Opposition to the floating beach club Noma Island is growing, as mayors and at least one NGO expressed their opposition to the idea that the platform used to hold parties offshore could cause environmental strain and disturb residents.

The mayors of Sliema, St Paul's Bay, Mellieha, Marsaskala and St Julian's have voiced their concern about the platform, saying that they will be raising the issue at local council level.

Noma Island is a motorised, trimaran-style vessel featuring two large decks that include a restaurant, bar-lounge and freshwater swimming pool. It can host up to 350 guests, who are transported to the anchored platform by private yacht or speedboat shuttle. The venture is being marketed as Malta's "fourth island."

The vessel holds a commercial vessel operator licence for Maltese waters, has been granted provisional registry and has undergone the standard licensing process. While it is authorised to operate subject to weather conditions and relevant approvals, it cannot carry passengers while in motion and is restricted to static charters at anchor.

The platform has arrived in Malta and is currently moored in Grand Harbour (photo).

Sliema Mayor John Pillow came out strongly against the floating party platform, insisting that Sliema is "a residential community, not an offshore party."

Although no official site has yet been identified for the 1,750-square-metre platform, Pillow said he wanted to make his position clear from the outset, citing existing pressure on the locality from maritime traffic, noise and environmental strain. Residents, he argued, must take precedence over commercial entertainment ventures.

"Let me be clear: any floating party platform has no place in Sliema's waters," Pillow wrote. "Sliema's harbour and coastline are not suitable locations for a floating entertainment platform designed to host hundreds of guests."

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Sliema mayor said he will table the issue at the Sliema Local Council meeting scheduled for 26 March, seeking councillors' backing for a formal position opposing the use of Sliema's waters or foreshore by the platform.

In his own Facebook post, Mellieha Mayor Gabriel Micallef followed suit, saying that while it appeared that this operation may be located beyond Mellieħa, the location was not clear, therefore, the mayor insisted on full transparency and official clarifications, so that all concerned communities are not left in uncertainty.

"In recent days we have heard about a large entertainment platform at sea that could accommodate hundreds of people. This has naturally raised questions about whether and where such operations could be placed around the Maltese coastline," Micallef said.

He said that for this reason, he took action and contacted the competent authorities; Transport Malta, ERA and the Malta Tourism Authority, to request clarifications on whether there are any applications, plans, or discussions related to such operations close to the Mellieħa coastline.

"Mellieħa already experiences significant pressure during the summer months. Our beaches Għadira, Armier, Aħrax, Ċirkewwa and Marfa welcome thousands of people every day, while the sea is enjoyed by swimmers, families, fishermen, boats and those practicing water sports," Micallef said.

He said that introducing a large entertainment structure in an environment that is already so busy raises serious concerns regarding safety, noise, environmental impact and enforcement.

"Furthermore, our coastline lies close to sensitive natural areas such as the Għadira Nature Reserve and the Foresta 2000 sites, which are natural treasures that must be protected," Micallef said.

He said that Mellieħa is a community where people live, with coastal areas located close to many residential homes and where families enjoy the natural environment.

"Our coastline must be respected and protected. The interests of residents, safety and the environment must always come first," Micallef said.

St Paul's Bay Mayor Censu Galea said that as a Council, it has already asked three authorities, namely the Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta, and the Environment and Resources Authority, about what he described as a floating 'barge.'

"So far, we have not received formal answers. However, it looks like it has some sort of licence," Galea said.

Galea said that over the summer periods, the St Paul's Bay Local Council normally receives a number of complaints regarding loud music from vessels anchored in the locality's bays, namely Qawra, Bugibba and St Paul's Bay.

"Last year there was a slight improvement, as far as control was concerned," Galea said.

"We need the official response from the mentioned authorities so that the Council could come to an informed decision regarding the subject," Galea said.

He said that the council will discuss the issue next Thursday during its next council meeting.

"I must point out that activities out at sea are not under the Councils' control, yet we will still make a decision regarding the subject, and make it public. I believe that in principle, no one will be in favour of such an operation close to St. Paul's Bay or to the shores. We already have more than enough of such activities on land," Galea said.

He continued that so far, the council has not received any request for the operation of such an activity neither from the private nor from the public sector.

"On the other hand we received several calls from residents who are worried about the impact such an activity would have," Galea said.

In one short comment to this newspaper, Marsaskala mayor Mario Calleja said the Noma island is "not welcome in Marsaskala waters". 

Speaking to The Malta Independent, St Julian's Mayor Guido Dalli said that as long as the floating platform operates outside the shoreline and does not create a nuisance for residents, he has no objections to its presence. 

However, he said that if it were to cause disturbance to residents, he would take action. Dalli added that the local council is also contacting Transport Malta to establish what permits the floating platform holds. 

NGOs are also opposing the arrival of the floating party boat, with the Malta Ramblers Association saying that it is very concerned about the floating party island.

"There is no indication where it will start berthing, which means it could bring noise and light pollution to sensitive sites and damage the seabed to the detriment of protected habitats," the association said in a Facebook post.

It said that one can imagine that if this "contraption" starts working in Malta, other operators will "start jumping on the bandwagon" and set up their own platforms to take over Malta's sea and coast.

"France did not want it, so of course, it headed for Malta, where people can get away with anything because no enforcement takes place," the NGO said.