Notices to Mariners issued in Govt. Gazette 21,468 of 15th July 2025

Fireworks Display ‒ Feast of St. Joseph ‒ Kalkara – 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that fireworks will be let off from Kalkara Creek (point A), Rinella Bay (point B) and along the line X to Y, as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), from the approximate positions on the dates and times as follows:

PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

A35° 53’.293014° 31’.560

B35° 53’.582014° 31’.610

X35° 53’.328014° 31’.509

Y35° 53’.292014° 31’.546

At Kalkara Creek from the area known as ‘Taħt is-swar tal-Posta ta’ Kastilja u ta’Aragona’ (point A):

On Sunday, 20th July, 2025, from 7.00 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.

At Rinella Bay, Kalkara (point B):

On Friday, 18th July, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.10 a.m., from noon to 12.10 p.m., and from 8.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.

At Kalkara Creek from the area known as ‘Taħt is-swar tal-Posta ta’ Kastilja u ta’Aragona’ (along the line X to Y):

On Saturday, 19th July, 2025, from 8.00 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

In view of the above, mariners are to give a wide berth of 100 meters from the area known as ‘Taħt is-swar tal-Posta ta’ Kastilja u ta’Aragona’ in Kalkara Creek (point A), they are also to give a wide berth of 200 meters from Rinella Bay, Kalkara (point B) and to give a wide berth of 70m from the line X to Y, as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

All vessels within 100 metres radius from point A, 200 metres radius from point B and 70m from the line X to Y, are to be removed on the abovementioned dates and times of the displays. 

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 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

Swimming event as part of a triathlon in il-Bajja tas-Salina – 20th July, 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that Triathlon Malta will be organising the swimming event as part of a triathlon in il-Bajja tas-Salina.

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

PositionLatitude (N)Longitude (E)

A35° 56’.932014° 25’.660

B35° 57’.112014° 25’.763

C35° 57’.100014° 25’.783

on Sunday, 20th July, 2025 between 6.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m.

A club RHIB ‘S25336’ 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 “S25336” 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 211, 2537 and 2538.

Fireworks Display from a Barge Moored at il-Qala tal-Għażżenin, St Paul’s Bay ‒ 2025

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies mariners that firework displays in connection with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, St Paul’s Bay, will be let off from a barge moored in the position, as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The fireworks will start to be loaded onto a barge from the jetty at Fekruna l/o Xemxija on Thursday, 24th July, 2025, at about mid-day, and once loaded transported to the mooring position.

The barge will be moored in the following position on Thursday, 24th July, 2025, and will be removed on Monday, 28th July, 2025, in the morning.

Position       Latitude (N)Longitude (E)

Centre of barge35˚57’.135014˚24’.121

During nightime, the barge will carry lights.

The dates and times when fireworks will be let off are as follows:

On Friday, 25th July, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.05 a.m., from noon to 12.05 p.m., and from 9.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.

On Saturday, 26th July, 2025, from 8.30 a.m. to 8.35 a.m., from 11.45 a.m. to 11.50 a.m., from 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., and from 9.45 p.m. to 11.15 p.m.

On Sunday, 27th July, 2025, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.05 a.m., from noon to 12.05 p.m., from 7.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., and from 9.45 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.

Mariners are informed that during the loading of the fireworks from the jetty onto the barge, the jetty cannot be used, and no vessel will be allowed to remain alongside until all fireworks have been removed and the barge departs.

All vessels and bathers are warned to keep well clear of the barge and maintain a safe distance of at least 200 metres from the barge during the abovementioned dates and times.

Vessels moored within 200 metres from the location of the barge are to be removed and the area kept clear while the barge is in position. 

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 200m safety zone, or outside such safety zone, from the point from which the fireworks are let off.

Chart affected: BA 211

Fireworks Displays – Feast of St Anne, Marsaskala

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, notifies that firework displays will be let off from pontoons moored at the inner part of Marsaskala Bay. The pontoons will be moored between the two points A and B as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt).

The pontoons will be put in position on Saturday, 26th July, 2025, at 11.00 a.m. and will be removed on Sunday, 27th July, 2025 after the display.

PositionLatitude (N) Longitude (E)

 A35° 51’.86314° 33’.793

 B35° 51’.83214° 33’.762

Fireworks will be let off on the following dates and times:

On Saturday, 26th July, 2025 from 10.30 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. and on Sunday, 27th July, 2025 from 9.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Vessels within the area in red, as shown in the chart found on the Transport Malta website (www.transport.gov.mt), are to be removed. All vessel operators and bathers are warned to always keep clear from the pontoons during the above-mentioned days and while the pontoons are in position.

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 indicated area, or outside such area.

All vessels navigating in the innermost part of Marsascala Bay are to proceed with caution and at a slow speed and they are to give a wide berth to the pontoons, on both given days.

Chart affected: BA 36, 2538

Noise levels onboard commercial vessels

This notice is to be read in conjunction with the following notices:

Notice to Mariners No. 9 of 2023 ‒ LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija project – restriction areas around Malta;

Notice to Mariners No. 18 of 2024 ‒ Restricted Area between Ponta tal-Aħrax and Daħlet ix-Xilep;

Port Notice 06/2025 on boat parties and noise levels on board commercial vessels.

The Ports and Yachting Directorate, Transport Malta, reminds all operators, masters, and crew of commercial vessels of the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Safety of Commercial Vessels dealing with noise and loud music onboard such commercial vessels. These provisions have been established to safeguard the safety of navigation and operations of the vessel by ensuring that all communications onboard are not impaired at any time; and to take into consideration the social and environmental obligations by ensuring that no nuisance is caused especially in areas which are noise sensitive. These provisions are to be complied with at all times.

Furthermore, all operators, masters and crew are hereby notified that the following procedures must be complied with at all times with respect to the organisation of boat parties on board commercial vessels:

1. A formal written approval must be sought from the Authority’s Port Operations via email to (portoperations.tm@transport.gov.mt), subject to the following terms and conditions:

i. It must be requested at least 24 hours before the start of scheduled activity;

ii. The required permits to hold the activity must be in hand and submitted to the Authority together with the request for approval;

iii. The names and contact numbers of the master and of a second contact person onboard the vessel must be provided;

iv. Noise1 and music levels shall be controlled so that they do not cause any disturbance and nuisance to other persons in the vicinity or impair in any manner the effective communications by and with the vessel at any time;

v. Music must be stopped by 11.00 p.m.;

vi. Sound checks in port, bays or harbours is not permitted;

vii. This approval should be kept on board the vessel;

viii. Prior entering any port, harbour or bay, authorisation shall be obtained from Valletta VTS.

Commercial boat parties operating in close proximity to residential areas and/or in ports, harbours, or environmentally sensitive bays shall adhere to strict noise control measures at all times. In such areas, amplified music or sound systems shall be reduced to minimal levels that do not cause disturbance or nuisance to residents or the public in general. Additional measures may also be imposed to uphold social and environmental obligations and to preserve the amenity of noise-sensitive locations.

Operators, masters and crew are to keep watch on VHF Channel 16/12 and cooperate with the enforcement officers in the area and with Valletta VTS and comply with all instructions and directions given.

Enforcement action will be taken accordingly in the event of any non-compliance.

1Noise: is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing, it shall, amongst others, include horns, sirens, whistles, rackets, shouting, jeering, drums and other sources. 

Local Notice to Mariners No. 86 of 2024 of Transport Malta is hereby cancelled.