History of Cospicua

Its maritime facilities started during ancient times around the Phoenician era c. 600 B.C. In 1776 the Order of St. John started to construct a dockyard, which was to play a vital role in the development of this city. During the reign of the British Empire, the navy made extensive use of the dockyard, particularly during the Crimean War, the First World War and during the years preceding the Second World War.

As Malta became an independent country, the city's dockyard frequently became a bone of contention between the General Workers Union, to which most of its employees belonged, and subsequent governments. In the early 21st century the dockyard was substantially downsized under the governance of the Nationalist Party after it was