Notice to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,350 of 26th November 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the OSCE Ministerial Conference will be held between Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 and Friday, 6th December, 2024.

A maritime exclusion zone will be established off St Julian's as shown in red on the chart on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The maritime exclusion zone will be in force from Tuesday, 3rd, December, 2024, at 6.00 a.m., until Saturday, 7th December, 2024, at 6.00 a.m.

​As a consequence of this no vessel will be allowed to enter, navigate or moor in the area. Any vessel moored within the area is to be removed during the abovementioned date and times, any vessel left moored within the area will be removed at the expense of the owner.

The Armed Forces of Malta, Malta Police and TM enforcement officers on board their vessels will be patrolling the area.

Mariners are to comply with instructions and directions issued on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and by any maritime enforcement assets in the area.

Positions are in WGS 84 DATUM

Chart affected: BA 177        

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the Santa Swimming Event will be held on Sunday, 1st December, 2024. The swimming event is estimated to commence at 10.30 a.m. and will finish at approximately noon.

The Santa swimming event will start from the Grand Hotel Excelsior Marina point A, towards Manoel Island point B, then to Taʼ Xbiex waterpolo club point C and finally back to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Marina point A, as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Support vessels will accompany the participating swimmers.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate well clear of the area during the stipulated date and time, giving the swimmers a wide berth.

They are to comply with any instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16, by Valletta VTS and by any enforcement personnel on site.

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the Malta Young Sailors Club will be holding the Euromed Sailing Championship 2024, between Thursday, 19th December and Sunday, 22nd December, 2024, from 9.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m. daily.

The activities will take place at Mellieħa bay and its approaches, in an area delineated by the imaginary lines joining positions A to B and B to C as shown on the chart on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Inflatable marker buoys, to indicate the racecourse within the above-mentioned area, shall be laid, after 8.00 a.m. and removed after the last race, on each day of the activities.

There will also be training races between Sunday, 8th December and Tuesday, 17th December, 2024, within the same area and during the same time. The inflatable marker buoys will also be laid on each day to indicate the racecourse.

All vessels that are not involved in the regatta are to keep well clear of the competing boats and follow any instructions given by the race officials and support vessels.

Mariners are to note the above and are to give the area indicated 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.  Any instructions issued by Valletta VTS on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 and by any enforcement officer on site, are to be complied with.

Charts affected: BA 211, 2538, 2537

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that acoustic survey and research will be carried out around Malta and between Malta and Sicily.

Weather permitting the survey/research is planned to commence on with immediate effect and be completed by Saturday, 30th November, 2024, and work will be done day and night along the following transects:

Part of the work consists of the survey vessel towing a pelagic net and sometimes she will also be stationary therefore she will be restricted in her ability to manoeuvre.

The survey vessel shall exhibit the appropriate lights and shape signals in accordance with the Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at sea. 1972 (Colregs) and with the International Code of Signals.

Mariners are instructed to navigate with caution when the above-mentioned vessel is sighted and maintain a safe distance of 0.50 Nautical Miles from the vessels.

They are to observe any instructions given on VHF channel 69 and /or 16 by Malta Coastal Station (Malta VTS) and on VHF Channel 12 by Valletta VTS when crossing the channel between Sicily and Malta.

Charts affected: BA 194, 2123, 2124, 2537, 2538 and Int. 301.

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM