Exhibition in the Malta War Museum
M V MOOR
8 April 1941
A working dockyard vessel was blown up today at the entrance to Grand Harbour. 28 of the 29-man crew were killed. The Admiralty Mooring Vessel Moor was carrying out maintenance work on the boom-defence nets protecting the harbour entrance. Shortly after 5.00pm, as the vessel started its engine to return to the dockyard, a deafening explosion shook buildings across the harbour area. People rushed to the Bastions, only to watch as the vessel turned over on her side and rapidly sank.
A ferry boat, several Naval Dockyard and Air Force pinnaces and many dghajsas raced to the scene.
Only one survivor, diver/rigger Anthony Mercieca, was plucked from the water by a Naval vessel and taken to Bighi Royal Naval Hospital.
Mr Mercieca later described his escape. He was blown into the air inside the ship’s cabin, before plunging about twenty feet under water. He struggled to force open the jammed cabin door and managed to surface, while debris from the vessel was still flying about.
Military casualties –
Gunner S Agius, 11 HAA Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery
Crew members of the Mooring Vessel Moor -
Michael Aquilina
Joseph Bartolo
Louis Bezzina
Alfred Bonnici
Joseph Brincat
Joseph Calleja
Peter Calleja
Vincent Camilleri
Raphael Cauci
Emanuel Darmanin
Francis Degabriele
Spiro D’Emmanuele
Dominic Flores
Lawrence Grima
Emanuel Hatchings
Joseph Mazzelli
John Mizzi
Emanual Psaila
Eugenio Spiteri
Lawrence Tabone
Angelo Vella
Gerald Vella
Paul Vella
John Mary Xerri
Vincent Xerri
George Zahra
Carmel Zammit
