SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 352.15
SMALL SHIPS REGULATIONS
1st June, 2001
LEGAL NOTICE 129 of 2001.
Citation and 
commencement.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Small Ships
Regulations.
(2) ( a ) These regulations, other than regulation 29, shall come
into force on the 1st June, 2001.
( b ) Regulation 29 in respect of mechanically driven
seacraft shall come into force, where the boat has an
engine or engines -
(i) of, or exceeding, 100 H.P, on the 1st September,
2001; and
(ii) not exceeding 100 H.P on such date as the
Minister responsible for transport may prescribe.
Interpretation.
Cap. 352.
"Authority" means the Malta Maritime Authority;
"certificate of registry" means the certificate mentioned in
regulation 13;
"Executive Director" means the Executive Director responsible
for yachting centres, and includes any person authorised by him in
writing to act on his behalf;
"fishing vessel" means a vessel for the time being used for, or in
connection with, fishing for sea fish, other than a vessel used or
intended to be used for fishing otherwise than for profit;
"Grand Harbour" means the waters enclosed by the line drawn
from the outer end of the breakwater arm on the Fort St. Elmo side
to the same outer end of the breakwater on the Fort Ricasoli side;
"harbour" means any of the harbours and bays specified in Part I
of the Second Schedule;
"inspector" means either a surveyor or any other officer of the
Authority authorised to carry out an inspection of a ship;
"length" means the distance between the foreside of the foremost
fixed permanent structure and the aftside of the aftermost fixed
permanent structure;
"Marsamxett Harbour" includes the waters within a line drawn
from St. Elmo Point to Dragut Point;
"passage boat" is the traditional Maltese  dg _hajsa  licensed for the
conveyance of fee paying passengers within Grand Harbour and
Marsamxett Harbour;
"skiing speed" means a speed exceeding ten knots;
2 _g S.L.352.15 SMALL SHIPS
"small ship" means a ship less than 24 metres in length employed
solely in navigation within the waters of Malta;
"speedboat" means any small ship driven mechanically or
electrically, irrespective of the means of propulsion, and capable of
travelling on the sea at a speed in excess of 12 knots; this includes
personal water craft and air-cushioned craft;
"speedboat for hire" means a speedboat licensed from a place
duly licensed for the hiring of speedboats whether for the purpose
of being made use of as a towing craft for water skiing instructions
or facilities, or to be driven for the pleasure of cruising without
taking in tow learners or seasoned water skiers, and whether driven
by the licensee of that licensed place or by any person employed for
the purpose by such licensee, or by a person hiring the said
speedboat in terms of regulation 36;
"surveyor" means any person so appointed by the Minister
responsible for transport and maritime affairs to carry out surveys
on ships;
"water skiing" means the towing and sliding of a person on skis,
or on any other similar contrivance attached to the speedboat and
travelling at a skiing speed.
Registration of 
small ships.
Cap. 234.
Cap. 425.
3. (1) No small ship shall be used in the internal and
territorial waters of Malta unless such ship is registered with the
Executive Director under these regulations or unless such ship is
registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, or under the Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act, or unless such ship is
registered or documented to the satisfaction of the Authority under
the law of any country other than Malta.
(2) The Executive Director shall maintain a register of small
ships to which these regulations apply, and any function in relation
to the register which is to be discharged by the Executive Director
may be discharged by persons appointed by the Authority as may
be authorised in that behalf by the Executive Director.
(3) The owner or importer of an imported ship shall produce to
the satisfaction of the Executive Director certified documentary
evidence proving ownership of the ship and engines thereof. A
builder’s certificate is required in the case of a newly built ship.
Safety equipment. 4. No ship shall be registered unless the ship is equipped with
such safety equipment as may be required by the Executive
Director from time to time.
Registration of 
speedboats.
5. No speedboat shall be eligible to be registered unless it is
in compliance with regulation 4 and there is in force in relation to
such speedboat a policy of insurance for an amount to be approved
by the Authority which indemnifies such person, persons or classes
of persons as may be authorised and covered by the policy against
any liability which may be incurred by him or them in respect of
death, injury or damage to third party property caused by or arising
out of the use of the speedboat.
Application for 
registration.
6. An application for registration of a ship shall contain such
information and details as may be required by the Executive
SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 3
Director, and shall be signed, in the case of individuals, by a person
over eighteen years of age requiring to be registered as owner, or
by any one or more of the persons so requiring if more than one, or
by his or their agent, and in the case of bodies corporate by their
agent; and the authority of the agent shall be testified by writing, if
appointed by individuals under the hand of the appointors, and, if
appointed by a body corporate under the hand of a person or
persons authorised to authenticate documents for the body
corporate.
