Notices to Mariners issued in Government Gazette No 21,721 of 18th September 2026

Swimming events from il-Ponta tal-Aħrax, Malta to Ġebel tal-Ħalfa, Gozo - Swimtrek

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies mariners that a series of swimming events starting from il-Ponta tal-Aħrax, Malta and finishing in Ġebel tal-Ħalfa, Gozo will be held on each of the following days:

On Thursday, 24th September 2026, on Sunday, 27th September, 2026, on Wednesday, 30th September, 2026, on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026, on Wednesday, 7th October, 2026, on Sunday, 11th October, 2026 and on Wednesday, 14th October, 2026.

The participants will depart from il-Ponta tal-Aħrax, Malta, point A, at approximately 8.30 a.m. and finish in Ġebel tal-Ħalfa, Gozo, point D, at approximately 1.30 p.m. They will be following the route along the points A, B, C, and D as shown on the chart on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The participants will be accompanied by a RHIB and the support vessels “The Neptune”.

Il-Fliegu ta’ Kemmuna will be restricted to navigation from 8.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and il-Fliegu ta’ Għawdex will be restricted to navigation from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. 

If on any of the days mentioned above, the events cannot be held, they will try again on the day after the postponed event, except for if the event on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026 is cancelled it will be held on Monday, 5th October, 2026, they will follow the same route and at the same time.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout, to proceed at slow speed and to keep well clear of the area during the stipulated dates and time, giving the swimmers, support vessel and RHIB a wide berth. They are to observe closely, any instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and by any maritime enforcement assets in the area.

Charts affected: BA 211A, 2537 and 2538.

Open Water Swimming Event at Mellieħa Bay - OCEANMAN Malta

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that an open water swimming event will be organised at Mellieħa Bay on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026 starting at 8.00 a.m. and finishing by 4.00 p.m.

The races will be held along the following three courses:

Course 1 is along the line A, B, C, D and back to A as shown in red in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), Course 2 is along the line A, B, P and back to A as shown in blue in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), and Course 3 is along the line A, X, Y and back to A as shown in magenta in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

A35° 58’.368014° 21’.010

B35° 58’.311014° 21’.348

C35° 58’.728014° 22’.202

D35° 59’.029014° 22’.385

P              35° 58’.609014° 21’.513

X              35° 58’.352014° 21’.104

Y              35° 58’.426014° 21’.131

A number of RHIBs, Jetskis and Kayaks will be accompanying the participating swimmers and assisting the organisers during the races.

All the participants will be wearing a swimming cap of different colour depending on the race they are taking part in.

All mariners are directed to keep well clear of the area and, under no circumstances, are to enter the area A, B, C, D and A.

On the stipulated date and times, mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate with extreme caution and at slow speed (no wake) when in the vicinity. They are to cooperate with the organisers. 

If the event cannot be held on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026 it will instead be held on Sunday, 4th October, 2026, at the same place and time. All other information will remain the same.

All mariners are to comply with any instructions given on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16, by Valletta VTS, the organisers and by any enforcement officers on-site.

Charts affected: BA 211, 2537, 2538

Vikings Sailing Club Regattas outside Marsamxett Harbour

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies all mariners that the ‘Vikings Sailing Club’ will be organising sailing regattas outside Marsamxett Harbour, within area A formed by joining the points A, B, C and D, as shown on chart A found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

A35° 54’.649014° 31’.155

B35° 56’.131014° 31’.807

C35° 57’.283014° 30’.760

D35° 56’.419014° 29’.546

The activities will be held as follows:

On Saturday 3rd October 2026, between 8.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. and on Sunday, 4th October, 2026, between 8.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

Orange inflatable marker buoys or small marks with an inflatable red cone will be laid to indicate the racecourse within the above-mentioned areas, they will be laid at the start time indicated above and will be removed by 6.00 p.m., on each day of the races.

All vessels that are not involved in the activity are to keep well clear from the competing sailing vessels and are to follow any instructions given by the race officials, the support vessels and any enforcement officers in the area.

If due to adverse weather conditions the activity cannot be held as stated above it will instead be held inside Marsamxett Harbour within area B formed by joining the points V, W, X, Y and Z, as shown on chart B found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), on the same dates and times.

Position          Latitude (N)         Longitude (E)

V35° 54’.041014° 30’.119

W              35° 53’.889014° 30’.081

X35° 53’.858014° 30’.111

Y35° 54’.047014° 30’.452

Z35° 54’.064014° 30’.428

Mariners navigating in the vicinity are to note the above, keep watch on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 and are to give the areas indicated a wide berth. They are further instructed to fully comply with Rule 18 (COLREGS 1972).

Any instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS are to be complied with.

Charts affected: BA 177, 2538, 2537

Swimming event from Ir-Ramla ta’ Wied Musa - Malta to il-Bajja ta’ Ħondoq ir-Rummien - Gozo

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a swimming event starting from Malta and finishing in Gozo will be held on Sunday, 4th October, 2026.

The participants will depart from ir-Ramla ta’ Wied Musa (Malta), point A, at approximately 7.00 a.m. and are expected to arrive in Santa Marija Battery (Comino), point B at approximately 8.30 a.m. They will then walk to il-Bajja ta’ Santa Marija (Comino), point C and proceed with the swim departing at 9.30 a.m., they will swim towards towards point D and continue swimming towards il-Bajja ta’ Ħondoq ir-Rummien (Gozo), point E arriving at approximately at 11.00 a.m., they will follow the route along the points A, B, C, D, and E as shown on the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

A 35° 59’.196014° 20’.355

B36° 00’.394014° 20’.748

C 36° 01’.009014° 20’.214

D36° 01’.207014° 20’.156

E36° 01’.680014° 19’.390

There will be at most 10 swimmers, and they will be wearing a high visibility cap and towing a buoy.

A support vessel will be monitoring the swimmers throughout the swim.

Il-Fliegu ta’ Kemmuna will be restricted to navigation from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and il-Fliegu ta’ Ghawdex will be restricted to navigation from 9.00 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. 

If for some reason the swim cannot be held as planned it will be held on Sunday, 11th October, 2026 at the same place and time.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout, to proceed at slow speed and to keep well clear of the area during the stipulated date and time, giving the swimmers and support vessel a wide berth. They are to observe closely, any instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and by any maritime enforcement assets in the area.

Charts affected: BA 211A, 2537 and 2538.