Notices to Mariners issued in Government Gazette No. 21,727 of 2nd October 2026

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a seabed clean-up operation by divers will take place in Senglea within the hatched area shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, 3rd October, 2026, between 7.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.

A craft will assist the divers and will display the International Code of Signals flag 'A'.

Mariners are advised to keep at least 100m safety distance from the abovementioned area, maintain a sharp lookout and navigate with extreme caution and at slow speed (no wake) when in the vicinity, on the stipulated date and time.

They are to cooperate with the organisers and to comply with any instructions issued on VHF channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS and by any enforcement personnel on site.

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a firework display, during the WTTC Global Summit, will be let off from Manoel Island on Wednesday, 7th October, 2026, between 9.00 p.m. and 10.45 p.m. The displays will be let off from point A as shown in red in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) in the approximate following position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

A                     35° 54'.205     014° 30'.095

In view of the above, mariners are advised to keep 200m away from point A, on the abovementioned date and time.

Any boats berthed within the areas shown in red in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) are to be removed during the abovementioned date and time.

Transport Malta will accept no liability whatsoever for any damage caused by the firework display to any vessel and her ancillary equipment, whether such vessel and her ancillary equipment are left within the 200m safety zone, or outside such safety zone, from the point from which the fireworks are let off.

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

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies all mariners, vessel owners and bathers that the equipment demarcating the zones reserved for swimmers, namely the coloured marker buoys and ropes, shall be removed between Wednesday, 30th September, 2026 and Friday, 16th October, 2026.

Local Notice to Mariners No. 76 of 2026 is to be amended accordingly.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, hereby notifies all mariners, vessel owners and bathers that the equipment demarcating the zones within the restricted navigational areas, namely the coloured marker buoys and ropes, will be removed between Wednesday, 30th September, 2026 and Friday, 16th October, 2026.

Local Notice to Mariners No. 77 of 2026 is to be amended accordingly.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the Royal Malta Yacht Club will be holding the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday, 17th October, 2026.  In addition, a coastal race will also be held on Wednesday, 14th October, 2026.

The race programme is as follows:

a. On Wednesday, 14th October, 2026

​The coastal race will commence at 10.00 a.m.

The start and finish line will be established at the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, between Tigné Point and a buoy to be laid near Fort St. Elmo, as shown in chart 1 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt). The actual racecourse will be determined on the day of the event, subject to the prevailing weather conditions.

​On Wednesday, 14th October, 2026, from 9.00 a.m. to  11.00 a.m., all local ferries, dgħajjes tal-pass and other commercial vessels operating from Tas-Sliema and Marsamxett shall not navigate within Marsamxett Harbour, except with the prior authorisation of the event organisers.

Mariners are advised that the starting area for the coastal race will be situated seaward of the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour. Vessels are to keep well clear of this area during the above said times. Throughout the event, mariners are to navigate with particular caution, maintain a sharp lookout at all times, proceed at a safe speed, and comply with any instructions issued by Valletta VTS on VHF Channels 12 and/or 16.

b. On Saturday, 17th October, 2026

The Rolex Middle Sea Race starts at approximately 11.00 a.m.

 The start is at the Grand Harbour, from an imaginary line between an inflatable yellow buoy near Saint Angelo Point and the Valletta Saluting Battery mast.

​The racing yachts shall then proceed in a north-easterly direction along the fairway in the Grand Harbour to an inflatable yellow buoy, bearing the sponsor's logo, positioned outside the Saint Elmo Breakwater. The buoy shown as 1 on the charts 1 and 2 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) will be in the following approximate position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

35⁰ 54'.160                 014⁰ 31'.540

A restricted zone is being established near Buoy 1, as shown in red on the charts found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The racing yachts shall then proceed in a North Westerly direction towards St George's Shoals where a second inflatable buoy, bearing the sponsor's logo will be positioned. The buoy shown as 2 on chart 2 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) will be in the following approximate position:

Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

35⁰ 55'.650                 014⁰ 30'.070

A 200m restricted zone is being established around buoy 2.

The racing yachts will thereafter follow the course as shown on chart 2 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)

The racing yachts shall then proceed in a north–north easterly direction towards Sicily.

Mariners and spectators are to navigate with caution and to keep a sharp lookout when in the vicinity of the abovementioned courses and when sighted, give the participants a wide berth.

Mariners are also to keep out of the established zone round buoy 1, shown in red on the charts found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), and at least 200m away from the inflatable buoy 2 mentioned above.

All vessels not participating in the races are to maintain a safe distance of at least 50m from all the participating vessels at all times.

The Pembroke firing ranges will be inactive during the coastal race on Wednesday, 14th October, 2026 and during the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday, 17th October, 2026.

Mariners are advised that on Saturday, 17th October 2026, between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., or such earlier times as may be communicated by Valletta VTS on VHF Channels 12 and/or 16, the Grand Harbour shall be closed to all vessel traffic not directly involved in the event.

During the same period, local ferries, dgħajjes tal-pass and other commercial vessels operating between Valletta and Birgu shall not be permitted to navigate within the designated regatta racecourse area, except with the prior authorisation of the event organisers.

Furthermore, all other vessels within the Grand Harbour shall be required to remain within the designated holding areas extending as far as Ras Ħanżir, including Dockyard Creek, Kalkara Creek and Rinella Bay, as indicated on chart 1 found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

​Mariners are advised that, on Saturday, 17th October, 2026, Rinella Bay may be closed to all marine traffic. During any such closure, anchoring, drifting and navigation within the bay shall be prohibited.

Furthermore, no vessel shall be permitted to berth alongside the quay adjacent to the fish market, which shall be reserved exclusively for emergency response vessels.

Mariners are instructed to cooperate with the organizers and maritime enforcement officers in the area. Moreover, they are to comply with any instructions given on VHF channel 12 and /or 16 by Valletta VTS.

Positions are in WGS 84 Datum

Charts affected: BA 177, 194, 2537, 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners and owners of vessels that the Malta Boat Show will be held within Id-Daħla tad-Dockyard in the Grand Harbour between Thursday, 29th October, 2026 and Sunday, 1st November, 2026.

Consequently, all vessels within the area shown in red in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) are to be removed between Monday, 26th October, 2026 and Monday, 2nd November, 2026. No vessel will be allowed within this area on the mentioned dates, except those involved in the event and authorised by the organisers.

Any vessels left in the area during the stipulated dates will be removed at the owner's expense.  The Authority accepts no liability whatsoever for any damage that may be caused while removing the said vessels.

Failure to comply with the above directions may be subject to legal proceedings.

​Chart affected: BA 177

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

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners and the general public that the marine monitering survey – ACCOBAMS, is still ongoing.

The completion date for the survey has been extended to Monday, 30th November, 2026.

All information, requirements, and restrictions outlined in Notice to Mariners No. 45 of 2026 shall remain in force for the duration of the works.

​Charts affected: BA 194, 2123, 2124, 2537, 2538 and Int. 301

The Ports and Yachting Directorate of Transport Malta informs mariners and the general public that the conditions that led to the issuance of Notice to Mariners No. 20 of 2026 no longer apply.

As a result, all navigational restrictions, precautionary measures, monitoring arrangements, and related requirements imposed under Notice to Mariners No. 20 of 2026 are hereby revoked with immediate effect.

Notice to Mariners No. 20 of 2026 is hereby cancelled.