Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,406 of 14th March 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and divers, that filming activities will take place in Mġarr ix-Xini, Gozo, and in Mġiebaħ Bay, Malta.

Filming will take place on between Friday, 14th March, and Saturday, 26th April, 2025, at the locations and times as follow:

Mġarr ix-Xini – Gozo – Chart A

Filming is scheduled to be carried out between Friday ,14th and Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Imġiebaħ Bay – Chart B

Filming at these localities is scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday, 19th March, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., and between Thursday, 24th and Saturday, 26th April, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

During dates and timing mentioned, the filming area shown (in Charts A and B) in red is to be kept clear at all times from all vessels.

All mariners, owners of vessels and divers are advised that entry into the area (as shown on the attached charts A and B) is prohibited on the abovementioned dates and time.

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

BA charts: 211A, 211B, 2537

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that Chinese cakes/stoppini will be let off from scaffolding in Misrah il-Hamsa ta' Ottubru, Msida, from point A as shown on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), on the following dates and times.

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

   A      35˚53'.77                    014˚29'.395

On Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, from 10.30 a.m. to 10.35 a.m.

On Wednesday, 19th March, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.05 a.m., from noon to 12.05 p.m. and from 7.30 p.m. to 7.35 p.m.

Masters and owners of vessels that are berthed within the safety zones, the area shown in red on the attached chart, are to remove their vessels during the above-mentioned dates and times.

Transport Malta will accept no liability whatsoever for any damage caused by the firework displays to any vessel and her ancillary equipment, whether such vessel and her ancillary equipment are left within the safety zone, or outside such safety zone.

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.

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the 31 March Regatta will be held in the Grand Harbour. Sinkers and marker buoys will be laid as follows:

1. On Saturday, 29th March, 2025, 3 yellow marker buoys with flashing lights will be secured to sinkers that will be laid in the following positions.

2. On Monday, 31st March, 2025, as from 8.00 a.m., virtual line/wire rope with floats will be established/laid in the following positions:

(i) a virtual line/wire rope with floats will be established/laid from point A ashore on Barriera Wharf to buoy B off Il-Ponta ta' Sant'Anġlu.

(ii) a wire rope with floats will be laid from buoy B off Il-Ponta ta' Sant'Anġlu to point C north of Il-Ponta tal-Isla.

(iii) a wire rope with floats will be laid from buoy C north of Il-Ponta tal-Isla to point D west of Il-Ponta tal-Isla opposite the entrance to Id-Daħla tal-Franċiżi Bastion.

(iv)  a virtual line will be established from point D) west of Il-Ponta tal-Isla opposite the entrance to Id-Daħla tal-Franċiżi Bastion to point E on Parlatorio Wharf.

(v)  a wire rope with floats will be laid from bollard 8 at Ras Ħanzir 2 point F to bollard 26 at Deep Water Quay point G, as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

3. The wire ropes, floats and buoys mentioned in 2 above will be removed on the completion of the Regatta at approximately 6.00 p.m. on Monday, 31st March, 2025.

4.  The sinkers and marker buoys mentioned in 1 above will also be removed on the completion of the Regatta at approximately 6.00 p.m. on Monday, 31st March, 2025.

5.  The port hand lateral mark placed at the following coordinates below Il-Ponta tal-Isla will be removed for the event.

Masters of all vessels are notified that on Monday, 31st March, 2025, between 8.00 a.m. and around 6.00 p.m., incoming vessels will not be allowed to proceed to any berth south-west of the imaginary line joining point A on Barriera Wharf and Fortizza Sant'Anġlu Flagstaff. Vessels in 'Il-Marsa' sea area will not be allowed to proceed beyond the line F to G indicated in 2(v) above after 8.00 a.m. No vessel will be allowed near the finishing line except those involved in the races. No movements of vessels will be allowed inside the Grand Harbour, except by special permission. All vessels are to keep a minimum distance of 5m away from the lines and floats mentioned in 2(ii), 2(iii), 2(iv) and 2(v).

Incoming vessels will not be allowed to proceed to any berth south-west of the imaginary line which is 150m north-east of the line A to B mention in 2(i) above. No vessel will be allowed to stay within this 150m area.

The area bounded by the imaginary lines between the points A to B, B to C, C to D, D to E (corner of Parlatorio Wharf), F to G and the intermediate coastline is to be kept clear on Monday, 31st March, 2025, between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. from all vessels except those authorised by the activity organisers.

Masters of all vessels are also warned that the wire ropes and floats may cause a physical obstruction and consequently they are to navigate with extreme caution.  Caution is also to be exercised when in the vicinity of such wire ropes and floats when these are being laid or removed.

Mariners are to comply with any instructions issued by Valletta Port Control (Valletta VTS) on VHF Channel 12 and enforcement personnel in the area.

Chart affected: BA 177

Reference is made to BA Chart 194 – Malta and Għawdex (Gozo)

BA Chart 2124 – Isola di Lampedusa to Capo Passero including Malta

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies Mariners that an anchor and chain were lost to the east of the Bunkering Area 3, in the following approximate position.

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

35º 54'.023                 014º 49'.875

Insert symbol   indicating a foul area with a 500m radius, centred on the above position.

Positions are referred to WGS 84 DATUM.

Charts affected: BA 194, 2124
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