Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,569 of 9th January 2026

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that sediment sampling will be carried out in Wied Buni and Qajjenza at Il-Bajja ta' Marsaxlokk.

The sediment sampling will be carried out at Wied Buni (points A) and Qajjenza (point B), as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The sampling which will be held on any day between Monday, 12th January, 2026 and Friday, 16th January, 2026, will be carried out by divers who will be displaying the International Code of Signals Flag 'A'.

Although these works will be carried out from land, a safety distance of 30m from the above-mentioned positions is to be kept, while the sampling is being carried out.

Vessels moored within the 30m safety distance, are to be removed during the above dates. The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, will accept no liabilities whatsoever for any vessels that are left lying in the area on the above-mentioned dates and times.

Masters and operators of vessels are advised to keep a sharp look-out, navigate with caution and at very slow speed and give the indicated areas a wide berth.

They are also to comply with any instructions given on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and to co-operate with the contractor on site.

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the Malta (O) and Tunisia (T) NAVTEX service is temporarily suspended.

While every effort is being made to resume transmitting NAVTEX messages as soon as possible, during the period of no transmission, Malta Navigational Warnings will be promulgated by voice, on radio, as follows:

Malta Vessel Traffic Service (Malta VTS) on VHF Channel 16 at 6.03 a.m., 10.03 a.m., 4.03 p.m. and 9.03 p.m. (UTC) daily.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies that further to Notice to Mariners No. 24 of 2021, the Armed Forces of Malta will carry out live firing practice from Tuesday, 20th January to Friday, 23rd January, 2026, with extended hours between 4.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. (local time).

A Sécurité message will be issued on VHF Channels 12, and/or 16 by Valletta VTS, accordingly.

The exercise area (LM-D6) is delineated by sector ABC.

From Position A

Limits are indicated on BA charts 194, 2537 and 2538.

During the live firing practice, red flags (approximate size 2.5m x 2m), will be flown from the shore limits.  After sunset, instead of the red flags, there will be red lights and there will be two safety vessels with blue lights on each side, to indicate the limits of the area. Mariners are warned to keep, as a minimum, 4 nautical miles off the coast when the flags or safety vessels are sighted.

Moreover, any instructions given on VHF Channels 12 and/or 16 by Valletta Port Control (Valletta VTS) and by the Armed Forces of Malta, are to be strictly observed.

Charts affected: BA 2538, 2537, 194.

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM