Transport Malta News

Two Maltese maritime training and contingency management training organizations will be offering a new set of integrated courses from 2021 after agreeing a memorandum of understanding earlier this month.The Mediterranean Maritime Research and Training Center (MaritimeMT) and the International Safety Training College (ISTC) will create a new set of courses covering both maritime training and the oil and gas sectors offering some of the highest training standards in these industry sectors from January 2021.MaritimeMT…

In yet another demonstration of its growing global recognition, Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading classification society, has received authorisation as a Recognised Organisation (RO) from Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport, Malta. Malta is the sixth largest flag in the world and largest in Europe with a tonnage of 72.1 Million GT. This year, IRClass has earned a spate of authorisations from various flags worldwide, including US Coast Guard, Latvia, Antigua & Barbuda, Thailand and Bangladesh. Moreover, IRClass has set up its offices in Malta & Istanbul. With offices already established in London, Piraeus and a representative office in Cyprus, IRClass can provide better services to its European customers.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) together with the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) have co-hosted an event on “The Future of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria” at Marlborough House in London on September 28. The event brought together investors, business leaders and government officials – representing maritime interests from across the Commonwealth – in a bid to stimulate discussion, increase cooperation and forge partnerships around the myriad opportunities of Nigeria’s maritime sector. The event was hosted as part of CWEIC’s Commonwealth Maritime Initiative (CMI), which aims to promote the maritime industry as a key driver of economic growth and trade (cargo carried by sea is set to quadruple by 2050)…

Transport Malta, the Authority responsible for the Malta Ship Register, through its Merchant Shipping Directorate, reports a strong and positive performance for 2015. The Maltese Register of Shipping saw an increase of almost 8.3 million gross tonnage in 2015, representing a growth rate of 14.3 percent compared to the year before, Transport Malta said. The registered gross tonnage under the Merchant Shipping Act was 66.2 million gross tons, as of  December 2015. These statistics represent record figures for the Malta Flag and a significant achievement for the Malta Flag Administration, since over 900 ships for a total gross tonnage of over 12 million tons were registered during the year.

The first Malta Maritime Summit, an opportunity for international and Maltese stakeholders to raise and discuss common interests, will be held on 3-6 October, ahead of the start of Malta’s presidency of the European Council in January 2017. The international event that will consolidate the present Government's will to establish the country as a centre of maritime excellence, says Joe Mizzi, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Malta has always been a maritime nation as its location has made it historically the most sought after island in the Mediterranean, by traders and world leaders alike. Minister Joe Mizzi said that the Government is conscious that Malta has a natural potential to act as a centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.

According to the Independent, oil tankers owned by Bilal Erdogan, son President Erdogan, has involved in the illicit  oil trade with  Islamic State (ISIS). The ships are  registered in Malta and all fly the Maltese flag. Russia's allegations of Turkish involvement in ISIS' oil trade have focused primarily on the Turkish president's son, Bilal Erdogan. The 34-year-old is one of three equal partners in the BMZ group, a major Turkish oil and marine shipping company, which both the Russian and Syrian governments have accused of purchasing oil from ISIS. Officials as well as Russian and Syrian media said Bilal Erdogan is involved directly in the oil trade with IS. They said that Turkish warplanes shot down Russian mainly aimed at protecting the illicit oil trade of Bilal.

Clean Marine  signed a contract with  Chinese yard Huanghai Shipbuilding Co.Ltd. for the supply of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) on two reefer/fishing support vessels, which are currently under construction. The contract also includes an option for delivery of additional EGCS on two identical sister vessels. The vessels are owned by EF Transport (Malta) Ltd, whose fishing fleet is primarily engaged in the North-East Atlantic and is therefore highly exposed to the current IMO legislation…

Clean Marine has signed a contract with the Chinese yard Huanghai Shipbuilding Co.Ltd. for the supply of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) on two reefer/fishing support vessels. The vessels are owned by EF Transport (Malta) Ltd, whose fishing fleet is primarily engaged in the North-East Atlantic and is therefore highly exposed to the current IMO legislation, which calls for a maximum  0.1 percent sulphur level in air emissions in Emission Control Areas (ECA). The installation of Clean Marine EGCS will enable the new reefers to comply with the existing and future emissions regulation without switching to more expensive fuels. With an EGCS installed, the vessels can burn cheap and readily available Heavy Fuel Oil instead of Marine Gas Oil.

