Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,339 of 5th November 2024

Id-Daħla ta' Tas-Sliema

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners and owners of vessels that a diving survey and repair works will be held on slipway No. 7 at Manoel Island Yacht Yard in Id-Daħla ta' Tas-Sliema.

The diving survey and refurbishment works will start with immediate effect and are to be completed by Tuesday, 31st December, 2024. The works will be held within the area formed by the imaginary lines joining points A, B, C, D, and the intermediate coastline, as shown in red on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

A silt curtain will be laid within the abovementioned area.

The diving survey and refurbishment works will be carried out by scuba divers who will be displaying the International Code of Signals Flag 'A', while works are being carried out.

There will also be a spud barge within the area, which will be assisting in the works. A safety zone of 20m from the area is to be kept while works are being carried out.

Masters and operators of vessels are advised to keep a sharp lookout, proceed with caution and at slow speed when navigating in the above indicated areas. They are to cooperate with the contractor and comply with instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS.

Chart affected: BA 211

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that further to Notice to Mariners No. 24 of 2021, the Armed Forces of Malta will carry out live firing practice on Sunday, 10th November, 2024, at the Pembroke ranges, from 8.00 a.m. till 9.00 p.m. (local time).

A Sécurité message will be issued on VHF Channels 12, and/or 16 by Valletta VTS, accordingly.

The exercise area (LM-D6) is delineated by sector ABC.

From Position A                                           

​                        Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

A                     35° 55'.540   014° 28'.320                                                               (Centre point on land),

a radius of 4 nautical miles to points,         

B                     35° 59'.460    014° 27'.150

C                     35° 58'.290      014° 32'.190

Limits are indicated on BA charts 194, 2537 and 2538.

During the live firing practice, red flags (approximate size 2.5m x 2m), will be flown from the shore limits. After sunset, instead of the red flags, there will be red lights, and there will be two safety vessels with blue lights on each side to indicate the limits of the area. Mariners are warned to keep, as a minimum, 4 nautical miles off the coast when the flags or safety vessels are sighted.

Moreover, any instructions given on VHF Channels 12 and/or 16 by Valletta Port Control (Valletta VTS) and by the Armed Forces of Malta, are to be strictly observed.

Charts affected: BA 2538, 2537, 194

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies that the Armed Forces of Malta shall conduct a live firing practice exercise at sea from Pembroke Ranges (LM-D01) and south of Malta (LM-D05) between Monday, 11th November, 2024 and Friday, 15th November, 2024.

The exercise will take place on the abovementioned dates as follow:

LM-D01, from 8.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. local time, (from 7.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m. UTC).

LM-D05, from 2.00 p.m. till 6.00 p.m. local time, (from 1.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m. UTC).

On Thursday, 14th November and Friday, 15th November, 2024, are designated as reserve dates.

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, they are also to keep 6° to the left and to the right of the abovementioned sector, 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 chart A found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)) has been established for the passage of all vessels on the above-mentioned 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-D05 (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