Details of small 
ship.
7. An application for registration shall be made in writing and
shall specify such particulars relating to the ship and its ownership
as will show that the ship is one to which these regulations apply
and the following details:
( a ) a description of the ship;
( b ) the overall length and beam of the ship;
( c ) the name and address of every owner of the ship; and
( d ) such supplementary information and evidence relating
to the ship and the ownership thereof as the Executive
Director may require to determine whether the ship
may properly be registered.
Registration of 
small ship.
8. Upon receiving an application for registration and being
satisfied that the ship may properly be registered, the Executive
Director shall register the ship.
Survey of small 
ship.
9. The Executive Director may, at any time and subject to any
condition he deems fit, order that a survey by a surveyor of ships be
carried out and the tonnage ascertained to his satisfaction. The
survey’s certificate shall be delivered to the Executive Director.
Modification to 
small ship.
10. No modification of the hull of a registered ship or
installation or rep1acement of one or more of its engines shall be
carried out without prior written approval by the Executive
Director, who may at his discretion order that a survey by a
surveyor of ships be carried out in order to certify whether the ship
is seaworthy as modified.
False declaration.
modification of a ship makes a false declaration, he shall have his
application rejected. If the false declaration is known after the ship
is registered, then such registration will be null and void.
Registration fees.
ship under these regulations the fee on first registration and the
annual fee specified in the First Schedule. In case of any
modification to the hull or in case of any change to engines, the
applicable fee shall be paid  pro rata  according to said Schedule as
from the date of registering such changes.
(2) The fee due on initial registration and the annual fee for one
year shall be paid before the ship is registered, and no certificate of
registry shall be issued in respect of a ship unless the said fees have
been paid in respect of the ship. Thereafter, the annual fee shall
become due on the anniversary of the initial registration.
(3) The Executive Director is entitled to demand payment of
4 _g S.L.352.15 SMALL SHIPS
any outstanding fees, charges or penalties due to the Authority
prior to recording any transaction in the register of a ship or prior
to granting any services in connection with a ship.
Certificate of 
registry.
13. (1) On completion of registry of a ship the Executive
Director shall, subject to such conditions as he may deem proper,
furnish to the person registered as owner of the ship a certificate
which shall include the details recorded in the register.
(2) The Executive Director may wherever it appears necessary
or appropriate to do so for giving effect to these regulations or for
bringing up to date or otherwise correcting particulars on the
register, amend the register and issue an amended certificate of
registry.
(3) A certificate of registry, subject to termination under the
provisions of these regulations and unless stating otherwise on the
document itself, shall be issued for a period of twelve months from
the date of registration:
Provided that the Executive Director may, within a period
of one month prior to the expiry of such certificate and upon the
payment of the annual fee by the owner of the ship and provided no
changes have occurred to the details thereon, issue a renewal
certificate in the prescribed form.
Provision for loss 
or destruction of 
certificate.
14. No certificate may be issued, except in cases of loss or
destruction of a certificate, other than on the return of the
certificate currently being held by the owner, or as may be decided
at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Use of certificate 
of registry.
15. A certificate of registry shall be used only for the lawful
navigation of the ship and such certificate shall not be subject to
detention by reason of any title or interest by any third party.
Changes in details 
of certificate of 
registry.
16. Whenever a change occurs whereby any of the details
mentioned in the certificate of registry are no longer correct, such
change shall be entered in the revised certificate of registry of that
ship. The master or owner of the ship shall within four days, for the
purpose of such endorsement by the Executive Director, deliver the
certificate of registry to the Executive Director to be replaced by a
revised certificate.
Validity of 
certificate of 
registry.
17. (1) A certificate of registry shall cease to have effect:
( a ) on the expiry of its validity date;
( b ) on its substitution by another certificate;
( c ) on closure of registry:
Provided that, if the Executive Director is satisfied that the
reason for the non-renewal of the certificate is justified, he may
authorise in writing that the certificate is kept in abeyance for a
specified period.
(2) Upon a certificate of registry ceasing to have effect the
owner or the master shall forthwith forward this certificate to the
Executive Director by not later than one month of its expiry.
SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 5
Right of 
registration.
18. Where it appears to the Executive Director that there is any
doubt as to the right of any ship to be so registered or as to the
information furnished by applicant, he may require the person
registered as owner to give evidence to his satisfaction that the ship
is entitled to be so registered or that the information given is
correct, and such evidence may include the production of the ship
for inspection at a place and under such conditions as he requires.
If the evidence required is not given to the satisfaction of the
Executive Director, he may terminate the registration of the ship.
Voluntary closure 
of registration.
19. Where the owner of the ship desires to close the register of
a ship he shall make an application to that effect to the Executive
Director, giving all such particulars and information as the
Executive Director may require for the purpose.
Transfer of ship.
otherwise disposes of his ship or any of its engines shall, within
seven days, give notice thereof in writing to the Executive Director
giving particulars and information of the person who agrees to buy
the ship or any of its engines, and shall also forward his certificate
of registry to the Executive Director.
(2) An application for the registration of a transfer of a ship or
any of its engines by a new owner shall be made to the Executive
Director within seven days of the purchase or transfer thereof.
Transfer or sale of 
small ship by court 
order.
21. Where the transfer or sale of any ship is ordered by a court,
the order of the court shall contain a declaration vesting in some
person named by the court the right to transfer that ship, and that
person shall thereupon be entitled to transfer the ship in the manner
and to the same extent as if he was the registered owner thereof;
and the requisition of the person so named in respect of any transfer
shall be complied with to the same extent as if such person was the
registered owner thereof.
Marking of small 
ship.
22. (1) Every ship registered under these regulations shall
have a distinguished number and mark assigned to it and distinctly
shown on the ship in such manner as shall be directed by the
Executive Director according to the class to which the ship
belongs. This distinguishing number and mark shall be the same as
those shown on the certificate of registry.
Caiques and other fishing craft shall carry such marks and
numbers assigned thereto by the Department responsible for
fisheries and aquaculture.
Passage boats shall carry their number with the letter "P"
distinctly painted in black on a white band on each side of their
stem.
Speedboats and other craft not referred to in the above
paragraphs shall carry the letter "S" and the number assigned
thereto.
(2) The person registered as owner of the ship shall ensure that
within thirty days of the date on which the registration of that ship
takes effect, there is clearly painted or affixed to an external
surface of the ship or on such other part of the ship which the
Executive Director may approve, the number and mark of its
6 _g S.L.352.15 SMALL SHIPS
registration, and that such marking is effectively maintained and
renewed when necessary during the period of registration of the
ship.
(3) Unless the Executive Director directs otherwise:
( a ) the letters and numbers assigned to each ship shall at
least be 15.24 centimetres high and 7.6 centimetres
wide with a space between each number or letter of not
less than 2 centimetres; and
( b ) craft owned by private individuals shall have their
letters and numbers painted in black on a white
background, whereas those used for hire shall be
painted in white on a black background.
(4) The Executive Director may direct that owners of ships
registered under categories under these regulations, shall display
their registration number as well as any identification label issued
by the Authority.
(5) A ship without such identification letters and numbers
assigned to it shall be deemed an unregistered ship and the
Executive Director may, unless such ship is marked within four
days from being given notice, order that the ship be removed and
taken into custody. Such ship will only be returned on payment of
all expenses incurred by the Authority and upon production of
proof of ownership to the satisfaction of the Executive Director.
Certificate of 
seaworthiness.
23. Unless in possession of a valid certificate issued by a
recognised classification society, the owner of a ship which is used
for trade or business shall, together with his application for
registration or renewal of registration, produce to the Executive
Director a certificate of seaworthiness issued by a recognised
surveyor confirming that the ship is seaworthy and fit to be used for
that specific trade or business.
Revocation or 
suspension of 
registration.
24. The Executive Director may revoke or suspend the
registration of a ship registered under these regulations if the owner
of the ship has contravened any laws or regulations which he is
bound to obey being the owner of a registered ship. If the
registration of a ship is suspended or revoked, the owner shall
deposit with the Executive Director within two days the certificate
of registry and the identification plates issued by the Authority.
Speed in harbours, 
etc.
25. No person shall cause, suffer or permit any speedboat, or
any other mechanically propelled sea craft, to proceed at a speed in
excess of ten knots -
( a ) inside any harbour, or
( b ) in any place within 300 metres of the foreshore of any
sandy beach, or
( c ) in any place within 200 metres of any other part of the
foreshore:
Provided that a person may be exempted from observing the
set speed limit in such area, on such occasions, for such periods and
under such conditions as the Minister responsible for ports may
determine.
SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 7
General speed.
shall cause, suffer or permit any speedboat or other mechanically
propelled sea craft to proceed at a speed which, in the particular
circumstances, would be dangerous to life or limb or likely to lead
to a collision.
Bathing prohibited.
metres of any part of the water’s edge in any of the harbours
specified in Part II of the Second Schedule.
(2) No person shall bathe from any ship moored in the Grand
Harbour south-west of a line joining St. Angelo Point and Mgerbeb
Point.
(3) Saving the provision of subregulation (2), no person shall
bathe beyond 20 metres of any ship moored in the Grand Harbour
or in Marsamxett Harbour.
Prohibition of 
water skiing within 
certain areas.
28. (1) No water skiing shall take place within 300 metres of
the foreshore of any sandy beach, or within 200 metres of any other
part of the foreshore, or in the approach to a port so declared under
the provisions of the Act.
(2) Skiers shall take off at a distance of not less than 300
metres of the foreshore of any sandy beach, or of not less than 200
metres of any other part of the foreshore and clear of any boat,
shipping approach to a harbour, slipway, landing or berth.
Nautical licence.
person for the purpose of water skiing unless he is in possession of
a nautical licence issued by the Authority, and is covered by a
policy of insurance for an amount to be approved by the Authority
which indemnifies such person, persons or classes of persons as
may be authorised and covered by the policy against any liability
which may be incurred by such persons or classes thereof in respect
of physical death or injury or damage to third party property caused
by or arising out of the use of the speedboat, or under the specific
conditions laid down in regulation 36.
(2) The Authority shall not issue any such certificate unless the
applicant is eighteen years old and is competent to drive a
speedboat.
(3) The Authority may attach to any such licence any such
conditions as it may deem fit.
Instructor’s 
nautical licence.
30. (1) No person may act as an instructor in the driving of a
speedboat or in water skiing unless he is in possession of an
instructor’s nautical licence issued by the Authority.
(2) The Authority shall not issue any such nautical licence
unless the applicant is eighteen years old and is competent to give
such instruction.
(3) The Authority may attach to any such nautical licence any
such condition as it may deem fit.
Form of nautical 
licence.
31. Any nautical licence issued by the Authority under
regulation 29 or 30 shall bear the licensee’s signature and shall
8 _g S.L.352.15 SMALL SHIPS
contain the licensee’s photograph.
Water skiing 
schools, etc.
32. (1) No person shall run or operate a speedboat driving or a
water skiing school or provide water skiing facilities or hire
speedboats to be driven by the hirer or otherwise, unless he is in
possession of a relative licence by the Authority.
(2) The Authority shall not issue any such licence unless the
applicant is eighteen years old and is capable to give such service
or facilities.
(3) The Authority may attach to any such licence any such
condition as it may deem fit.
(4) Any licence issued by the Authority under this regulation
shall indicate thereon the registration number of the speedboats
covered by the licence.
(5) Any such licence shall be displayed in a conspicuous place
in the premises used as office by the licensee.
Contents of 
application for 
licence.
33. An application for any licence under these regulations shall
be made on a form supplied for the purpose by the Authority and
shall bear such information as the Authority may require.
Revocation of 
licence, etc.
34. (1) The Authority may at any time without assigning any
reason therefor, suspend, cancel or revoke any licence previously
granted or renewed by it under these regulations.
(2) The Authority may at any time disallow the use of any
speedboat or other sea craft if such boat or craft is considered by it,
in its absolute discretion, as not being seaworthy.
Surrender of 
licence.
35. Any person whose licence under these regulations has been
suspended, cancelled or revoked by the Authority, shall, within
twenty-four hours of such suspension, cancellation or revocation,
deliver his licence to the Authority.
Hire of speedboats. 36. (1) No person shall hire or rent to any other person any
speedboat for any purpose whatsoever unless the registration
number of such speedboat is entered on the hirer’s licence.
(2) Any person licensed to hire speedboats in terms of
regulation 32 may not lease, hire or rent a speedboat to or for
operation by any person under eighteen years of age.
(3) Licensed operators must administer boating safety
instructions in compliance with existing regulations to all hirers of
rental vessels who do not have a valid nautical licence.
(4) In addition, the licensee must supply to any hirer in print,
prior to rental -
( a ) the operational characteristics of the hired speedboat;
( b ) the boating regulations peculiar to the area of rental;
and
( c ) the common courtesies of operating a speedboat on the
water, and the effect on the environment and other
water users.
SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 9
Compliance with 
orders, etc.
37. The holder of any licence issued under these regulations
shall comply with any instructions, orders or directives given from
time to time by the Authority or by the Executive Director with
regard to -
( a ) the assurance of the safety of water skiers and of sea
craft;
( b ) the avoidance of collision at sea or undue interference
with other users of the area;
( c ) generally, the control, limitations, restrictions and safe
operation or conduct of water skiing and cruising.
Observer during 
cruising.
