Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette No 21,621 of 14th April 2026

Further to Local Notice to Mariners No. 45 of 2026 – Establishment of an Organised Mooring Area – Buġibba

Reference is made to Local Notice to Mariners No. 45 of 2026.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that works will be carried out with the assistance of divers. When divers are in the water, the International Code of Signals flag ‘A’ will be displayed.

All information and restrictions outlined in Local Notice to Mariners No. 45 of 2026 remain valid.

Jetty Demolition and Reconstruction Works at St George`s Bay – St Julian’s 

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners and the general public that jetty demolition and reconstruction works at St George’s Bay – St Julian’s, will be carried out.

The work will commence on Monday, 13th April, 2026 and is expected to be completed by Sunday, 31st May, 2026.

The area formed by the imaginary line joining points A, B, C and D, as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), will be a work area and a silt curtain will be laid within this area during the abovementioned dates.

A safety distance of at least 20m from the above-mentioned shall be maintained at all times.

Mariners and vessel operators are to navigate with caution and at slow speed (no wake) when in the vicinity. They are to cooperate with the contractor on-site.

Mariners are to comply with instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS.

Chart affected: BA 2537

Zones reserved for swimmers in Blue Lagoon, Comino 

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and bathers, that an area within Blue Lagoon, Comino, is being reserved as a swimmers’ zone with immediate effect as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The physical perimeter delineating the swimmer zone will be established in due course.

No vessels or objects that may endanger the safety of bathers, including any type of fishing gear/implements, shall be used within the designated area. The swimmers’ zone is being reserved exclusively for bathers and is delineated by the following coordinates:

Position    Latitude (N)    Longitude (E)

    1A36° 00’.893    014° 19’.281        (Shore)

    1B36° 00’.898    014° 19’.289

    1C36° 00’.859    014° 19’.322

    1D                       36° 00’.836    014° 19’.402

    1E36° 00’.846    014° 19’.440

    1F36° 00’.851    014° 19’.452(Shore)

    1G                      36° 00’.740    014° 19’.390(Shore)

    1H               36° 00’.751           014° 19’.472(Shore)

    1I       36° 00’.977    014° 19’.424(Shore)

    1J36° 00’.947    014° 19’.450(Shore)

    1K                36° 00’.937    014° 19’.456(Shore)

    1L36° 00’.922    014° 19’.459(Shore)

A minimum safety distance of five (5) meters from the swimmers’ zone must be maintained.

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.

For the benefit of 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.

All positions are referred to WGS 84 DATUM.

Chart affected: BA 211

Voomquest ‒ UIM V2 Class World Championship Race ‒ 2026

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies mariners that the Voomquest ‒ UIM V2 Class World Championship Race ‒ 2026, will be held within the Grand Harbour (Valletta Port) and off Tas-Sliema between Friday, 17th April, 2026 and Sunday, 19th April, 2026, weather permitting.  

Races within the Grand Harbour

On Friday, 17th April, 2026, race buoys will be laid at points M, N and O as shown on chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) before the start and will be removed on completion of the races.

 PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

    M35° 54’.058            014° 31’.446

    N35° 54’.790014° 31’.094

    O35° 54’.522014°30’.744

Races within the Grand Harbour will be held on Friday 17th April, 2026, between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.

Races off Tas-Sliema

Races are scheduled to take place between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, 18th and Sunday, 19th April, 2026.

A number of buoys may also be laid within the above-mentioned restricted area each day to show the course in the following positions: A, A1, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, as indicated on chart B found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Navigation will be restricted within the area bounded by the imaginary lines joining the points U, V, W, X, Y, Z and the intermediate coastlines, on each day. 

All vessels are to proceed offshore from the above-mentioned race buoys between 7.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. from Saturday, 18th April, 2026 to Sunday, 19th April, 2026.

