New seacraft regulations to be published

by Franco Aloisio

The Malta Maritime Authority will be publishing new seacraft regulations before the summer months, Transport Minister Censu Galea announced yesterday.

Mr Galea said these regulations control the use of all forms of seacraft, ranging from speed boats to jet skis. He said the draft regulations will be published in May, and will take effect during summer.

Mr Galea was speaking during the launch of the Boat Fair at the Naxxar Trade Fair Grounds. The Boat Fair will be held next weekend. He said the increasing number of exhibitors at this fair indicated that the standard of living is on the increase.

The minister said the business generated in the maritime sector is on the increase. For instance, during 1999, 248 cruise liners visited the island, bringing over 193,000 passengers. An increase of 16 per cent in cruise liner is expected during this, together with an rise in passengers of 31 per cent.

The investment in the improved transport between Malta and Gozo is also a growing sector. Apart from the construction of the three Gozo Channel vessels at the Malta Shipbuilding, the work on the all-weather port in Cirkewwa will start next summer. The total cost of this new port will be Lm4 million.

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that next year's boat fair will be organised jointly by the Malta Boat Importers and Manufacturers Association and Malta International Boat Show Ltd.

At present both organisations have been organising their own exhibitions, one in Birgu and the other at the Naxxar Trade Fair grounds.