Notice to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,323 of 4th October 2024

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a series of Jet-Suit flights displays, will be held on Saturday 5th October, 2024, inside the Grand Harbour, between 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

The Jet-Suits flight displays inside the Grand Harbour will be held in the area shown on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) as follows:

All timings are in local time.

Each flight-display will take around two to three minutes and will maintain a height of no more than three (3) meters (10 feet) above of sea surface within the above-mentioned area. 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.

Chart affected: BA 177

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners, owners of vessels and the general public that further to Local Notice to Mariners No. 40 of 2024 regarding Dredging Works at Malta Freeport – West Quay Terminal 2, the completion date is being extended up to Saturday, 31st May, 2026.

All the information and restrictions mentioned in Local Notice to Mariners No. 40 of 2024 will also apply up to this date.

Position is referred to WGS 84 DATUM.

Chart affected: BA 36

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies all mariners and sea vessel operators that filming activities will take place at different localities.

Filming on board the container vessel MV Skylight will take place between Sunday, 13th October, 2024 and Saturday, 9th November 2024, depending on weather conditions, at the locations and times as follows:

At Marsaxlokk Port – Malta Freeport

Filming at this location is scheduled to be carried out during Sunday, 13th and Tuesday, 15th of October, from 8.00 a.m. till 8.00 p.m.; and during Wednesday, 30th October and Friday, 1st November, 2024, from 7.00 a.m. till 8.00 p.m.

East Coast of Malta

Filming at this location (4NM from the nearest coast) is scheduled to be carried out during the 16th October and the 9th November, from 7.00 am. till 8.00 p.m.

At Valletta Port – VGT

Filming is scheduled to be carried out during Wednesday, 16th October, 2024, and Saturday, 19th October, 2024, from 7.00 a.m. till 6.00 p.m.

Mariners navigating are to give way when the above mentioned vessel and its filming support vessels are insight on the mentioned dates and time and are to keep watch on VHF Channels 12 and 14. All mariners are to cooperate with the filming support vessel's crew and/or any enforcement officers in the areas.

Any instructions issued on VHF channel 12-14/16 by Valletta VTS/ Marsaxlokk VTS are to be complied with.

Charts affected: BA 36, 177, 194, 2537, 2538

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners, owners of vessels and the general public that further to Local Notice to Mariners No. 120 of 2024 regarding swimming events from Il-Ponta tal-Aħrax, Malta to Ġebel tal-Ħalfa, Gozo – Swimtrek, there will also be races on the following days at the same location and time:

On Tuesday, 15th October, 2024, and

On Friday, 18th October, 2024.

There is also an additional support vessel 'X knots' which will also be used.

All the information and restrictions mentioned in Local Notice to Mariners No. 120 of 2024 will also apply for these days.

Charts affected: BA 211A, 2537 and 2538.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that a Chinese Cakes fireworks display will be held from the foreshore off the Grand Hotel Excelsior on Monday, 7th October, 2024, starting at 11.00 p.m. for not more than 10 minutes. The display will be centred at Point A, as shown on the chart found on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) in the approximate following position:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

A         35° 53'.904                 014° 30'.282

In view of the above, mariners are advised to keep 60m away from point A, on the abovementioned date and time.

Any boats berthed within the area shown on the attached chart are to be removed during the above-mentioned date and time.

Transport Malta will accept no liability whatsoever for any damage caused by the firework displays to any vessel and her ancillary equipment, whether such vessel and her ancillary equipment are left within the 10m 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, notifies that the Royal Malta Yacht Club will be holding the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday 19th October 2024. In addition, a coastal race will also be held on Wednesday 16th October 2024.

The race programme is as follows:

a) Wednesday, 16th October, 2024

The coastal race starts at 10.00 a.m.

The start and finish line will be at the entrance of Marsamxett Harbour between Tigné Point and a buoy laid in the vicinity of Fort St. Elmo. The actual racecourse will be decided on the day depending on the weather conditions.

Mariners are requested to keep away from the starting area outside Marsamxett Harbour, during the start of the coastal race between 9.45 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. and to keep a sharp lookout during the remaining hours on Wednesday, 16th October, 2024.

b) Saturday, 19th October, 2024

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 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 buoy, bearing the sponsor's logo, positioned outside the Saint Elmo Breakwater. The buoy shown as 1 on the charts 1 and 2 as shown on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), will be in the following approximate position:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

35° 54'.160                             014° 31'.540

A restricted zone is being established near Buoy 1, as shown in red on 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 as shown on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt) will be in the following approximate position:

Latitude (N) Longitude (E)

35° 55'.650                             014° 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 on 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 above-mentioned 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 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, 16th October, 2024, and during the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race on Saturday, 19th October, 2024.

Mariners are advised that on Saturday, 19th October, 2024, between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., or such time as may be communicated on VHF Channel 12 and/or 16 by Valletta VTS, if earlier, the Grand Harbour shall be closed for all traffic not directly related to the race.

During these times all other vessels shall be required to remain within designated areas in the inner harbour up to Ras Ħanżir, in Dockyard Creek, Kalkara Creek and Rinella Bay. (the areas are shown on chart 1 on Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt)).

No vessel will be allowed at the quay next to the fish market as this quay is being reserved for emergency vessels only.

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