Dawn Princess – Venice to Sydney August 2013 – Post 10

Valletta 10/9

This was my first visit to Malta. Valletta has a great harbour and is a most interesting city to walk around. The weather was, predictably, sunny and very hot.

Sunrise off Malta.

Entering Valletta harbour.

Some more of the ubiquitous super yachts alongside.

Captain Philip Pickford, the not so formally attired harbour pilot and the Staff Captain on the bridge.

All fast alongside.

Typical Valletta street scene.

Another happy tourist.

The beautiful St. John’s Cathedral.

A canon salute on our departure.

Suez Canal Transit 13/9

We entered the canal at Port Said late on the night of the 12^th, anchored in the Great Bitter Lakes in the early hours of the 13^th and resumed our transit to Suez and the Red Sea at midday that day.

What is currently the world’s largest containership, the 400mx59m 18,000 teu Maersk McKinney Moller - early morning in the Great Bitter Lakes.

3 Maersks in the Great Bitter Lakes (L-R): Maersk Columbus (6200 teu), Maersk McKinney Moller
 and a 15,700 teu Emma Maersk class ship

Resuming our transit with tugs in attendance.

Leaving the canal at Suez.

I'd forgotten how hot it is in Suez.

Being overtaken by a containership in the Red Sea that evening.