MV Barzan, a vessel recognized as the world's most environmentally friendly ultra-large container vessel, has been registered on the Malta flag. MV Barzan is one of 17 (11 x 15,000 TEU and 6 x 18,800 TEU) advanced used containerships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). It will set new standards for fuel and energy efficiency, due to optimized vessel design, an array of propulsion and equipment efficiency technologies. Preliminary calculations indicate an energy efficiency design index value that is close to fifty per cent below the 2025 limit set by IMO. MV Barzan will start their operational life with IP connectivity using Marlink VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal).

The Malta Ships Register has become the sixth largest maritime flag in the world, according to statistics for 2014, says a report in Fenech & Fenech Advocates. Malta has moved up from seventh place in 2013 and has retained its position as the largest in Europe. The Maltese register has not only registered an increase in gross tonnage but has also continued to attract younger vessels to its fleet whilst retaining high standards. Malta has a centuries old Maritime tradition. The strategic location of the Maltese Islands at heart of the Mediterranean Sea, its natural harbours, and the entrepreneurial and maritime skills of its people have…

Malta ship register becomes the sixth largest worldwide, remains largest in Europe. As at end of December 2014, the registered gross tonnage under the Merchant Shipping Act was 57.9 million gross tons with over 2,500 merchant vessels fly the Maltese flag. In 2013, Malta ranked in the seventh place. Transport Malta, the Authority responsible for the Malta Ship Register, has reported a strong and positive performance for 2014. The Maltese Register of Shipping registered an increase of almost 6.5 million gross tonnage representing a growth rate of 12.5% over the previous year, which had also reported record figures. As at end of December 2014, the registered gross tonnage under the Merchant Shipping Act was 57.9 million gross tons with over 2,500 merchant vessels fly the Maltese flag.

The Malta Maritime Careers Day will see the participation of three eminent international entities in its first year of staging. These will be ICOMIA - the International Council of Marine Industry Associations, SNAME - The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers - based in Virginia, U.S. and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute. The objective of the Malta Maritime Careers Day is to bring together professionals, educators and leading industry players to discuss and encourage the improvement in academic and practical training for the common benefit of interested students, the industry in general and Malta’s economic sustainability. Another primary aim of the event is to increase visibility among students and parents of the career opportunities in this industry.

Transport Malta Marine Safety Unit has released its report on last year's 'MV Thomson Majesty' lifeboat exercise boat fall that killed 5 crew members and injured 3 others. On 10, February 2013, Thomson Majesty arrived in Santa Cruz de La Palma from Las Palmas as part of a seven-day cruise commencing in Tenerife. On board were 1498 passengers and a crew of 594, giving a total number of persons on board of 2092. At around 1030, the ship commenced a general emergency and lifeboat drill for all officers, staff and crew. On completion of the General Emergency Drill, three lifeboats on the outboard (starboard) side were to be lowered to the water and sent away for training purposes. At approximately 1154, during hoisting of lifeboat no.

The Maltese Government and Transport Malta said they are are investigating the alleged accident involving the Malta registered ship MT Baku, in international waters, off the coast of Libya. The government has been in continuous contact with the owners of the ship and the Libyan authorities, since Sunday evening when the events started to develop. Malta, as the flag State of the ship, made immediate representations with the Libyan Government and it was only after its intervention that the ship sailed to outside Maltese territorial waters. The safety of the crew and the ship was of utmost priority throughout the events. Malta shall continue to pursue the matter with the Libyan authorities in order to ensure that Maltese interests are protected in terms of international maritime law…

On Monday 5 December 2011, Regs4ships Limited Senior Surveyor Mark Robinson and Surveyor Robert Aldous were officially appointed as government ship surveyors for Transport Malta (Maritime). Now officially recognized, Mark and Rob can  conduct flag-in surveys as well as perform flag state inspections and annual surveys for all Maltese registered vessels, regardless of size. Our two experienced flag state surveyors have been, and are continuing to, work with the  Marshall Islands and Cook Islands administrations and are highly adept at helping their clients achieve requirements through a quick, professional and personal service. Mark Robinson…

The International Superyacht Society (ISS) announced its collaboration with Wilfred Sultana & Associates in presenting the Superyacht Industry Seminar, The Way Forward, being conducted in Malta, Friday 29 April 2011. Similar to the seminar presented in 2009, foreign and local speakers will again take the podium. While two years ago the theme was ‘The Superyacht Industry’, this year the forum focuses more on the Malta yachting scenario while underlining the demanding requisites of superyachts.