Malta

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Revision as of 22:41, 13 April 2013

Malta Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Malta.

Malta
Malta - Chartlet
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Capital:	Valletta 35°53′N, 14°30′E
Language:	Maltese
Currency:	Euro € (EUR)
Timezone:	UTC+1 (DST observed)
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The country of Malta consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Malta's total area is 316 km² (121mi²).

Malta has a long history. The islands were inhabited from neolithic times and have seen many conquerors —Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Crusaders. The last were the Knights of St. John who after they were chased away from Rhodes by the Ottomans moved to Malta in 1522. They built the very imposing Valletta overlooking the Grand Harbour. They were followed, in 1798, by the French under Napoleon and finally by the British in 1800. The harbours of Valletta (Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour) were a major anchorage of the allied fleet during World War II. Following the war, the British left and Malta became an independent nation in 1964. Today, Malta is the most densely populated country (about 410,000 inhabitants) in Europe. In 2004 Malta became a member of the expanded European Union. As a result of all the innovations, the Maltese are a definitely Mediterranean mixture but, having been under the British, have a most un-Mediterranean industriousness and efficiency. They speak Maltese, which is an amalgam of Arabic, Italian, and French but everyone also speaks fluent English. In Malta you can get almost any conceivable repair for your boat. Because of this and because Malta is in the middle of the Mediterranean it is a very popular stop for many cruisers.

Climate & Weather

The climate of the Malta islands is Mediterranean, which means mild rainy winters and hot dry summers. Snow is very rare but in winter high winds are common. The worst wind is the dreaded Gregale, a NE wind bringing big seas. The average high temperature is 21° C (71°F) reaching into the low 30's in July and August, while the average low temperature is 15° C (60° F) reaching 9° C in January and February.

Weather links for Malta

• Malta Weather
• Weather on Line provides detailed 7 day forecast charts for the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Atlantic
• GRIB files - download software, free. It is easy to use.
• Wind Guru A surfer's site with worldwide wind forecasts
• Frank Singleton's weather page
• Navtex Broadcasts List of all the Navtex broadcast times and frequencies

Charts

A Typical Maltese Boat
Click for larger view

BA - British Admiralty

2123 - 1:300,000 Capo Granitola to Capo Passero (Does not cover SE part of Malta)

2124 - 1:300,000 Isola di Lampedusa to Capo Passero including Malta

194 - 1:100,000 Approaches to Malta and Ghawdex (Gozo)

2537 - 1:50,000 Ghawdex (Gozo), Kemmuna (Comino) and the northern part of Malta

2538 - 1:50,000 Malta

211 - 1:25,000 Plans in the Maltese Islands

NIMA - US National Imagery and Mapping Agency

53200 - Malta to Stretto di Messina

53203 - Islanda of Malta and Ghawdex (Gozo)

53204 - Northwest Malta

53205 - Approaches to Valletta Harbors and Marsaxlokk

53206 - Valletta and Marsaxlokk

Approaches and Navigation

Refer to official charts and pilots.

Local Radio Nets

• Valletta Port Control - VHF channels 12 & 16,
• Valletta Radio - VHF Channel 12 transmits weather forecasts every 4 hours starting at 0903
• Malta Radio - Channel VHF 04 transmits weather forecasts every 4 hours, one hour ahead of Valletta Radio.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Arrival/Departure procedures

Maltese Boat Detail
Click for larger view

Arrival

The first port of call for visiting yachts MUST be at an official Port of Entry (Mgarr, Gozo or Valletta, Malta). Contact "Valletta Port Control" on VHF 12 or 16 whan about 5 miles off. Pets (must be in compliance with the "Pet Passport") must be cleared by the Health Department vet before the vessel is allowed to berth.

Departure

Check with marina offices for current requirements.

Customs and Immigration

Immigration

Malta is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Visas are not required for nationals of all European Union countries, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, UK Overseas Territories, Vatican City and Venezuela. Visas are required by all other nationalities, obtainable from Maltese or British diplomatic missions abroad. Nationals from countries needing a visa and arriving aboard a yacht are usually granted a short-stay visa on arrival.

Customs

Yachts may remain for an indefinite period of time in Malta - crew stays are governed by the immigration allowances. Firearms and ammunition MUST be declared on arrival and be will be held in custody.

PETS: Dogs and Cats fall under the European Regulations on non-commercial movement of pet animals (Pet Travel Scheme) and the usual conditions requiring a "Pet's Passport", microchip, current Rabies Vacination and Health Certificate apply in Malta.

Sattelite View of Valletta - Click for larger view

Health and Security

Health

Submit any health warnings/information here.

Security

Generally considered to be a relatively safe environment. Beware of pickpockets especially in the crowded tourist areas of Valletta, Sliema, etc. Boat owners should take care to secure outboards etc. and lock up when leaving their vessels unattended. There have been cases of theft reported from boats in Msida marina and on the Msida breakwater.

Ports & Popular Stops

The following are the main ports in Malta. Click on the appropriate heading for details.

Ports

Valletta

Marsamxett Harbour

Marsamxett Harbour is a large natural harbour lying on the NW side of Valletta. Manoel Island lies pretty much in the middle of this harbour. To the north of Manoel Island is the the Sliema waterfront, a major tourist area with numerous hotels, bars, etc. Many day tripper and harbour tour boats operate from here. Manoel Island Boat Yard is also located here. To the south of Manoel Island is Lazaretto Creek. Manoel Island Marina and Sandy Yacht Marina are located here in Lazaretto Creek. Further to the SE is Msida Creek where Msida Marina lies behind it's own protective breakwater.

Grand Harbour

A large natural harbour on the SE side of Valletta. Primarily a commercial harbour used by cruise ships and other commercial traffic. Grand Harbour is also home to Camper & Nicholsons Grand Harbour Marina and Kalkara Boat Yard. The harbour is protected by a detached breakwater off the entrance on the NW side.

Marsaxlokk

A fishing port on the SE side of Malta. Attractive for its colourfully painted fishing boats.

Birzebugga

A large bay overshadowed by a large container port on the southern side. Baldacchino Boat Yard is located here.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Royal Malta Yacht Club - Click for larger view

• Mgarr Marina - The only harbour of Gozo. It is used by the ferries linking Gozo to the island of Malta as well as local fishing boats and yachts. There is a floating pontoon marina for yachts.
• Portomaso Marina - Part of a residential complex approximately 1.5 miles NW of Valletta.
• Royal Malta Yacht Club - Located near the entrance to Msida Creek, the RMYC is host to the internationally renowned annual Middle Sea Race.
• Malta Cruising Club

Offshore Islands

• Gozo
  • Mgarr (port of entry)
• Comino

Boat yards in Malta

• Manoel Island Yacht Yard. A full service boat yard on the N side of Manoel Island in Marsamxett harbour.
• Kalkara Boat Yard. A smaller boat yard in Kalkara creek, located in Grand Harbour.
• A & J Baldacchino Boat Yard. A small family run yard close to the container port at Birzebbuga in the SE corner of Malta.

Note that some Malta boat yards have restrictions on what work can be done by owners, what must be done by the yard, whether outside contractors may work in the yard, whether an owner may liveaboard in the yard, etc. These restrictions vary from year to year. Owners of yachts should check carefully before committing to a particular yard.

Tourism

In Malta the major points of interest can be divided into the prehistoric and the medieval.

Valletta

A Shop in Valletta
Click for larger view

The best place to start sightseeing in Malta, is to visit the its capital Valletta the city built by the knights of Malta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Go to the palace of the Magnus Magister (Grand Master), and the St. John's Cathedral which houses two Caravaggio paintings: the Beheading of St. John and St. Jerome. The latter was stolen in 1987 but amazingly enough has been recovered. Caravaggio by the way, had lived in Malta for 4 years and had became a knight of St. John.

Wandering in Valletta and seeing these most impressive fortifications one can not help but think how much the native Maltese must had "loved" the knights who used them as labor. Also, some of the sculptural memorials of Grand Masters in the palace and in St. John's Cathedral, in particular the one to Nicolas Contono, depict captive Turks and Blacks as lesser people. These were, of course, "infidels" and were fair game to be enslaved. For a very interesting account of the Maltese Knights/Pirates read the Alonso De Contreras chronicle.