38. No person shall drive or navigate a speedboat at a skiing
speed and having on tow a skier unless there is on such speedboat
another person, being over eighteen years of age, who keeps
constant watch on, and observation of, the skier.
Hire of speedboats.
licensed under regulation 32.
Register.
shall keep a register showing the following information:
( a ) the date, and the time of departure and of arrival, of
any speed boat hired from him, and
( b ) the name and the nautical licence number of the driver
of the speedboat, or
( c ) the name, address and nautical licence number of the
person hiring a speedboat to be driven by the hirer
where applicable.
(2) Such hire shall only be made to persons as required under
regu1ation 36.
Information by 
owner of 
speedboat.
41. The owner of any speedboat shall, if so required, give to
any police officer or any officer or employee of the Authority such
information as is required by him to lead to the identification of the
person who was driving or navigating such speedboat during any
particular time.
Abatement or 
refund of fees.
42. Fees on initial registration and annual fees shall not be
subject, unless the Executive Director directs otherwise, to
abatement or refunds.
Penalties.
the provisions contained in these regulations, or give false
information in connection with any declaration required under
these regulations, or who, in making an application to the
Executive Director under these regulations, gives information
which is false or misleading in any particular detail, shall be guilty
of an offence under these regulations and shall be liable to the
penalties laid down in Part IX of the Act.
10 _g S.L.352.15 SMALL SHIPS
FIRST SCHEDULE
 (Regulation 12)
1. For the registration of a boat or ship, including pleasure boats:
( a ) where the boat has no engine (exceeding 3.6 metres in length
overall) ................................................................................ Lm 25
where the boat has an engine -
( b ) not exceeding 10 H.P. .......................................................... Lm 25
( c ) exceeding 10 H.P. but not exceeding 25 H.P. ....................... Lm200
( d ) exceeding 25 H.P. but not exceeding 50 H.P. ....................... Lm250
( e ) exceeding 50 H.P. but not exceeding 75 H.P. ....................... Lm300
( f ) exceeding 75 H.P. but not exceeding 150 H.P. ...................... Lm325
( g ) exceeding 150 H.P. .............................................................. Lm500
For the purpose of this regulation "pleasure boat" means such
craft which, by the nature of their built or construction or use, are
considered to be a pleasure boat by the Executive Director.
For the initial registration of a boat or ship other than a pleasure
boat:
Fishing boats registered with the Department responsible for
fisheries and aquaculture ......................................................................... NIL
2. For the annual renewal, or as otherwise indicated, of registration
of any boat or ship, including pleasure boats:
( a ) where the boat has no engine (exceeding 3.6 metres in length
overall), every five years ..................................................... Lm 15
where the boat has an engine -
( b ) not exceeding 10 H.P., every five years ................................ Lm 15
( c ) exceeding 10 H.P. but not exceeding 25 H.P. ....................... Lm 20
( d ) exceeding 25 H.P. but not exceeding 50 H.P. ....................... Lm 25
( e ) exceeding 50 H.P. but not exceeding 75 H.P. ....................... Lm 35
( f ) exceeding 75 H.P. but not exceeding 150 H.P. ...................... Lm 45
( g ) exceeding 150 H.P. .............................................................. Lm 60
3. For the transfer of ownership, change in details or issue of a
duplicate certificate (regulation 29) ......................................................... Lm5
4. For the issue of a nautical licence to drive a speedboat
(regulation 30) ........................................................................................ Lm10
5. For the issue of a nautical licence to act as a skiing instructor
(regulation 32) ........................................................................................ Lm30
6. For the issue of an annual licence to operate a water skiing
school or a speedboat hire outlet:
( a ) to operate water skiing and/or paragliding ............................ Lm75
( b ) to hire mechanically driven seacraft ..................................... Lm75
( c ) to hire paddle boats, canoes and other seacraft not
mechanically driven ............................................................. Lm25
7. For the issue of an annual licence for the hire of a speedboat or
for the use of a speedboat by a water-skiing school .................................. Lm5
SMALL SHIPS _g S.L.352.15 11
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulation 2)
PART I
Harbours
Malta
1. Grand Harbour
2. Marsamxett Harbour
3. That part of St. Julians Bay to the West of a line drawn
from the Hotel Cavalieri to the entrance of College Street,
St. Julians
4. St. George’s Bay, St. Julians
5. Pretty Bay, Birzebbugia
6. St. George’s Bay, Birzebbugia
Gozo
1. Xlendi Bay
2. Marsalforn Bay
3. M _garr Harbour
PART II
Harbours
1. Grand Harbour
2. Marsamxett Harbour
