#boats #postittheme Last 3 ships built in the Malta Drydock before it was closed down in the late ‘80’s - M.V. Ta’ Pinu (named for a famous church in Gozo) - M.V. Malita (Pictured, Named after the Roman name for Malta) - M.V. Gaulos (Named for the Roman name for Gozo) Nicknamed by the Maltese as ‘il-Ghawdex’. The name of the small car ferry before these three was ‘il-Ghawdex’ (The Gozo) and it kinda stuck with the next generation. Running between Cirkewwa key (Malta) and Mgarr harbour (Gozo) the ferry has been the main link between the two islands since the early days if Punic Malta. It has always existed in one form or another, originally taking people between Malta, Gozo and Comino (Comino has its own little passenger ferry now) Side note, prior to the 16th century, Ottoman Corsair’s used to hide in the caves of Comino and raid the ‘ferry’ and occasionally Gozo itself. The Order of St John built St Mary’s tower to guard the Comino channel (which can still be seen today). The job usually went to ill-behaved knights of the Order who would be stationed for about a month at the tower. It was lonely and dangerous to face the Corsair’s alone, but the tower played a part in the fire warning system for both islands, with a chain of fires reaching both Valletta and the Cittadella in Gozo, these are known as ‘Torri de Wignacourt’ after the Grandmaster who ordered their construction. More recently, St Mary’s tower served as a AA gun turret and storage for the RAF during the Second World War. I may have slipped into my history degree mode slightly 😂😂

Posted by Deleted (7a477c72) at 2021-10-26 10:25:09 UTC