Position    Latitude (N)      Longitude (E)

   U       35° 54’.422      014° 30’.909       Shore

   V       35° 54’.514      014° 31’.246

   W       35° 54’.892      014° 31’.604

   X       35° 55’.981      014° 30’.718

   Y       35° 55’.943      014° 30’.039

   Z       35° 55’.134             014° 29’.930       Shore

Position    Latitude (N)   Longitude (E)

  A         35° 55’.107    014° 30’.271Chequered

 A1         35° 55’.168    014° 30’.346Chequered

  B         35° 55’.287014° 30’.075Yellow buoy

  C         35° 55’.701    014° 30’.145Yellow buoy

  D         35° 55’.813014° 30’.388Yellow buoy

  E         35° 55’.756014° 30’.678Yellow buoy

  F         35° 55’.204014° 30’.890Red buoy

  G         35° 54’.980014° 31’.307Yellow buoy

  H         35° 54’.777014° 31’.355Yellow buoy

  I         35° 54’.582014° 31’.148Yellow buoy

  J         35° 54’.605014° 30’.844Yellow buoy

  K         35° 54’.929014° 30’.563Red buoy

The abovementioned buoys will all be removed at the end of each day.

If due to unfavourable weather conditions the Race off Sliema cannot be held, straight line races will be held within the Grand Harbour as shown on Chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

Mariners are instructed not to enter the restricted area on the dates and times stated above. 

Mariners and owners of vessels are also advised that the loading and unloading berths at Breakwater ‒ Spinola Bay and Tas-Sliema Waterpolo Pitch, Tas-Sliema, will be temporary restricted for use on Saturday, 18th April, 2026 and Sunday, 19th April, 2026, between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., as shown on Chart C found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

They are to cooperate with the organisers and maritime enforcement officers in the area. Moreover, they are to comply with instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS.

Charts affected: BA 177, 194, 2537 and 2538 

Positions referred to WGS 84 DATUM

ROV survey at Ras il-Ħobż ‒ Gozo

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a survey will be carried out with the use of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). This survey will be carried out on the pipeline located off Ras il-Ħobż, Gozo, in the following positions:

             Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

       A36° 00’.99014° 16’.595

       B36° 00’.80014° 16’.718 

       C36° 00’.90714° 16’.960

       D36° 01’.07214° 16’.855 

The survey is planned to be carried out on any day between Monday, 20th April, 2026 and Saturday, 25th April, 2026, depending on weather conditions.

The ROV will be operated from a small vessel (RIB).

Mariners are instructed to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the above-mentioned area, they are to maintain a safe distance of 200m from the ROV and support vessel.

All mariners are to cooperate with the contractor and to comply with any instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16, by Valletta VTS.

Chart affected: BA 2537

Filming Activity – Madam Blanc

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies all mariners, owners of vessels and divers, that a filming activity will take place at Daħlet Qorrot, Nadur.

Filming in Daħlet Qorrot, Nadur, will take place on Friday, 17th April, 2026, from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., as shown on chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

If the weather is unfavourable in Daħlet Qorrot, Nadur, filming will take place at Żewwieqa Bay, Mġarr, as shown on the chart B found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) on the same date and time as stated above.

No loitering is being requested. Consequently, Masters and operators of vessels transiting these areas shall not moor or drop anchor and must remain underway. 

All mariners, owners of vessels and divers are advised that entry into the areas as shown on the charts found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) is to be avoided on the above date.

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 officers on site.

Charts affected: BA 211, 2537

Cancellation of Notice to Mariners No. 15 of 2026 – Bengħisa East Cardinal Buoy ‒ DESTROYED

Reference is made to BA Chart 36 – Marsaxlokk and Approaches

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that the Bengħisa East Cardinal Buoy flashing quick 3 every 10 seconds in position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

35º 48’.03014º 33’.550

mentioned in Notice to Mariners No. 15 of 2026, has been re-established and is functioning properly.

Notice to Mariners No. 15 of 2026 is hereby cancelled.