Notices to Mariners published in Govt. Gazette 21,314 of 13th September 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies mariners that the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club shall be holding the Miracle National Sailing Championships 2024 between Saturday, 14th September, 2024 and Sunday , 15th September, 2024.

Races shall take place from 9.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. (local time) on both days.

Class races shall take place over two (2) adjacent upwind/downwind courses, centred in the selected sailing area depending on the prevailing weather conditions. As shown on chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) showing areas A, B and C.

The courses, around which the competitors shall have to sail, shall be defined by orange inflatable marks (waypoints) of about 1.5 meters in height.

Races will take place, only when no merchant vessel traffic is scheduled to enter or to depart, from the Malta Freeport Terminals.

Masters of all craft, not directly involved in any of these events, are asked to keep clear of the racing areas, especially at each of the turning marks. All mariners are to observe any instructions that may be given by the Race Organisers safety crafts and on VHF Channels 14 and/or 16 by Marsaxlokk VTS.

Charts effected: BA 36, 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that an open water swimming event will be organised between Gozo and Malta.

The race will be held along the course A and B (as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), on Saturday, 21st September, 2024, from 7.45 a.m. till 11.30 a.m.

The participants will depart from Il-Bajja ta' Ħondoq ir-Rummien – Gozo (position A on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)), they will swim to the east of Comino and finish at Ir-Ramla tal-Bir – Malta (position B on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt))

Individual support vessels will accompany participating swimmers. In addition, there will be several stationary vessels providing support. Support vessels will be displaying a High-Visibility flags. There will also be several individual swimmers who will also be equipped with a red torpedo float.

Il-Fliegu ta' Għawdex will be restricted to navigation from 7.45 a.m. till 9.15 a.m. and Il- Fliegu ta' Kemmuna will be restricted to navigation from 9.00 a.m. till 11.30 a.m.

On the stipulated date and times, mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate with extreme caution and at slow speed (no wake) when in the vicinity. They are to cooperate with the organisers.

Should the weather conditions does not allow the event be held between the islands of Gozo and Malta, the race will instead be held at St Thomas Bay on the same date and time, along the course W, X, Y and Z (as shown on the chart 2 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)).

All mariners are to comply with any instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16, by Valletta VTS and by any Enforcement Personnel on site.

Charts affected: BA 2537 and 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and divers, that filming activities will take place in several localities around Malta.

The filming will be held between Tuesday, 17th September, 2024 and Saturday, 12th October, 2024, as follows.

17th September                                   Magazine                    Chart A

                                                            Wharf             

20th September                                   Delimara                     Chart B

                                                            Power Station 

24th September                                   North-West                 Chart C

                                                            of Malta      

25th – 27th September                        Ċirkewwa                    Chart D

                                                            South Quay   

                                                            South Quay   

If unexpectedly, filming cannot take place in the above mentioned locations due to weather restrictions, filming will be carried out in, Għadira Bay (Chart F) and at Il- Ponta ta' Bengħajsa (Chart G).

All mariners, owners of vessels and divers are to be notified that there will be limited access on the above-mentioned dates in the following areas as shown in the charts found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Mariners and the general public are advised that during the above-mentioned dates, a safe distance must be kept and to avoid anchoring in the areas. Co-operation with the filming crew on site is a must.

Mariners are to navigate with caution at slow speed and give a wide berth when in the vicinity, they are to keep out of the above-mentioned area.

Mariners and vessel operators are to comply with instructions and directions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and by any Enforcement Personnel on site.

Charts affected: BA 36, 211, 194, 2537

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a swimming attempt record, the round Malta swim will take place around the Maltese Islands, on any days between Wednesday, 18th September, 2024 and Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 – weather permitted.

Subject to weather and current change around the Maltese Islands, this swimming activity could take place either Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise direction.

Clockwise direction: As shown on the Chart 1 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The first section of the 60/70-hour swim will start at 8.00 a.m.  from Mellieħa Bay, heading south, around Malta and Gozo keeping both islands on the right (starboard) side all the way back to Mellieħa Bay.

The estimated time of the first crossing of the Grand Harbour is around 3.00 p.m. (6 hours into the event) and the estimated time of the first crossing of Marsaxlokk Port is around 7.00 p.m. (10 hours into the event). The swimmer will then continue his swim around the island of Gozo and make his way back to outside Mellieħa Bay.

The second section of the activity will resume from outside Mellieħa Bay for the 2nd loop around the island of Malta.

The estimated time of the second crossing of the Grand Harbour is around 1.00 a.m. (40 hours into the event), and the estimated time of the second crossing of Marsaxlokk Port is around 5.00 a.m. (44 hours into the event).

The activity is scheduled to end in one of the following location;

Location option 1 - Golden Bay around 2.00 p.m.

Crossing Comino channel at 3.00 p.m.

Location option 2 - Mellieħa Bay around 9.00 p.m.

Location option 3 - Valletta (Grand Harbour) around 4.00 a.m.

Anti-Clockwise direction: (As shown in the Chart 2 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt))

The first section of the 60/70-hour swim will start at 8.00 a.m. from Mellieħa Bay, heading North, around the island of Gozo and the island of Malta keeping both islands on the Left (Port) side all the way back to Mellieħa Bay.

The estimated time of the first crossing of Marsaxlokk Port is around 11.00 a.m. (26 hours into the event) and the first crossing of the Grand Harbour is around 4.00 p.m. (32 hours into the event).

The second section of the activity will resume from Mellieħa Bay for the 2nd loop around the island of Malta (through the Comino channel).

The estimated time of second crossing the Marsaxlokk Port is around 1.00 p.m. (52 hours into the event) and the Grand Harbour is around 6.00 p.m. (57 hours into the event).

The activity will end in one of the following location;

Location option 1 - Valletta (Grand Harbour) around 6.00 p.m.

Location option 2 - St Julians around 7.00 p.m.

Location option 3 - Mellieħa Bay around 2.00 a.m.

Several vessels will be accompanying the participating swimmer.

All other vessels not forming part of the organisation are to keep a minimum of 200m safety distance and navigate with vigilance.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate with extreme caution and at slow speed (no wake) when activity related vessels are spotted, on the stipulated date and they are to cooperate with the organisers.

All mariners are to comply with any instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16, by Valletta VTS and by any Enforcement Officers on site.

Charts affected: BA 36, 177, 194, 211, 2537, 2538

- Permanently Discontinued

Reference is made to BA Chart 211B – Malta, Il-Bajja ta' San Pawl.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies Mariners that the fish pen in Il-Bajja ta' San Pawl has been Permanently Discontinued.

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

Delete: symbol           35° 57'.710                014° 24'.056

Chart affected: BA 211B

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM