The HEPHAESTUS when she was high and dry on the rocks was quite a tourist attraction. I was told that since she has been refloated in 15th. August the various pubs, bars and restaurant owners are bemoaning the fact that she has been removed as the area was attracting lots of tourists and sightseers posing for photos with the beached vessel in the background, there was also an enterprising barman who mixed a cocktail and named it "Hepheaestus on the Rocks" a cool drink on ice. I wonder if this drink is still popular now that the vessel has been refloated and tugged away.
regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Thanks David for transferring the HEPHAESTUS news item about her refloating from my other posting, much appreciated .
Thank you once again
my regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Successfully refloated 15 August 2018 by Cassar Marine Services. Emmanuel reported elsewhere:

Hydraulic rams positioned on the rocky shore shoved whist tugs pulling her, she was dragged back to her rightful element and towed back to Valletta harbour to Cassar Shipyard where repairs will be effected..
Before this operation she had to be patched up to make her seaworthy for the voyage .Incidentally and coincidentally She was shipwrecked on 10-2-18 on the same coast where St.Paul ship was wrecked on 10-2-60 AD, 1958 years ago.
She was towed into Valletta harbour on 15-8-18, 76 years to the day when another tanker ,the OHIO of Operation Pedestal convoy, the event known locally as " The Santa Marija Convoy" (Thw St.Mary's Convoy) sailed in assisted by tugs and warships on 15-8-1942.
Incredible coincidence.
The OHIO was later broken up locally .....let us see what the fate of this small old tanker ,the HEPHAESTUS will be? another scrapping?

Videos here:
https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/after-six-months-shipwrecked-in-qawra-the-hephaestus-has-finally-been-removed
https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180815/local/tanker-that-ran-aground-in-qawra-pulled-to-sea.686842