Notice to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,317 of 20th September 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club will be organising the swimming event as part of a triathlon in Il-Bajja tas-Salina.

The race will be held along the course A, B and C as shown on chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt),

on Monday, 28th September, 2024, from 6.30 a.m. till 11.30 a.m., and

from 3.30 p.m. till 6.30 p.m.

on Tuesday, 29th September, 2024 from 6.30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m.

A club RHIB 'S16893' and a number of canoes will be accompanying the participating swimmers.

All mariners are directed to keep well clear of the area and, under no circumstances, are to transit through course A, B and C. For vessels whose moorings are within this area, they are to communicate with RHIB 'S16893' prior to entering or leaving the area and wait to be escorted accordingly.

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.

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.

Charts affected: BA 211B, 211A, 2537 and 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, would like to notify mariners that a group of ex-national team water polo players will be organising a one-day fundraising charity event at Mġarr ix-Xini, Gozo. The event will be held on Saturday, 28th September, 2024, from 9.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.

For the event a makeshift water-polo pitch at Mgarr ix-Xini will be set up within the area formed by joining the points A, B, C and D, as shown on the chart 1 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

If due to unfavourable weather on the day, the event cannot be held at the Mgarr ix-Xini, it will be held on the same date and time at:

 either San Niklaw Bay, Comino, within the area formed by joining the points E, F, G and H, as shown on the chart 2 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

or at Blue Lagoon, Comino, within the area formed by joining the points I, J, K and L, as shown on the chart 3 found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

If due to unfavourable weather conditions the event cannot be held in any of the abovementioned localities, the event will be held on Saturday, 5th October, 2024, at the same time, in either one of the abovementioned localities.

All vessels navigating within the bays are requested to keep a sharp lookout, navigate with caution and at slow speed, and give the water polo pitch a wide berth.

Charts affected: BA 211A, 2537

to 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, 6th October, 2024.

The participants will depart from Marfa – Ir-Ramla tal-Bir (Malta), point A, at approximately 7.00 a.m. and are expected to arrive at Ħondoq ir-Rummien (Gozo), point G at approximately 11.00 a.m. They will be following the route along the points A, B, C, D, E, F, and G as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

There will be at most 10 swimmers, and they will be wearing a high visibility cap and 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. till 9.00 a.m. and Il-Fliegu ta' Għawdex will be restricted to navigation from 9.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m.

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.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta would like to notify mariners that the SB20 European Championship will be held between Monday, 30th September, 2024 and Friday, 4th October, 2024.

The races will be held off Tas-Sliema/St Julian's within race area 1 or off Smart City/Marsaskala within area 2 depending on wind conditions, on the above-mentioned days from 11.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m.

The SB20 European Championship event shall be held over two (2) adjacent upwind/downwind courses, within either Area 1 or Area 2, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The courses shall be defined by big yellow inflatable marks (waypoints) around which the competitors shall have to sail.

A number of support RHIBs will be assisting during the event. The organisers will be directing the races from onboard one of the support RHIBs.

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.

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) and to 'keep out of the way' of the sailing vessels participating in the event.

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

Charts affected: BA 177, 2538, 2537

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that a kayaking event will be held in the inland sea at Dwejra, Gozo.

The kayaking event will be held within the area A, B, C, and the intermediate coastline as shown in red on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), on Saturday, 28th September, 2024, from 9.00 a.m. till 5.00 p.m.

Ropes supported by floats will be laid between the points A to B and B to C. The ropes will be laid on Friday, 27th September, 2024, and will be removed on Saturday, 28th September, 2024, as soon as the event is finished.

Any vessels within the above-mentioned area, are to be removed before the ropes are laid and no vessel will be allowed within the area until the ropes are removed.

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

Charts affected: BA 211, 2537

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that the Malta Seaplanes Association in collaboration with Aero Club Como will be organising the Roberts Cup – Como to Malta – Seaplanes Rally, between Saturday, 5th October, 2024 and Sunday, 6th October, 2024. Part of the rally will be held in the Grand Harbour, Qalet Marku and Il-Fliegu ta' Kemmuna.

The flying displays over the Grand Harbour will be held as follows:

Within the display area A, B, C and D, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

On Saturday, 5th October, 2024, from 10.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m., and

On Sunday, 6th October, 2024, from 10.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m.

The flying displays over Qalet Marku and Il-Fliegu ta' Kemmuna will be held as follows:

Within the display area E, F, G and H at Qalet Marku and I, J, K and L at Il-Fliegu ta' Kemmuna, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

On Saturday, 5th October, 2024 from 3.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m., and

On Sunday, 6th October, 2024, from 3.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m.

In the event of adverse weather conditions on both days, the events may be postponed until:

Monday, 7th October, 2024, at the same location and times.

All timings are in local time.

The displays will consist mainly of landing and take-off manoeuvres which will be held within the above-mentioned areas. Mariners are hereby informed that during the dates and times mentioned traffic movements will be restricted.

Valletta VTS will be managing the movement of vessels, on VHF Channel 12 within the Grand Harbour.

Mariners are advised to keep a sharp lookout and navigate with caution when in the vicinity, on the stipulated dates and times.

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.

Positions are in WGS 84 Datum.

Charts affected: BA 211, 177, 2537, 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta notifies all mariners that the 'Vikings Sailing Club' will be organising sailing regattas off Marsamxett Harbour, within the area as shown on the attached chart.

​The activities will be held as follows:

On Saturday, 5th October, 2024, from 8.30 a.m. till 6.00 p.m. and

On Sunday, 6th October, 2024, from 8.30 a.m. till 6.00 p.m.

Orange inflatable marker buoys to indicate the racecourse within the above-mentioned areas 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.

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) and to 'keep out of the way' of the sailing vessels participating in the Regatta.

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

Charts affected: BA 177, 2538, 2537.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that further to Notice to Mariners No 24 of 2021, the Armed Forces of Malta will carry out Live Firing Practice on Tuesday, 8th October, 2024 and Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 with extended hours from 4.30 p.m. till 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

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

A         35° 55'.540    014° 28'.320 (Centre point on                                                                    land),

a radius of 4 Nautical miles to points,

B         35° 59'.460    014° 27'.150 and

C         35° 58'.290    014° 32'.190

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