MOORING OF SMALL SHIPS AND BOATS [ S.L.352.11 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 352.11
MOORING OF SMALL SHIPS AND BOATS 
REGULATIONS
1st May, 1993
LEGAL NOTICE 69 of 1993.
Citation. 
and Boats Regulations.
Interpretation.
"mooring buoys" are buoys which are considered suitable for use
on moorings for the small ships and boats by the Executive
Director of the Yachting Centres Directorate of the Malta Maritime
Authority;
"mooring plan" is an organized layout of moorings for small
ships and any harbour, creek or bay, on chains laid by the Malta
Maritime Authority;
"Executive Director" is the Executive Director responsible for
Yachting Centres;
"temporary mooring permit" is the permit which the Executive
Director of the Yachting Centres Directorate of the Malta Maritime
Authority may grant to the owner of a small ship or boat or to the
owner’s representative in reply to the latter’s request: provided that
the conditions laid down in the permit may vary according to each
request.
Use of mooring in 
harbour.
3. No person may lay or use a mooring in any harbour without
a permit from the Executive Director.
Laying of mooring 
by owner.
4. When the owner of a small ship or boat, or his
representative, is given a mooring permit, he shall lay or have laid
such a mooring which is considered suitable for the small ship or
boat in question and does not endanger other craft in the vicinity.
Moreover, the owner or his representative shall use only mooring
buoys that are acceptable to the Executive Director. The type of
sinker and mooring tackle to be used must be of a type approved by
the Executive Director.
Fees.
calendar year.
Registration 
number to be 
shown
6. Every mooring shall have a mooring buoy with the official
registration number of the small ship shown in a legible manner.
The official registration number shall also be painted in a legible
manner on any awning used to cover the small ship.
Application 
conditions.
Cap. 352.
7. No application will be accepted unless the craft is duly
registered according to the Malta Maritime Authority Act and any
other laws and regulations arising therefrom and all the relevant
fees have been paid.
2 [ S.L.352.11 MOORING OF SMALL SHIPS AND BOATS
Suspension of 
temporary mooring 
permit.
8. (1) If the registration, re-registration, and, or licence of a
small ship or boat is suspended or cancelled, such craft shall have
the temporary mooring permit suspended or cancelled as the case
may be. In such cases the owner shall have no right to the refund of
any part of any mooring fees paid.
(2) If the temporary mooring permit is cancelled or suspended
according to subregulation (1), but the owner or his representative
refuses to remove the mooring, the Executive Director shall be
empowered to remove the mooring at the owner’s risk and expense.
This removal shall be without prejudice to any legal action that
may be taken.
S.L.352.15
(3) During a temporary suspension of registration and, or
licence of the small ship or boat in accordance with the Small Ships
Regulations, the Executive Director may assign the mooring which
has been vacated temporarily to another owner. The latter shall pay
part of the mooring fee in proportion to the outstanding period of
validity of the permit.
Fees for wreck or 
hazard.
S.L.352.01
9. When a small ship or boat sinks, or in the opinion of the
Executive Director becomes a hazard to the other ships or boats,
the owner may be requested to pay the fees laid down in regulation
32(1) of the Ports Regulations. In any case the owner or his
representative shall be bound to remove the wreck.
Permission to use 
mooring for other 
boat.
10. (1) An owner who sells a boat which has a temporary
mooring permit may request permission to use the mooring for
another boat he may have. If permission is granted he will be able
to moor the small ship or boat on the same mooring provided he
pays the relevant mooring fees.
(2) If the mooring mentioned in subregulation (1) forms part of
a mooring plan approved by the Executive Director, the owner will
be able to moor the boat on it provided he is given permission to do
so by the Executive Director and pays the relevant mooring fees.
Permission will not be granted if the boat is not in the same
category as the one sold.
MOORING OF SMALL SHIPS AND BOATS [ S.L.352.11 3
SCHEDULE
Fees payable for craft duly authorised to be moored on mooring chains (trots) in
Spinola Bay as per beam shown:
Class Beam Normal Rates
(including 
Part-Time 
Fishermen)
Full-Time
Fishermen
Lm per year
A up to 1.8 metres beam 15 10
B 1.81m to 2.43 metres beam 20 10
C 2.44m to 2.7 metres beam 30 15
D over 2.7 metres beam 40 20
