TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES) [ S.L.10.38 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 10.38
TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES) REGULATIONS
21st November, 1990
LEGAL NOTICE 192 of 1990, as amended by Act XVII of 1991.
Title .
Regulations.
Tariff of rates.
or shifting in the Grand Harbour, in Marsamxett Harbour or in
Marsaxlokk Harbour shall not exceed the rates specified in the
Schedule to these Regulations.
Computation of 
time.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
3. (1) The time for which the rates are applicable in
accordance with the Schedule hereto shall start to count either from
the time the tug is ordered to commence work or from the time of
leaving berth, whichever is the earlier, and the time of completion
shall be that when the tug reaches berth.
(2) The time to or from a berth shall be calculated, if the
service is provided within -
( a ) Grand Harbour, at 20 minutes;
( b ) Marsamxett Harbour, at 30 minutes;
( c ) Marsaxlokk Harbour, if the tug or tugs are based at -
(i) Marsaxlokk Harbour, at 20 minutes,
(ii) Grand Harbour, at 60 minutes:
Provided that for vessels with 50% and over transhipment
cargo calling at Malta Freeport facilities at Marsaxlokk and for
vessels calling at Marsaxlokk for bunkering purposes only or in
connection with oil blending and storage operations for
transhipment or re-export purposes only, the time to and from a
berth shall be calculated as if the service was being provided within
Grand Harbour:
Provided further that the Malta Maritime Authority may,
on application and at his discretion, apply the computations and
conditions of the preceding proviso to any other vessel calling at
the Malta Freeport.
Ordering of tugs.
( a ) for movements to take place between 1600 hours of
one day and 0800 hours f the next following day, the
order shall he made before 1200 hours;
( b ) for movements to take place between 0800 hours and
1600 hours or at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and
Public Holidays, the order shall he made before 1700
hours of the preceding day; 
( c ) for movements to take place at Marsaxlokk, the order
shall be placed at least three hours before the
commencement of the operation.
2 [ S.L.10.38 TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES)
Exemption from 
towage.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
5. The Malta Maritime Authority may exempt from towage
any ship in any particular case. 
Cancellation of 
order for a tug.
6. (1) When normal rates are applicable under Column 2 of
the Schedule hereto, no charge shall be made if an order for the
service for a tug is cancelled and notice of such cancellation is
given at least two hours before the time the service was due to
commence.
(2) If the notice of cancellation is not given, there shall be
charged half the hourly rate specified in Column 2.
(3) Where a tug is ordered for service between 1600 hours of
one day and 0800 hours of the next following day and such order is
cancelled -
(i) if the order is cancelled between 0800 hours and
1600 hours and such cancellation is made not
later than two hours before the time the service
is due to commence, no charge shall be made:
provided that there shall be charged at least the
minimum rate of one hour as per Column 2 or 3
of the Schedule to these Regulations, as
applicable, including the references to Note (1)
thereof, if notice of cancellation is not given as
aforesaid;
(ii) if the order is cancelled between 1600 hours and
0800 hours of the next following day or at any
time on Saturdays, Sundays or Public Holidays
there shall be charged at least the minimum rate
of one hour as per Column 3 or Column 4 of the
Schedule to these Regulations, as applicable,
including the references to Notes (1) and (2)
thereof.
TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES) [ S.L.10.38 3
SCHEDULE
(Regulation 2)
Rates per tug per hour or part therof
Column 1 Column 2
Normal Rates
Column 3
Rates applicable 
between 1600 hours 
and 2100 hours 
( Vide  Note 1)
Column 4
Rates applicable between 
2100 hours of one day 
and 0800 hours of the 
next following day and at 
any time on Saturdays, 
Sundays and Public 
Holidays 
( Vide  Note 2)
Lm Lm Lm
For vessels up to 2,000
gross registered tons .... 33 41 50
For vessels of gross
registered tons between-
2,001 and 3,000 47 59 71
3,001 and 4,000 57 71 86
4,001 and 5,000 60 75 90
5,001 and 6,000 63 79 95
6,001 and 7,000 66 83 99
7,001 and 8,000 72 90 108
8,001 and 9,000 78 98 117
9,001 and 10,000 83 104 125
10,001 and 11,000 90 113 135
11,001 and 12,000 97 121 146
12,001 and 13,000 104 130 156
13,001 and 14,000 111 139 167
14,001 and 15,000 118 147 177
15,001 and 16,000 124 155 186
16,001 and 17,000 132 165 198
17,001 and 18,000 139 174 209
18,001 and 19,000 145 181 218
19,001 and 20,000 152 190 228
20,001 and 21,000 159 199 239
21,001 and 22,000 166 208 249
22,001 and 23,000 173 216 260
23,001 and 24,000 180 225 270
24,001 and 25,000 187 234 281
25,001 and 30,000 195 244 293
30,001 and 35,000 205 257 308
35,001 and 40,000 215 267 323
4 [ S.L.10.38 TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES)
Notes:
(1) For services between 1600 hours and 2100 hours there shall be applicable
either the charges computed at the rates under Column 3 or the charges
computed at the rates under Column 2 increased by Lm75 per tug, whichever is
the greater.
(2) For services between 2100 hours of one day and 0800 hours of the next
following day or at any time on Saturdays, Sundays or other Public Holidays
there shall be applicable either the charges computed at the rates under Column
4 or the charges computed at the rates under Column 2 increased by Lm150 per
tug, whichever is the greater.
(3) Subject to the provisions of regulation 6 the minimum charge shall in no case
be less than the rate calculated for two hours.
(4) The rates payable for the assistance of disabled vessels shall be increased by
fifty  per centum , subject to a minimum of Lm300 per tug for vessels up to
3,000 gross registered tons and Lm500 per tug for vessels exceeding 3,000
gross registered tons.
"Disabled vessels" means any craft which arrives off Malta on tow or with
engine breakdown or with rudder trouble or other defect which effects the
capability of the vessel when manoeuvring and includes any tug assistance to
such vessels entering, shifting or leaving the Maltese Harbours.
(5) The rates payable for the assistance of cruise passenger vessels calling at Malta
with tourists and for vessels calling at Malta for bunkering purposes only, shall
be reduced by twenty-five  per centum , provided such vessels do not discharge
or load cargo or mail in a port or perform any commercial operation or repairs.
(6) The rates payable for the assistance of vessels with 50% and over transhipment
cargo calling at the Malta Freeport facilities at Marsaxlokk and for vessels
calling at Marsaxlokk for bunkering purposes only or in connection with oil
blending and storage operations for transhipment or re-export purposes only,
shall be calculated at a minimum rate of one hour or, if in excess of one hour,
the actual time of operation to the nearest quarter of an hour:
Provided further that the Malta Maritime Authority may, on application and at
its discretion apply the terms of the preceding proviso to any other vessel
calling at the Malta Freeport.
(7) Subject to the provisions of regulation, when a tug is ordered for service
between 1600 hours of one day and 0800 hours of the next following day or at
any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays without giving at least
three hours notice, an extra charge of Lm30 per tug shall be made.
40,001 and 45,000 225 281 338
45,001 and 50,000 235 294 368
50,001 and 60,000 250 313 375
60,001 and 70,000 265 331 398
70,001 and 80,000 280 350 420
80,001 and 90,000 295 369 443
90,001 and 100,000 310 388 465
For vessels exceeding
100,000 registered tons 325 406 488
TOWAGE (TARIFF OF RATES) [ S.L.10.38 5
(8) Where tow ropes are provided by the tug an extra charge of Lm5 per tug shall
be made.