You can begin your prehistoric Malta visit at the Auberge de Provence[http://www.example.com link title that houses the Archaeological Museum. They have many amazingly large and curvaceous prehistoric female figures.

The Grand Masters Palace Click for larger view

A Street in Valletta Click for larger view

A Knife Sharpener's Cart Click for larger view

The Main Street in Valletta Click for larger view

Paola

In the Hypogeion
Click for larger view

Paola is the location of Hypogeion the fabulous underground prehistoric and UNESCO World Heritage site. Unfortunately you need a reservation for the visit and it may take over a week. Reservations have to be made in-person at the site.

Next to the town is the site of Taxien, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is on the surface and while it is very confusing it is also very impressive. The megaliths here are very soft and the whole site ought to had been under a roof to protect it from the elements.

Taxien

Monumental Figure of a Woman Click for larger view

The Megaliths Click for larger view

Mdina & Rabat

Mdina and Rabat are right next to each other. They are mediaeval towns from before the arrival of the knights. Mdina is the old capital of Malta before the arrival of the Knights of St. John. It is fantastic and in a very well preserved state. Everything is very clean. You can spent the best part of the day wandering through the old streets and admire the view from the ramparts.

Mdina

A Street in Mdina Click for larger view

The Cathidral of Mdina Click for larger view

Mosta Dome

The Mosta Dome
Click for larger view

On the way to Mdina & Rabat you drive through the city of Mosta. Mosta has a famous Cathedral with a very large dome. During the war a German bomb fell and went right through the dome but did not explode. This, of course, was attributed to a miracle: Il-Miraklu Tal-Bomba.

Transportation

Malta has an extensive bus service with routes to most parts of the island. The airport has daily flights to London, Rome and Madrid. Scheduled flights are also available to a number of other European and Middle East cities.

Cruiser's Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

Links to Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Malta Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

• Malta Maritime Authority
• Malta (Wikipedia)
• Knights of St. John

References & Publications

• Rod Heikel and Lu Michell, Mediterranean Almanac, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9781846230837
• Graham Hutt and RCC Pilotage Foundation, North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Gibraltar, Pantelleria and the Pelagie Islands and Malta, Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson, Cambridgeshire, Updated 2010 , ISBN 9781846232817
• Rod Heikell, Italian Waters Pilot, Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson, Cambridgeshire, Updated Edition 8th (2011), ISBN 9781846233326 - Covers the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sardinia, Sicily, the Ionian 'heel' and Malta
• Rod Heikell, Mediterranean Cruising Handbook, Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson; 6th Revised edition edition (April 21, 2012), ISBN 978-1846231704
• Philip Dallas, The Adventures of Captain Alonso De Contreras, Paragon House, New York, ISBN 1557781680

Personal Notes

I have visited Malta twice and both times I was not disappointed, in fact I loved it. It is one of the most "cruiser friendly" places I have been. The people here combine British efficiency with Mediterranean warmth and hospitality. And they love boats. --Istioploos

Malta has been a popular wintering spot for cruising yachts in years gone buy, with a buoyant social scene focused largely around Msida marina and breakwater. Uncertainties in the past year or so about the privatisation of Msida Marina, coupled with concerns over availabilty of berths, and loss of the shower and toilet facilities at Msida have perhaps been a part of the reason there has been a significant reduction in the number of yachts wintering afloat in Malta in the winter 2010/11. Unfavourable restrictions on yachtsmen working on their own boats in the yard has probably also been a contributing factor. It is hoped that with Msida Marina now privatised and the removal of some restrictions in the largest yard, that cruising yachtsmen may once again find Malta a good place to winter afloat. Having myself spent the winter of 2009/10 afloat at Msida breakwater I can say that Malta can be a good place to winter afloat with lots to see and do as well as many excellent facilities for carrying out winter maintenance of a yacht. --Wayward

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

• May 2001 --Istioploos
• Updated May 2012 --Wayward

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