6. International relations and participation

The reality of a register that is among the largest in the world, has increased the responsibility Malta has to meet its international commitments and to participate actively in international shipping fora. Close relations with international governmental and non-governmental organisations have been maintained – the functions of which are related to its duties and responsibilities, with the international shipping press, with organisations and individuals who provide services on behalf of Malta’s maritime administration such as Maltese embassies and consulates abroad, with the recognised classification societies and the appointed inspectors, and with various sectors of the shipping industry, particularly ship owners, managers and financiers, maritime administrations, and representatives of seafarers.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

Over these last years, Malta has furthered its active involvement in the International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations’ specialised agency for maritime safety and the protection of the environment from pollution from ships. Malta was re-elected on the Council of the International Maritime Organisation following elections held in November 2003 while the Deputy Executive Director Ports is the elected chairman of the IMO Facilitation Committee.

7. EU obligations and benefits

The EU Affairs department was set up last year with the primary objective of coordinating and implementing the various projects being co-financed by the EU and to carry out research regarding EU related developments and identifying potential sources of financial support and co-operation within the maritime sector. Current projects can be divided into three broad categories:

1: pre-accession and transition projects concerning capacity building and implementation of the EU Aquis relative to maritime transport;

2: infrastructural/investment projects using EU cohesion and structural funds and

3: long term projects within the Trans European Network (TEN-T).

i. Pre-accession projects

The main activities carried out during the period under review focused on the implementation of the 2002 national pre-accession project amounting to around E1.9 million. This project involved capacity building in the form of:

• training of inspectors within the merchant shipping directorate, which is nearly complete;

• the development of an information system for the technical and safety management of the Malta merchant fleet (TSMS), currently being implemented;

• a Significant Wave Height study, which has been completed;

• development of an electronic port notification system for ships entering/leaving Maltese ports and anchoring areas, the control of those ships carrying dangerous and polluting goods and the transmission of manifests to the European Maritime Safety Agency, (Portnet-Malta) which is in final testing stages;

• procurement of computer hardware (as described in IT section above) and databases to support the above systems, both of which have now been installed;

• a twinning project with the French Government.

ii. Twinning project

The twinning project was completed in July 2004 and resulted in a number of reports covering amongst others:

• Implementation of Marpol Directive with respect to Port Reception Facilities and Waste Management Plans;

• Specifications for the software for the port notification and HAZMAT reporting system (Portnet-Malta);

• Specifications for VTS (Vessel Traffic System) equipment for the setting up of a national port and coastal VTS to be operated by the MMA and the Armed Forces of Malta respectively;

• Organisation and manning of the Harbour Master’s office and VTS centres;

• Training of Vessel Traffic System personnel.

iii. Motorways of the sea

Last year’s proposed projects under the Trans European network (TEN-T), were officially approved by the EU under the umbrella project named Motorways of the Sea (MOS). Malta, together with Italy, took the initiative to organise a multi-lateral working group involving all Mediterranean EU member states, to discuss and jointly propose the implementation of the Motorways of the Seas in the Mediterranean and to co-ordinate the various national projects initially proposed. In September 2004 this working group submitted its opinions and recommendation to EU commission regarding the MOS draft policy document that was published for consultation in June 2004.

In the meantime the MMA has prepared the tender for carrying out of a market, financial, economic and preliminary environmental study primarily concerning the development of Maltese ports in line with Malta’s TEN-T/MOS proposal for the ports of Valletta and Marsaxlokk and pending projects identified under the Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment 2002. In addition, the Malta Maritime Authority submitted a project for funding of an extensive marine survey of port structures around the Maltese islands including breakwaters, quays and piers, a project which has been approved and will be implemented next year.

8. International conventions and legislative development

In the light of the significant regulatory aspect of its functions as a Maritime Administration, the Directorate is engaged in a constant review of existing merchant shipping law and regulations so as to ensure that these are in line with current international legislation and practices. In carrying out these initiatives, the Directorate has sought the views of the industry, the advice of local and foreign experts, including that of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) consultants and the legislation of other administrations.

Moreover, the Directorate has also maintained its full participation in the workings of the Maritime Law Advisory Council, a joint initiative with the shipping industry representatives, set up to serve as a research and development agency that can advise and assist the Maltese administration in ensuring continuous harmonisation of Maltese maritime legislation with international maritime law and the needs of the shipping industry.

9. Capital projects

Minor works and general refurbishment and upgrading of quays and wharves included the Deep Water Quay and part of the container stacking area deck at Laboratory Wharf which was in a very poor state due to heavy traffic using this area were carried out..

i. Cirkewwa and Mgarr ferry terminals

Works on the extension of the breakwater and in conjunction with the Cirkewwa and Mgarr Ferry Terminals Projects have been completed. The design of this extension was a rubble mound type construction consisting of multiple layers of different size material and finished off with a skin of concrete wave breakers and a concrete wave wall/footpath on top of the mound profile. The extension itself was 70 metres long (above water level) from the tip of the old breakwater. Included in these works was the revetment to the old breakwater. This structure was of the same design as the extension and its purpose was to give protection to the old breakwater from westerly storms. Other ancillary works included the rehabilitation of Ramp Number 1, the addition and raising of fender blocks, the reinstatement of the old breakwater wave wall and the water channel/root of the breakwater. These works were practically completed in early August 2004, which meant that the ferry operators then had two berths on North Quay and two marshalling areas to operate from during the peak traffic season.

The Gozo Channel ferry at Cirkewwa terminal

The development at Mgarr consists in the construction of a semi-basement car park, a marshalling area, a terminal building, associated road works and the gangways. Civil works of the semi-underground car park and marshalling area are completed, save for the tarmac works and other related road finishes.

Other works, which are in progress, are the exit road. Preparations are at hand to complete these works and start on Phase B of the development, which consists of connecting the car park and the marshalling areas to the new road works and the construction of the terminal and the gangways.

ii. Maritime trade centre

Structural works are in progress for the construction of the maritime trade centre. The maritime trade centre consists of 14,000 square metres of office space for the Malta Maritime Authority, the cargo handling agent and as a one-stop shop for all maritime activities. A large part of the office space is to be allotted for leasing to third parties having maritime related activities. This building, which is being erected at the ex-Gas Works site off Pinto Road, consists of three blocks and includes an underground car park, which can accommodate 120 cars, two canteens and conference facilities. The construction of the reinforced concrete structure is in a very advance stage and works are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2005. Mechanical and electrical works and finishes are expected to be completed in 2006.

iii. Establishing the MMA maintenance workshop and stores and cargo handling agent in Shed No. 1 – Deep Water Quay

Part of Shed No. 1 at the Deep Water Quay is now being rehabilitated to house the Malta Maritime Authority maintenance workshop/stores and all the offices, stores and workshops of the customs and the cargo handling agent which are currently scattered on different areas on the Deep Water Quay. Structural works are already completed and it is expected that these premises will be fully functional by 2005.

Other pipeline capital projects include the upgrading of Deep Water Quay. The quay, which was completed in the late 1950s to serve as a general cargo and bulk grain handling terminal, had over the past 40 years of active service life served the traffic and operation for which it was designed. Since then, significant changes had taken place in the nature and size of shipping and cargo handling equipment, generally leading to increased loadings than that which might have been envisaged at the time of the design. The present condition of the quay is being assessed in order to establish the safe criteria within which the general performance of the quay lies for port operation.

The possibility of upgrading the quay to berth ships up to 50,000 tons displacement is also being investigated.

Other works at the Deep Water Quay include a new gate complex, extension of trailer park facilities and car park facilities as an extension to the proposed cruise liner facilities.

10. Yachting

Last year it was reported that yachting activity in general continued to grow with more and more new purchases by local owners creating pressure on the supply of new berths. This trend continued unabated during the year under review and the yachting industry has continued to flourish as efforts are made by all marinas to expand supply. In this regard two pontoons at Whitehall were extended thereby creating an additional 22 berths.

i. Additional berths

Furthermore, and as was reported last year, two private marinas have been set up on quays formerly administered by the Authority.

The Manoel Island Marina now has several lines of pontoons on ex-Lazzaretto Quay offering berthing to some 150 yachts. This year it provided further berths by extending the pontoons laid in previous years and it is now in the process of laying the third pontoon thus providing a further sixty berths within Lazzaretto Creek. As part of the Cottonera Waterfront development, the new Grand Harbour Marina has also started operations and can offer berthing to yachts ranging in size from 12 metres to Maxi yachts. This year has shown a growth in berth occupancy both by local and foreign yachtsmen and has served as the base for two international offshore sailing events.

Msida/Ta’ Xbiex Marina – full occupancy of 837 berths

ii. A new yacht marina

Inspite of this and the fact that Malta now has four separate yacht marinas and one in Gozo, there is still more room for growth and government has already expressed itself that following a joint study coordinated by the Malta Maritime Authority and the Malta Environmental Planning Authority, the latter having identified the potential development of Xemxija Bay into a yacht marina, it is expected that, in the coming months, calls be issued.

iii. Yachting centres

The total number of yacht berths now available in Malta and Gozo is 1,635, distributed as follows:

Msida/Ta' Xbiex

Yachting Centres 837

Manoel Island Marina 310

Grand Harbour Marina 250

Mgarr Marina 210

Portomaso 110

Apart from catering for the local yachting fleet, these marinas also offered their facilities to over 1,300 foreign visiting yachts.

11. Flag State control

The network of Flag State inspectors is deemed as key to the further improvement within the maritime sector. The system, introduced in 1993, which comprises random inspections of Maltese ships worldwide using the services of its own global network of inspectors, has been enhanced further.

During the period October 2003–September 2004, 921 inspections for a total gross tonnage of 17,526,634 were carried out in ports in 22 different countries worldwide.

A total of 23 ships had to be detained by the Directorate until it was ascertained that they had been brought up to the required standard. The network of overseas flag State inspectors numbers 119 in 61 different countries covering ports in at least 74 countries. The network is complemented by local inspectors in the direct employ of the Malta Maritime Authority. These carry out inspections of Maltese ships both in Malta and also in foreign ports.

Malta’s ship inspection regime is received well by the international shipping community including shipowners themselves. Undoubtedly, it has improved substantially the monitoring capabilities of the Directorate and the overall performance of the Maltese fleet. Without in any way diminishing the importance of an increasing awareness amongst shipowners and seafarers of the need for quality shipping, the Flag State control regime has been an important contributing factor towards the drastic reduction in the rate of detentions of Maltese ships in foreign ports. The detention rate for Maltese ships in ports covered by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control fell from 7.39% for calendar year 2002 to 6.38% for 2003. This is lower than the average detention rate for all ships within the same ports.

12. Port State control

It is the responsibility of the Authority to ensure, as much as possible, that ships, irrespective of flag, leaving Maltese waters on international voyages are being maintained in accordance with the required international standards.

Between October 2003 and September 2004, 242 foreign flagged ships were inspected. This represents over 29 per cent of the total number of foreign merchant ships entering Maltese ports excluding those which came in for drydocking. Detention orders were issued in respect of 19 vessels of various nationalities. The Port State control rate for calendar year 2004 should increase further since the rate for the first three quarters of 2004 is already very encouraging. Mindful of its responsibilities in maintaining standards the Merchant Shipping Directorate significantly boosted its inspectorate complement with the recruitment of three inspectors who were assigned to Port State control duty.

Meanwhile, the Directorate has continued with its active participation in the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control of which the Malta Maritime Authority is one of the founder members and of which the Executive Director Merchant Shipping is the current chairman. Moreover, in May, Malta was accepted as a cooperating member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. This is the first step towards attaining full membership within the Paris MOU on Port State Control.

13. Ship casualty

investigations

Between October 2003 and September 2004 there were 125 reported accidents involving Maltese ships, one of which, the Win Grand, resulted in a total loss. As is the policy of the Directorate, casualty investigation was carried out either directly or through Malta’s worldwide network of Flag State inspectors and Maltese Consuls.

In many of the cases the assistance and collaboration of foreign maritime administrations was also received in terms of the relative IMO resolutions on cooperation between maritime administrations where the casualty occurred or where relative information was available.

14. Certification of seafarers

As part of its responsibilities as Flag State Administration, the Authority’s Merchant Shipping Directorate is also responsibile for the training and certification of seafarers and of persons employed in the maritime industry. To this effect the Maltese administration has entered into bilateral agreements with 46 foreign maritime administrations for the recognition of certificates of competency issued to seafarers after having ascertained that such certificates are issued in full compliance with the STCW Convention as amended in 1995.

By the end of September 2004, the Directorate had processed over 37,400 applications from officers serving or wanting to serve on Maltese ships, for the issue of endorsements attesting to the recognition of their certificate of competency issued by a foreign administration.

Meanwhile, the Directorate continued to monitor courses run by the Maritime Institute of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and other training conducted by institutions.

15. Safety at sea

As in previous years, several bays and beaches popular with swimmers were hived off as swimmers’ zones. This year four new swimmers’ zones at St George’s Bay and Marsascala were introduced in Malta while in Gozo Mgarr ix-Xini was also declared as a swimmers’ zone. The concept of management and maintenance by the local councils after first installation by MMA is also being adopted. Marker buoys were installed in popular swimming bays in order to ensure that seacrafts do not encroach within swimming areas. The delineation of swimmers’ zones is the main initiative undertaken by the Maritime Authority during this campaign. In fact 24 locations around Malta and Gozo have been earmarked as swimmers’ zones. Amongst these, five were new locations that were added during the Summer months. Billboards around the designated swimmers’ zones were installed in order to inform and educate the public on the existence of such zones and to encourage the public to use them.

Throughout the years, the Malta Maritime Authority is satisfied to note a sustained decline in the number of serious accidents at sea.

16. Conclusions

The economic activity generated from merchant shipping during the period under review has been quite considerable. Economic benefits, including the high amount of foreign exchange earned is of advantage both to government authorities and the local private sector. Revenue derived by the Malta Maritime Authority is ploughed back into projects to the benefit of the different sectors of the maritime industry and the Maltese nation at large. Merchant shipping continues to be a very important component of Malta’s maritime and international service industries.

Censu Galea is Competitiveness and Communications Minister

The first part of this article was published on 27 December