Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,425 0f 22nd April 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies mariners that the Birżebbuġa Sailing Club shall be holding the Crosscraft Spring Regatta 2025 between Saturday, 26th April and Sunday, 27th April, 2025.

Races shall take place between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. (local time) on all 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 the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) showing areas A1, A2, 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 from the race organisers safety craft or on VHF Channels 14 and/or 16 by Marsaxlokk VTS.

Charts affected: BA 36, 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies that the University of Malta Rowing Club will be organising an ANZAC Day ‒ Malta Beach Sprints Regatta at Pretty Bay, Birżebbuġa.

The activity will be held on Friday, 25th April, 2025, between 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m., within the area A, B, C and D, as shown on chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

A                     35° 49'.525          014° 31'.788

B                     35° 49'.481          014° 31'.993

C                     35° 49'.447          014° 31'.982

D                     35° 49'.491          014° 31'.778

During the activity, the participants will have to row around a series of marker buoys which will be purposely laid within the abovementioned area.

If due to inclement weather conditions the activity cannot be held at the above-mentioned locality, it will be held at Il-Magħluq area, on the same date and times, within the area W, X, Y and Z, as shown on chart B found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

W                35° 50'.297                         014° 32'.975

X                35° 50'.161                          014˚33'.031

Y                 35° 50'.151                         014° 32'.994

Z                  35° 50'.313                         014° 32'.926

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate with extreme caution, at slow speed (no wake) when in the vicinity of the area of activity, on the stipulated date and times. They are to give the indicated area a wide berth and cooperate with the organiser.

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.

Chart affected: BA 36

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies mariners that firework displays will be held in the Grand Harbour on Tuesday, 22nd April, Friday, 25th April and Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.

Barges will be moored and loaded with fireworks at Kalkara Quay in Il-Bajja tar-Rinella.

Owners of vessels moored in il-Bajja tar-Rinella are to remove their vessels and the area is to be kept clear from Friday, 18th April, 2025, at 11.59 p.m., to Friday, 2nd May, 2025, at 11.59 p.m. Transport Malta will accept no liabilities whatsoever for any damage caused to vessels that are left within il-Bajja tar-Rinella during the mentioned dates and times.

The sinkers that will be used to secure the pontoons, will be marked with buoys that have a light on them, at points S and T, as shown on the attached chart. The pontoons and their sinkers will be laid on each day of the displays, they will depart from il-Bajja tar-Rinella on each day of the display at 2.00 p.m.

Barges will be moored at points V, W, X, and Y as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt). The barges and sinkers at points W, X, and Y will depart from il-Bajja tar-Rinella to be laid in their position on each day of the display at noon, while the barge and sinker at point V will depart from Il-Bajja tar-Rinella to be laid in its position on each day of the display at 5.15 p.m., they will then all be removed immediately after the displays finish.

Mariners are informed that part of the Grand Harbour, between the imaginary lines A - B, C - D, E - F, G – H and the intermediate coastline, as shown on the attached chart, will be closed to all vessels, except for authorised vessels, as stated for each day.

On Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025

The Grand Harbour will be closed to traffic from 8.45 p.m. to 11.00 p.m., while the display will commence at 9.00 p.m. and terminate at 10.45 p.m.

On Friday, 25th April, 2025

The Grand Harbour will be closed to traffic from 8.45 p.m. to 11.00 p.m., while the display will commence at 9.00 p.m. and terminate at 10.45 p.m.

On Wednesday, 30th April, 2025

The Grand Harbour will be closed to traffic from 8.45 p.m. to 11.00 p.m., while the display will commence at 9.00 p.m. and terminate at 10.45 p.m.

Except for authorised vessels, Barriera Wharf, Lascaris Wharf and Fish Market are to be kept clear from 00.01 a.m. to 11.59 p.m. on the days of the displays.

During the events, ship movements in the Grand Harbour will be restricted. No vessel will be allowed within the restricted area, except by arrangement through the organizing Committee/Valletta VTS. Authorized vessels MUST be securely moored by not later than 8.00 p.m. in the designated areas, as shown in blue on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt). 

All vessels and bathers are warned to keep well clear and maintain a safe distance of not less than 200m from the barges and 50m from the pontoons while they are being towed.

Authorised vessels are to give the display pontoons and barges a wide berth of at least 200m. No movements whatsoever will be allowed during the actual displays.

If due to adverse weather conditions the fireworks cannot be held on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025, the fireworks will instead be held on Friday, 2nd May, 2025, on the same 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 200m safety zone, or outside such safety zone, from the point from which the fireworks are let off.

Mariners are to comply with any instructions and directions issued on VHF channel 12/16 by Valletta VTS and Maritime Enforcement Officers that will be in the area.

Chart affected: BA 177

Reference is made to Local Notice to Mariners No. 32 of 2025.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners and owners of vessels that due of adverse weather conditions, the laying of sinkers and buoys 2 NM northeast off Il-Port ta' Marsamxett will take place between Tuesday, 22nd April and Friday, 16th May, 2025.

Local Notice to Mariners No. 32 of 2025 is to be amended accordingly.

All the other information mentioned in Local Notice to Mariners No. 32 of 2025 will remain valid.

Chart affected: BA 177