P51 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 E. Fenech Adami.  

P52, 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 Haywharf, Floriana, on July 7, 2004.  P51 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 L. Gonzi.

P32 Inshore-Patrol Boat

 

  • Type:  Inshore Patrol Boat
  • Class:  P32 (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 had a change of engines, and was placed in long-term storage. P 33 was taken on charge by the Malta Tourism Authority, during August 2010, to be sunk as a diving wreck in the Maltese waters.

P21, P22, P23 & P24 Inshore-Patrol Boats

  • Type: Inshore Patrol Boat (IPB)
  • Class: P21 (Austal)
  • Builders: Austal Pty Ltd., Australia 
  • Yard Numbers: 253 (P21), 254 (P22), 255 (P23) & 256 (P24)
  • Propulsion: 2x MAN D2842 LE410 diesel engines, 2x fixed pitch propellers
  • Displacement, maximum: 40 tonnes 
  • Length, overall: 21.2 metres 
  • Length, waterline: 17.8 metres
  • Beam, moulded: 5.5 metres
  • Depth, moulded: 2.8 metres
  • Speed: more than 26 knots
  • Complement: 8
  • Armament: 2x 7.62mm LMG, 1x 12.7mm HMG
  • Other equipment: a 3.4 metres RHIB, stowed and launched off a stern ramp recessed into the main deck

AFM's P21 class IPBs were built by Austal Australia after an international call of tenders by the Maltese government obo the Armed Forces of Malta.  The €9.5m contract - of which €7.2m were funded through the E.U.'s External Borders Fund (2008) - for the construction of the four P21 calls IPBs was signed between the AFM and Austal Australia in February 2009.  The contract included also the delivery of the four patrol-boats to Malta, spares support and training of AFM's personnel. 

After completion of builder's ship trials in Australia, the four IPBs were delivered to Malta on the dutch-registered cargo ship Archangelgracht, arriving in Valletta Port on February 11, 2010 around 0710LT.  The four IPBs were commissioned in the Maritime Squadon in an official ceremony at its base at Haywharf on March 18, 2010.

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
  • Beam: 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.

P01 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: 2x Cummins Mercruiser
  • Draught, static: 0.80 metres
  • Draught, dynamic: 0.30 metres
  • Range: 200 nautical miles at 35 knots

P01, 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 Haywharf, Floriana.