Notice to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,246 of 21st May 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies that the Armed Forces of Malta shall conduct a live firing practice exercise at sea from either Pembroke Ranges (LM-D01) or south of Malta (LM-D05) between Monday, 27th May, 2024 and Friday, 31st May, 2024.

The area to be used on the day will be determined by the prevalent weather conditions.

The exercise will take place within either of the areas as mentioned below as follows:

On Monday, 27th May, and Tuesday, 28th May, 2024, from 8.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m., local time, (from 6.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. UTC);

On Wednesday, 29th May, and Thursday, 30th May, 2024, from 8.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m., local time, (from 6.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m. UTC).

Friday, 31st May, 2024, is designated as a reserve date.

If on any day LM-D05 is to be activated the timings may vary from those given above.

At Pembroke ranges LM-D01 (Pembroke High)

From Position A:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

35° 55'.900                014° 28'.533

thence on a bearing of 335° True x 8.5 nautical miles to:

Position B:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

36° 03'.620                014° 24'.100

thence on an arc of a circle radius 8.5 nautical miles centred on Position A to:

Position C:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

36° 00'.150                014° 37'.600

thence on a bearing of 240° True to Position A.

All vessels in the vicinity must proceed with caution and keep at least eight and a half nautical miles (8.5NM) off the Pembroke Coast, on the dates and times indicated.

Mariners are also informed that a corridor of four nautical miles (4NM) between the coast and the line M to N (as shown on the attached chart A) has been established for the passage of all vessels on the abovementioned dates and times. Any vessel intending to transit through this corridor within these times is to communicate on VHF Channel 69 Malta VTS, for final approval prior to entering the area.

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

M        36° 02'.869    014° 24'.532

N         35° 58'.387    014° 33'.834

At south of Malta LM-D5 (MELITA). The exercise will be held within a circular area of 8 nautical mile radius, centred on point Z:

Position Z:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

            35° 30'.500    014° 11'.000

as shown on chart B found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)

In view of the above all vessels in the vicinity must proceed with caution, they are advised to give the exercise areas a wide berth and comply at all times with any instructions given by AFM craft patrolling the area and by Valletta VTS on VHF Channel 12.

Charts affected: BA 194, 2124, 2537 and 2538

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM