Heritage Malta has been entrusted with the leadership of an EU-funded initiative that aims at promoting the study, understanding and valorization of various facets of Mediterranean maritime history.

The project entitled, Route des Marchands, Ville des Marchés en Mediterranée (MERCATOR) (Merchant trade routes and market towns of the Mediterranean) brings together six countries and the collaboration of prestigious institutions including the Diputación de Alicante – MARQ in Spain (this is one of the best archaeological museums in Europe), the University of Mertola in Portugal and Istituto di Storia della Cultura Materiale (ISCUM) on behalf of the Regione Liguria in Italy.

These institutions will share and promote information on merchants and merchant cities in Europe between the 17th and 19th century. The project intends to make the subject available to the public via all modern means of information technology and modern communications. This will include an interregional publication, a website and the creation of a comprehensive database of merchants and merchant cities of the period.

Four workshops and four international conferences are also planned over the next two years that will enhance the exchange of ideas and experience on the promotion and management of maritime heritage in the Mediterranean.

An educational multimedia programme directed towards school children is also envisaged.

In Malta, funds from the MERCATOR project will finance, among other things, the setting up of a heritage trail in the harbour area, starting from the Ta’ Liesse area and ending at the 19th century Porto Nuovo in Marsa. Seventy-five per cent of Malta's funds will come from the EU whereas the remainder will be financed locally.

The MERCATOR project was launched late last year during a steering committee meeting held in Malta. A time line for the completion of the project has been agreed on and a logo for the project, designed by employees from Heritage Malta is being finalised.

The MERCATOR project forms part of the Interegg IIIB MEDOCC Programme, an EU-funded initiative aimed at stimulating trans-national cooperation between countries in the Mediterranean.