Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,342 of 12th November 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and bathers, that the swimmer zone at Blue Lagoon in Comino will be re-established with immediate effect until Monday, 18th November, 2024.

1a) Blue Lagoon – Comino Swimmers' Zone (see Figure 1 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt))

No vessels or objects which may endanger the safety of bathers, including any type of fishing gear/implements, shall be used within a swimmers' zone. The swimmers' zone is being reserved exclusively for bathers and is delineated by the following coordinates:

1b) Mooring areas for commercial vessels

Two mooring areas are being assigned for commercial vessels. The boundaries of these mooring areas are delineated by the following coordinates:

1c) Fairway

A fairway has been established as indicated on the chart Figure 1 as shown on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) and it is delineated by the following positions. Special mark buoys fitted with a yellow light flashing every 5 seconds will be placed at points 1, 2, 3 and 5.

A minimum safety distance of 5 metres from the swimmers' zone is to be maintained.

Nylon ropes supported by floats will delineate the swimmers' zone and may remain in place, two weeks after the stipulated date. Mariners are to keep a safe distance from the vessels that will be laying and/or removing the ropes.

For the benefit and safety of all bathers and mariners, Transport Malta urges all visitors and commercial vessels to adhere to these arrangements. Enforcement officers will be randomly patrolling the area.  Any offender, on conviction, shall be liable to the fines (multa) as laid down in the second column to the Third Schedule of the Small Ships Regulations, as amended.

Mariners are advised to keep a good lookout and navigate with caution and at slow speed when entering the Blue Lagoon. They are also reminded that it is prohibited to secure/moor any vessel to any of the marker buoys, swimmers' zone delineation markers and related gear belonging to Transport Malta.

All positions are referred to WGS 84 DATUM.

Chart affected: BA 211

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a sailing regatta between Marsamxett Harbour and Blue Lagoon, will be held on Saturday, 16th November, 2024.

The first leg of the regatta will start at 9.00 a.m. from outside Marsamxett Harbour point A, they will sail towards point B and finish approximately at 12.30 p.m. outside Blue Lagoon point C, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

All the vessels will then anchor at Blue Lagoon, Comino.

The second leg of the regatta will start at 3.00 p.m. from outside Blue Lagoon point C, they will sail towards point B and finish approximately at 5.30 p.m. outside Marsamxett Harbour point A, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

If due to unfavourable weather conditions, the regatta cannot be held as planned, it will be held on the same day, the first leg of the regatta will start at 9.00 a.m. from outside Marsamxett Harbour point A, they will sail towards points D, E, F, G respectively and finish approximately at 12.30 p.m. outside Fomm ir-Riħ point H, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

All the vessels will then anchor at Fomm ir-Riħ.

The second leg of the regatta will start at 3.00 p.m. from outside Fomm ir-Riħ point H, they will sail towards points G, F, E, D respectively and finish approximately at 5.30 p.m. outside Marsamxett Harbour point A, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Mariners are to note the above and are to give the competing vessels a wide berth. They are further instructed to fully comply with Rule 18 (COLREGS 1972) and to 'keep out of the way' of the sailing vessels participating in the Regatta.

Mariners navigating in the vicinity of the indicated route on the mentioned date and times are to keep watch on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 and are to cooperate with the organisers and/or enforcement personnel in the area.

Any instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS are to be complied with.

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