Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,432 of 2nd May 2025

Reference is made to BA Chart 177 - Valletta Harbours, 2537 – Gozo, Comino and the Northern part of Malta, 2538 – Malta.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the University of Malta has deployed a National Observation Station Northeast of Il-Port ta' Marsamxett, centred on the following position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

35˚55'.768                    014˚32'.317

The layout consists of the main buoy and two auxiliary buoys, 20m on either side.

All buoys having a yellow light flashing quick five (5) every twenty (20) seconds with a range of four (4) nautical miles (Q(5).20s4M).

A caution area of 70m radius from the above position is being established.

Position referred to WGS 84 DATUM

Charts affected: BA 177, 2537, 2538

Gunex 01/2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the Armed Forces of Malta shall conduct a live firing practice exercise at sea from either Pembroke Ranges (LM-D01) or south of Malta (LM-D05) between Monday, 12th May, 2025 and Friday, 16th May, 2025.

​The area to be used on the day, will be determined by the prevalent weather conditions.

The exercise will take place within either of the areas as mentioned below, between 8.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. local time, (6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. UTC).

At Pembroke Ranges LM-D01 (PEMBROKE HIGH)

thence on a bearing of 335 True x 8.5 nautical miles to:

thence on an arc of a circle radius 8.5 nautical miles centred on position A to:

thence on a bearing of 240 True to position A.

All vessels in the vicinity must proceed with caution and keep at least eight and a half nautical miles (8.5NM) off the Pembroke coast, on the dates and times indicated. 

​Mariners are also informed that a corridor of four nautical miles (4NM) between the coast and the line M to N as shown on the chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) has been established for the passage of all vessels on the above-mentioned dates and times. Any vessel intending to transit through this corridor within these times is to communicate on VHF Channel 69 Malta VTS, for final approval prior to entering the area.

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

M        36° 02'.869                 014° 24'.532

N         35° 58'.387                 014° 33'.834

At south of Malta   LM-D5 (MELITA)

The exercise will be held within a circular area of 8 Nautical Mile Radius, centred on point Z:

as shown on chart B found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

In view of the above all vessels in the vicinity must proceed with caution, they are advised to give the exercise areas a wide berth and comply at all times with any instructions given by AFM craft patrolling the area and by Valletta VTS on VHF Channel 12.

Charts affected: BA 194, 2124, 2537 and 2538

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, would like to notify mariners that a swimming event will be organised in Il-Bajja ta' Birżebbuġa.

​The event will be held on Friday, 9th May, 2025 between 2.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. The races will be held within the area formed by joining the points A, B, C, D and the intermediate coastline, as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Mariners to keep at least 10m away from the abovementioned area and are informed that 10 buoys will be laid, in a line, within the area.

They are advised to navigate with caution at slow speed (no wake) and give a wide berth when in the vicinity, they are to keep out of the abovementioned area.

​Any instructions issued on VHF Channel 14/16 by Marsaxlokk VTS are to be complied with.

Chart affected: BA 36