One of the interesting vessels that was laid up in Malta was the converted 1954 built suction dredger DIANNE K.
She was originally built as the coaster AURIGA at the GJ van de Werff’s Scheepsbw in Westerbroek with yard number 268 for the Dutch owner Jan Kuiper & Egbert Mooij based at Groningen, Netherlands homeported in Groningen (NLD Flag) as a raised quarter deck type with 1 mast & 2 derricks. She was 49.5 metres long, 8.15 m as beam with maximum draft of 4.20 metres. Propulsion was being done by a 6 cylinder 375 HP engine giving maximum speed of 9.5 knots, while an auxiliary engine of 20 HP was also be installed in the engine room. She was launched on 12th December 1953 and on 3rd March, 1954 she started sea trials and was renamed as AURIGA G.
On the 30th July 1971 she was sold to Sand Suppliers (Western) Ltd, England and was converted into a sand dredger/sand transport vessel SAND JADE of which in 1981 she was coal dredging off the North East Coast. In 1982 she was sold again to Parkroy Transport Co. Ltd, Bristol in UK and renamed DIANNE K in 1982. In 1987 she was sold to Marine Sand & Gravel Ltd, Valletta ,Malta, name unchanged.
After she spent years laid up at Church Wharf, Marsa at the inner part of Grand Harbour she was moved to Naples, Italy and on 16th October 1996 she left under tow bound to Aliaga for breaking up by Sok Ltd arriving on 21st October 1996.
Watermarked Photos are by Capt. Lawrence Dall otherwise stated. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Monday 4th October, 2021