Notices to Mariners published in Govt. Gazette 21,304 of 27th August 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the 8 September Regatta will be held in the Grand Harbour. Sinkers and marker buoys will be laid as follows:

1. On Saturday, 7th September, 2024, 3 Yellow Marker buoys with flashing lights will be secured to sinkers that will be laid in the following positions.

2. On Sunday, 8th September, 2024, from 8.00 a.m., virtual line/wire rope with floats will be established/laid in the following positions:

(i) a virtual line will be established from point A ashore on Barriera Wharf to buoy B off Il-Ponta ta' Sant'Anġlu

(ii) a wire rope with floats will be laid from buoy B off Il-Ponta ta' Sant'Anġlu to point C north of Il-Ponta tal-Isla

(iii) a wire rope with floats will be laid from buoy (C) north of Il-Ponta tal-Isla to point (D) west of Il-Ponta tal-Isla opposite the entrance to Id-Daħla tal-Franċiżi Bastion.

(iv) a wire rope with floats will be laid from point D west of Il-Ponta tal-Isla opposite the entrance to Il-Daħla tal-Franċiżi Bastion to point E on Parlatorio Wharf

(v) a wire rope with floats will be laid from bollard 8 at Ras Ħanżir 2 point F to bollard 26 at Deep Water Quay point G, as shown on chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

3. The wire ropes, floats and buoys mentioned in 2 above will be removed on the completion of the Regatta at approximately 6.00 p.m. on Sunday, 8th September, 2024.

4. The sinkers and marker buoys mentioned in 1 above will also be removed on the completion of the Regatta at approximately 6.00 p.m. on Sunday, 8th September, 2024.

5. The port hand lateral mark placed at the following coordinates below Il-Ponta tal-Isla will be removed for the event.

Masters of all vessels are notified that on Sunday, 8th September, 2024, between 8.00 a.m. and about 6.00 p.m., incoming vessels will not be allowed to proceed to any berth southwest of the imaginary line joining point A on Barriera Wharf and Fortizza Sant'Anġlu Flagstaff. Vessels in 'Il-Marsa' sea area will not be allowed to proceed beyond the line F to G indicated in 2 (v) above after 8.00 a.m. No vessel will be allowed near the finishing line except those involved in the races. No movements of vessels will be allowed inside the Grand Harbour, except by special permission. All vessels are to keep a minimum distance of 5m away from the lines and floats mentioned in 2(ii), 2(iii), 2(iv) and 2(v).

Incoming vessels will not be allowed to proceed to any berth south-west of the imaginary line which is 150m northeast of the line A to B mention in 2(i) above. No vessel will be allowed to stay within this 150m area.

The area bounded by the imaginary lines between the points A to B, B to C, C to D, D to E (corner of Parlatorio Wharf), F to G and the intermediate coastline is to be kept clear on Sunday, 8th September, 2024, from 8.00 a.m. till 6.00 p.m., from all vessels except those authorised by the activity organisers.

Masters of all vessels are also warned that the wire ropes and floats may cause a physical obstruction and consequently they are to navigate with extreme caution. Caution is also to be exercised when in the vicinity of such wire ropes and floats when these are being laid or removed.

Mariners are to obey any instructions issued by Valletta Port Control (Valletta VTS) on VHF Channel 12 and enforcement personnel in the area.

Chart affected: BA 177