The Liberian-flagged, 11,229 gt, 1975-built semi-submersible rig Sea Explorer arrived in Valletta Grand Harbour fromoffshore Tunisia under tow of the French tug Bourbon Astyanax last week and was assisted to Malta Shipyards by four tugs. Sea Explorer is expected to be at Malta Shipyards “for quite some time”. This is the second semi-submersible rig to call at Malta Shipyards this year after the Atwood Hunter last January. In just over six months, a decision is expected to be taken about Malta Shipyards’ future when it stops receiving subsidies from January 2009. Cecil Jones