Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,427 of 25th April 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and bathers, that the following arrangements will be made for Blue Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay and San Niklaw Bay in the North Comino channel.

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

From Saturday, 26th April, 2025 to Sunday, 30th November, 2025.

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 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) as Figure 1 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.

9a) Il-Bajja ta' San Niklaw – Comino Swimmers' Zone - see Figure 9 as found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

From Saturday, 26th April, 2025 to Wednesday, 15th October, 2025.

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: -

9b) Fairway                                        

The fairway was established by Notice to Mariners No. 7 of 2017 and is to be used solely for navigation and should otherwise be kept clear.

10a) Il-Bajja ta' Santa Maria – Comino (Inner) Swimmers' Zone – see Figure 10 as found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)

From Saturday, 26th April, 2025 to Wednesday, 15th October, 2025.

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:

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:

10c) Fairway

The fairway was established by Notice to Mariners No.8 of 2017 and is to be used solely for navigation and should otherwise be kept clear.

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 in the North Comino Channel when entering the Blue Lagoon, Il-Bajja ta' San Niklaw and Il-Bajja ta' Santa Maria.  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 all mariners, owners of vessels and divers, that filming activities will take place in Imġiebaħ.

The filming will be carried out from Tuesday, 29th April, 2025 to Thursday, 1st May, 2025 between 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. daily in Imġiebaħ within the area formed by joining the imaginary line A to B and the intermediate coastline as shown in red on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

During the above-mentioned dates and times, the area is to be kept clear on all dates from all vessels.

All mariners, owners of vessels and divers are advised that entry into the area is prohibited on the above-mentioned dates and time.

They are advised to navigate with caution and 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 officers on site.

Chart affected: BA 211

of 2025 ‒ Chart Correction ‒ Foul area

(Lost anchor and chain)

Reference is made to BA Chart 194 – Malta and Għawdex (Gozo) and  BA Chart 2124 – Isola di Lampedusa to Capo Passero including Malta.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the lost anchor and chain, in the following position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

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

mentioned in Notice to Mariners No. 10 of 2025 has been recovered, therefore the foul area is no longer required.

Notice to Mariners No. 10 of 2025 is hereby cancelled.

Cultural Heritage (Consolidated list January 2024)

Reference is made to BA Chart 36 – Marsaxlokk and Approaches and BA Chart 2538 – Malta

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, informs mariners that further to Notice to Mariners No. 2 of 2024 regarding Archaeological Zone at Sea – Superintendence of Cultural Heritage a new protected site, in line with the Cultural Heritage Act (CAP. 445).

As per the Government Gazette dated 17th April, 2025, No. 613 Cultural Heritage Act 2002 (as amended) (Cap.455), Article 45, Declaration of an Archaeological Zone at Sea, the following site has been established.

Insert an additional Archaeological Zone:

​East of Il-Ponta tal-Munxar

Notice to Mariners No. 2 of 2024 is to be amended accordingly.

All the other information mentioned in Notice to Mariners No. 2 of 2024 will remain valid.

Charts affected: BA 36, 2538

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM​