PORTS [ S.L.352.01 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 352.01
PORTS REGULATIONS
4th August, 1966
LEGAL NOTICE 43 of 1966, as amended by Legal Notices 75 of 1968, 7 and 23 of 1969, 33
of 1971, 13 of 1972, 28 of 1973, 45 and 53 of 1974, 17, 35, 126 and 145 of 1975, 18 and 24 of
1976, 15 and 98 of 1978, 38 of 1981, 11 and 63 of 1988, 99 of 1991; Act XVII of 1991; and
Legal Notices 3 of 1998, 252 of 2002 and 26 of 2004.
Regulations
Part I General provisions 1 - 2
Part II Report, movement and berthing of ships 3 - 24
Part III Control of Ports - Ships and Waters 25 - 45
Part IV Control of Ports - Premises and Places Ashore 46 - 62
Part V Working of Ships 63 - 76
Part VI Handling of Cargo 77 - 94
Part VII Warehousing 95 - 102
Part VIII Explosives, inflammable or dangerous goods 103 - 131
Part IX Miscellaneous 132 - 138
FIRST SCHEDULE: Part I - Explosives
Part II - Explosives (Category B Part II)
Part III - Classification of Explosives
Part IV - Inflammable or dangerous goods
SECOND SCHEDULE Notice of Expected Arrival of Ship
THIRD SCHEDULE Traffic Signals in Ports
FOURTH SCHEDULE I.M.O. General Declaration
FIFTH SCHEDULE: Part I - Prohibited Anchorage Ares
Part II - Prohibited Mooring and Accostage Areas for Small
Craft
SIXTH SCHEDULE Provisions as to Landing and Shipping of Animals
SEVENTH SCHEDULE Bundling and Marking of Iron and Steel Bars, etc.
EIGHTH SCHEDULE Conditions applicable to the Hire of Plant and Gear
NINTH SCHEDULE Request for the Performance of Overtime
TENTH SCHEDULE Declaration and Disposal Order
ELEVENTH SCHEDULE Shipping Order
TWELFTH SCHEDULE Goods stored in the open
THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE Gate Pass Out
FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE Request for unloading cargo for transhipment
2 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Citation.  1. The title of these regulations is the Ports Regulations.
Interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 28 of 1973;
L.N. 17 of 1975;
L.N. 18 of 1976;
XVII. 1991.81.
2. (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires -
"the Act" means the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"appliances" when used in relation to port work means any
cranes, winches, derricks, lifting trucks, platform trucks, tractors
and other cargo handling plant, equipment and appliances;
"authorised place" in connection with the repairing of ships
means any slipway, boat repair or lighterage repair workshop, dock
or yard, approved by the Authority for the purposes of repairing
ships;
Cap. 352.
"Authority" means the Malta Maritime Authority established
under the Malta Maritime Authority Act;
"contractor" includes any person authorised by the contractor to
act on his behalf;
"Deep Water Quay" means the new Deep Water Quay in Grand
Harbour at Marina Pinto and all the area enclosed within the
perimeter boundary thereto;
"empty container" shall for the purposes of regulation 81 include
an empty container on a trailer whether such container was
previously landed loaded with cargo from a ship or otherwise or
whether such container is deposited in any part of a port for
shipment;
"explosives" means any or all of the goods specified in Part I and
Part II of the First Schedule;
"fairway" means the whole of the navigable channel or channels
of any port, and in the Grand Harbour of Valletta, extends from the
breakwater entrance, past the mouths of Dockyard and French
Creeks and south-east of Admiralty buoys 6, 7 and 8;
"gate pass-out" or "pass out check" means the gate pass out set
out in the form specified in the Thirteenth Schedule;
"harbour ton" means, in respect of cargo or goods, unless
otherwise specified, a ton of one thousand kilos weight or forty
cubic feet measurement, whichever shall be the greater;
"inflammable or dangerous goods" means any goods included in
any of the classes specified in Part IV of the First Schedule;
"naval ship" means a ship owned or exclusively chartered by the
Government of any country for the purposes of the armed forces of
that country;
"passengers baggage" means packages containing the ordinary
personal effects of the passenger, including pedal bicycles,
perambulators, and the like, but does not include manifested cargo;
"quay" includes any pier, jetty, wharf or landing place;
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 3
"service boat" means any boat belonging to the Malta
Government or to any foreign Government;
"small craft" means any harbour tug, launch, barge, lighter,
rowing boat, sailing boat or similar craft;
"steamship" includes any mechanically propelled ship;
"the tariff" means the dues and rates leviable under the Act;
Cap. 171.
"unit load" and "unitised cargo" have the same meaning as that
assigned to them by the Port Workers Ordinance.
(2) In these regulations words and phrases which occur in the
Act have the same meaning assigned to them by the Act.
PART II
REPORT, MOVEMENT AND BERTHING OF SHIPS
Ships on fire, 
damaged, etc.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
3. No ship on fire or with a damaged hull, machinery or
boilers, or not under control, or which through any cause
whatsoever is unable to manoeuvre with safety shall approach the
Saint Elmo Breakwater to within half a sea mile or enter any port
except with the permission of the Authority and in such manner and
under such guidance as the Authority may direct.
Advance notice of 
call of ships.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
4. The owners or agents of all ships proposing to call at a port
shall, as early as possible, give notice in writing to the Authority on
the form contained in the Second Schedule and shall give all the
particulars specified in the said form:
Provided that where in the opinion of the Authority, the
information required under this regulation cannot be furnished
before the arrival of a ship at a port, it may allow such information
to be given as soon as possible after the arrival of the ship.
Ship’s signals on 
entering.
5. (1) Before entering a port a ship shall hoist the following
flags:
( a ) her national colours;
( b ) the ship’s signal letters;
( c ) the international quarantine signal appropriate to her
condition; and
( d ) if carrying explosives, inflammable or dangerous
goods, the International Code flag "B".
(2) So long as she lies in a port, a ship shall fly her national
colours between 8.00 a.m. and sunset of each day.
(3) The international quarantine signal specified in
subregulation (1)( c ) shall remain hoisted until such time as the Port
Medical Officer gives the ship pratique.
(4) Ships carrying explosives, inflammable or dangerous goods
shall, so long as they remain in a port, by day fly the International
Code flag "B" specified in subregulation (1)( d ) and by night shall
exhibit where it can best be seen and in any case not less than
twenty feet above the deck, a red light visible all round the horizon
for a distance of at least two miles.
4 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Traffic signals.
Amended by:
L.N. 76 of 1968;
XVII. 1991.81.
6. For the purpose of the regulation of traffic in the ports the
provisions of the Third Schedule relating to signals and other
connected matters shall apply;
Provided that the Authority may, when it considers it
desirable to do so, by notice published in the Gazette, regulate the
movement of ships and small craft into, out or within any port, and
may permit or prohibit within the limits of a port or the approaches
to a port the movement of ships or small craft subject to such
conditions, as the Authority may deem fit to impose.
Speed in port. 7. Within the limits of any port all ships shall proceed at a
slow speed:
Provided that when there is a heavy swell at the entrance of
a port the speed shall be so regulated for the passage through the
entrance as to ensure that control of the ship is not lost. 
Anchors to be in 
readiness for 
letting go.
8. The master of any ship entering or leaving a port shall, if
practicable, cause both bower anchors and cables to be clear and
ready for use if required.
Derricks. 9. The master of any ship entering a port shall, when the
weather permits, cause the derricks to be hoisted ready for the
discharge of cargo.
Report on arrival 
and. or departure 
of a ship.
Substituted by:
L.N. 252 of 2002.
Amended by:
L.N. 26 of 2004.
Cap. 37.
10. (1) The master, the ship’s agent or some other person duly
authorised by the master, of every ship -
( a ) arriving at a port from any place beyond the seas; and,
or
( b ) departing from a port, but before applying for outward
clearance from a port in accordance with the
provisions of the Customs Ordinance;
shall make, subscribe, and deliver to the Authority, on the form
specified in the Fourth Schedule, a true statement of the
information required in that form.
Information to be 
supplied to the 
Authority.
(2) The Authority may require by notice in writing any master,
ship’s agent or person carrying on business or trade in the maritime
transport sector to submit, in such form and manner, by such means
and within such time as it may require, such information in relation
to the ship, cargo or passengers.
(3) The master, ship’s agent or person responsible to comply
with this regulation shall be responsible to pay for all damages,
expenses or consequences resulting from failing to submit the
information as required or supplying any erroneous information or
declaration required under this regulation. Any such action taken
by the Authority shall not preclude it from taking further legal
action against the persons who contravene the provisions of this
regulation.
Due notice of 
ship’s departure to 
be given.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
11. At least four hours before a ship intends to leave, the
master of the ship or the agent on his behalf shall give notice
thereof to the Authority.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 5
Ships to be kept fit 
to moved.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
12. (1) The master of any ship entering, shifting berth within,
or leaving a port shall have sufficient hands for the purpose, and
shall at all times keep the ship in a fit and safe condition for
removal, in default of which the removal may be performed by the
Authority at the ship’s risk and expense.
(2) Within a port the master shall not drop main steam or power
or immobilise the engines without first obtaining permission from
the Authority.
(3) Within a port the master shall moor a ship with good and
sufficient warps to the satisfaction of the Authority and he shall not
cast off any warps for any reason unless he is ordered or authorised
so to do by the Authority.
(4) Where in the opinion of the Authority a ship is not suitably
found with the necessary gear, the Authority may require the
master to obtain such gear, and it shall be the duty of the master to
obtain such gear.
Ships berthed at 
Fishmarket or 
Kalkara Gate 
Anchorages.
13. (1) No ship arriving between the first day of October of
one year and the thirty-first day of March of the following year
under conditions which, after berthing, render her unable to put to
sea or to shift berth under her own power shall berth at the
Fishmarket Anchorage or Kalkara Gate Anchorage.
(2) The master of any ship berthed at any of the said
anchorages during the said period shall -
( a ) keep steam handy;
( b ) not put the engines out of action; and
( c ) not undertake any repairs which would render the ship
incapable of weighing anchor at short notice and
getting under way should the necessity to do so arise.
Authority to assign 
berths and control 
berthing.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
14. (1) A ship shall occupy any berth that may be assigned to
her by the Authority, whether at any quay or elsewhere, and shall, if
so required, move to such other berth as the Authority may direct.
(2) No master shall, except in sudden stress of weather
endangering the safety of the ship, shift or change the berth
assigned to his ship without obtaining the previous permission of
the Authority.
(3) The master of a ship proceeding alongside a quay on
another ship shall ensure that the ship has no list, that she is
trimmed upright and that all derricks, booms and yards are rigged
inboard.
(4) The master of a ship shall not, except with the permission
and under the instructions of the Authority, moor his ship in the
Grand Harbour -
( a ) between the mouth of such harbour and a line drawn
from the Fort St Angelo flagstaff to the north-eastern
corner of Lascaris Bastion, or
( b ) in the area between two lines drawn respectively from
Customs House flagstaff to Isola Watch Tower and
6 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
from the south-western extremity of the Deep Water
Quay at Marina Pinto to Ras  }anzir,
or keep such ship at anchor in such areas longer than is necessary
for the purpose of manoeuvering the ship to or from her berth.
Prohibited 
anchorages.
15. The areas specified in Part I of the Fifth Schedule shall be
prohibited anchorage areas and no master shall drop or keep the
ship’s anchor down in any such area.
Prohibited mooring 
for small craft.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
16. The areas specified in Part II of the Fifth Schedule shall be
prohibited mooring and accostage areas for small craft and no small
craft shall be moored in or shall accost such areas except with the
permission of the Authority.
Sufficient hands on 
board.
17. The master of a ship within a port shall at all times have
sufficient hands on board to attend to the ship’s mooring and to
cause them to be slackened or hove in as may be necessary.
Ropes.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
18. (1) No master may make any rope fast except to dolphins,
buoys, mooring posts, and bollards placed for the purpose, and
shall not use any wire rope unless the edge of the coping of the
quay is protected from chafe to the satisfaction of the Authority.
(2) No person may use any chain cable for mooring alongside
except with the permission of the Authority.
Additional 
precautions.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
19. Every master shall anchor, moor and berth his ship to the
satisfaction of the Authority, and shall take such additional
precautions in severe weather as may be directed by the Authority.
Rat guards. 20. A master of a ship shall cause efficient rat guards to be
affixed on every line and wire connected to or reaching the shore.
Special provisions 
relating to traffic in 
ports.
21. (1) Any ship in the fairway of any port, as distinguished
from the creeks thereof, shall have the right of way over any other
ship entering or leaving the creeks or crossing the fairway and such
other ship shall keep clear.
(2) Every ship entering the fairway from a creek shall indicate
her intention of doing so by sounding one long blast on the whistle,
and any ship under way in the fairway in the vicinity shall reply
with one long blast.
(3) No ship shall attempt to overtake another in the fairway.
(4) Small craft within a port shall keep out of the way of any
steamship under way.
(5) Ships, other than small craft, shall not attempt to pass one
another at or near the breakwater entrance to the Grand Harbour,
the incoming ship remaining outside until the outgoing ship is
clear.
(6) Tugs seeking hire shall keep clear of all ships under way
and shall not accost or make fast to any ship until authorised by the
master to do so, nor shall they in any way obstruct the navigation of
any ship or the approach to any ship of any other tug or small craft.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 7
Watch to be kept 
on board.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
22. (1) The master, owner or agent of a ship in a port shall
constantly keep a watch of at least one man upon the open deck by
day and by night and shall, by night, cause any boat belonging to
the ship in the water to be kept securely moored and without oars:
Provided that the Authority may exempt the master, owner
or agent of a ship from keeping the watch where special reasons are
given to its satisfaction that such exemption is reasonable.
(2) The provisions of subregulation (1) shall not apply to small
craft.
Use of buoys.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
23. No master shall use any buoy which is the property of the
Government of Malta or the laying of which has been authorised by
the Government of Malta without the permission of the Authority
or the owner of the buoy, as the case may be.
Erection of leading 
marks and laying 
of buoys.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
24. (1) No person may lay any buoy or erect any leading mark
for any purpose whatsoever within the limits of a port without the
permission of the Authority.
(2) Any such buoy or leading mark shall be removed at the
expense of the owner if at any time the Authority so requires.
PART III
CONTROL OF PORTS - SHIPS AND WATERS
Use of ship’s 
whistle or siren.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
25. No person may sound any whistle, siren or foghorn within
a port save with the permission of the Authority except for the
purposes of navigation, or to give a fire alarm, or in accordance
with the provisions of these regulations.
Fire on ships.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
26. (1) In the event of a fire occurring on board any ship in a
port, the master shall at once give the alarm, make ready to move if
required to do so and take all measures which may be necessary or
expedient towards the protection of life and property subject to any
directives which may be given by the Authority.
(2) The alarm signal for a ship on fire shall be as follows:
( a ) by day the ship shall hoist the flag signal "N.Q." of the
International Code and by night the ship shall show in
lieu of the flag signal "N.Q." three red lights in a
vertical line one above the other;
( b ) at the same time whether by day or by night the ship
shall repeatedly sound "B" in morse code (one long
and three short blasts) in quick succession on the
ship’s whistle or siren followed by the rapid ringing of
the ship’s bell.
(3) The signal specified in subregulation (2)( a ) shall be
maintained until the fire on board has been extinguished.
(4) Where a person has been charged by the Authority with
direction of fire-fighting operations, such person shall, on arrival,
assume control of the fire-fighting operations both ashore and on
board ships:
8 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Provided that -
( a ) should any question concerning the safety of the ship
arise in the course of fighting the fire, the master of the
ship shall call the attention of the officer directing the
fire-fighting operations to this and, in conjunction with
this officer, shall take any steps necessary to ensure
the safety of the ship; and
( b ) should any question concerning the safety of the port
installation arise the Authority shall call the attention
of the officer directing the fire-fighting operations to
this and, in conjunction with this officer, shall take any
steps necessary to ensure their safety or efficient
working.
Ships to be open 
for inspection.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
27. The master of any ship within a port shall allow the
Authority at any time to board the ship and inspect her or any part
thereof whenever the Authority deems fit.
Working of 
lighters.
28. (1) A master of a ship at anchor or at a berth in a port shall
not permit more than two cargo lighters to be abreast of each other
on either side of the ship or more than two such lighters to be made
fast in a tier astern; and for the purposes of regulation, one large
pontoon shall be counted as two lighters:
Provided that one lighter may be used in addition to a
pontoon when iron joists, beams, metal rods and sheets are being
loaded or unloaded.
(2) The master of any small craft shall not tow more than three
cargo lighters in line astern whilst in a port.
(3) No person shall cast off any small craft and allow it to drift
about a port.
Boarding or 
leaving ships.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
29. No person other than a pilot shall board or leave a ship
whilst such ship is in motion without the permission of the
Authority; and no person may leave or board a ship except by
means of the gangway or an efficient pilot ladder.
Cleanliness, 
nuisances, etc., in a 
port.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
30. (1) Subject to any other enactment or regulations, no
person shall discharge or allow to escape into a port from any ship
or any installation any oil of any description and the master of a
ship shall be responsible for any damage caused or expenses which
may be occasioned by the flow of oil from a ship for any reason
whatsoever into the waters of a port.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of regulation 67(2),
anything which has fallen or drifted into the waters of a port shall
be recovered at once by its owner or his agent, or by the person in
whose custody such thing has been. In default, the Authority may
recover such thing at the risk and expense of any of such persons.
(3) Saving the provisions of any other enactment or
regulations, no person shall leave any ship or small craft abandoned
or sunk in any harbour and, in default, the Authority may remove
such ship or small craft at the risk and expense of the owner.
(4) The master of a ship which is loading, or discharging,
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 9
ballast, coal, cinders, stone or any other loose materials, shall cause
a canvas, tarpaulin or some other safeguard to be placed in such a
manner as to prevent any such material from falling into the waters
of a port.
(5) No person shall allow any exhaust steam, water or other
discharges from a ship to fall on to any quay or lighter and any such
discharges as are not prohibited shall be led down the side of the
ship to below the level of the quay or lighter by a hose or other
effective appliance and, in the case of water or steam discharges,
all water and steam pipes shall be effectively screened.
(6) The master of a ship shall not allow the ship to emit an
excessive amount of smoke.
Notification of 
hulk or wreck.
Added by:
L.N. 45 of 1974.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
31. (1) Within forty-eight hours of a hulk, wreck or wreckage
coming to lie in any port its master, owner or agent shall notify the
Authority of the exact position and give all details and such other
information as the Authority may require in connection with such
hulk, wreck or wreckage.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of other regulations the
master, owner, or agent of the hulk, wreck or wreckage shall inform
the Authority of the intentions and programme for the removal of
the hulk, wreck or wreckage. This information must reach the
Authority within fifteen days of the hulk, wreck or wreckage
coming to lie in any port but such time limit may be extended by
the Authority after receiving a written application from the owner,
master or agent.
(3) The master, owner or agent of a hulk, wreck or wreckage
which has been lying in a port for more than forty-eight hours
before the coming into force of this regulation shall comply with
the provisions of subregulations (1) and (2).
Levy and recovery 
of rent.
Added by:
L.N. 45 of 1974.
Amended by:
L.N. 53 of 1974;
XVII. 1991.81.
32. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of other
regulations the Authority may levy rent in respect of any hulk,
wreck or wreckage lying in any port. Such rent shall not exceed
twelve cents per gross registered ton per day or part thereof for the
first thirty days in which such hulk, wreck or wreckage shall have
been lying in any port; not more than forty cents per gross
registered ton per day or part thereof for the next thirty days, and
not more than seventy-five cents per gross registered ton per day or
part thereof for any subsequent period:
Provided that when in the opinion of the Authority a hulk,
wreck or wreckage constitutes a serious obstruction or a serious
danger the Authority may levy a rent of not more than seventy-five
cents per gross registered ton per day or part thereof as from the
date on which such obstruction or danger arises.
(2) If the gross registered tonnage of a hulk, wreck or wreckage
is not known or cannot be established the Authority may appoint
one or more surveyors at the expense of the master, owner or agent
of the hulk, wreck or wreckage to give an estimated gross
registered tonnage of the hulk, wreck or wreckage.
(3) A certificate by a surveyor appointed by the Authority
10 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
under this regulation shall be conclusive evidence of the gross
registered tonnage for the purposes of this regulation.
(4) The rent due under the provisions of this regulation shall be
paid by the master, agents or owner on the demand of the
Authority.
Removal of ship 
having offensive 
matter on board.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
33. The Authority may order the removal from a port of any
ship which has on board cargo or other matter injurious to health or
which is offensive or dangerous in any respect and the master of
such ship shall forthwith comply with such order:
Provided that, in lieu of ordering such removal, the
Authority may allow the master to dispose of such cargo or other
matter in such manner as the Authority may direct at the risk and
expense of the master.
Protection of 
hatchways.
34. Except as provided in regulations 35 and 36, during the
intervals of working cargo a master of a ship in port shall keep the
hatches closed or well protected.
Fencing of hatches, 
etc.
35. (1) Whenever any hatch of a hold accessible to any person
employed in any of the processes of loading and unloading the ship,
and exceeding five feet in depth measured from the level of the
deck in which the hatch is situated to the bottom of the hold, is not
in use for the passage of goods or for trimming and the coamings
are less than two feet six inches in height, the master shall cause
such hatch either to be fenced to a height of three feet or to be
securely covered:
Provided that this subregulation shall not apply to any
ship-
( a ) not exceeding two hundred tons net registered tonnage
which has only one hatchway;
( b ) during meal times or other short interruptions of work
during the period of employment.
(2) No person shall use any hatch coverings in the construction
of deck or cargo stages or for any other purpose which may expose
such coverings to damage.
(3) Any person who makes use of hatch coverings shall replace
them on the hatches in the positions indicated by the markings
shown thereon.
Ships laden with 
coal.
36. A master of a ship laden with coal shall keep the holds well
ventilated, if necessary by open hatchways, while in port.
Fumigation.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
37. No master of a ship shall fumigate the ship in a port except
with the written permission of the Authority.
Repairs to ships.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
38. Except at authorised places, no person shall carry out any
structural repairs of ships within a port, save with the written
permission of the Authority.
Restriction on use 
of flame apparatus 
in ports.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
39. (1) No person may carry out any construction, repair or
maintenance work entailing the use of any flame apparatus which
produces extreme heat, on any ship in any port without the written
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 11
permission of the Authority:
Provided that, save in the case of a petroleum ship, such
work may be carried out at an authorised place without such
permission.
(2) Where it is proposed to do any work in respect of which
permission is required in accordance with the provisions of
subregulation (1), the master or agent of the ship shall make
application in writing for that purpose to the Authority.
No boats, ship’s 
gear, etc., may be 
placed on any 
quay.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
40. No person shall leave any boat, spar, anchor, cable, ship’s
gear, dunnage, cattle fittings, horse-box or the like, upon any quay
without the written permission of the Authority.
Explosives may 
not be used or guns 
fired.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
41. (1) No person shall fire any gun or rocket or burn any
pyrotechnic light on board any ship while in a port without the
permission of the Authority:
Provided that this subregulation shall not apply to -
( a ) any ship in actual distress or in want of assistance, or
( b ) the firing of ceremonial salutes.
(2) No person shall carry out any blasting within a port without
the written permission of the Authority.
Propellers may not 
be turned in a port 
without previous 
warning.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
42. (1) A master of a steamship at anchor, or occupying
moorings or alongside a quay or another ship, shall not turn the
propellers without the permission of the Authority and without
giving sufficient warning of its intention to any craft in the vicinity.
(2) The master of a steamship referred to in subregulation (1)
shall not put full power on when trying the engines at any mooring
buoy or when alongside a quay or another ship.
Fouling of 
moorings, etc.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
43. (1) No master shall drop the ship’s anchor or lay the ship’s
cables in such a manner as to foul or obstruct any berth, moorings
or cables of any other ship.
(2) No master shall drag from its position or damage any
mooring or buoy.
(3) The master of any ship hooking or getting foul of any buoy,
mooring or submarine cable shall not, except in case of emergency,
lift the buoy, mooring or submarine cable for the purpose of
unhooking or getting clear, but shall immediately report the
occurrence to the Authority and await its instructions.
Crews of ships to 
take lines.
Authority may cut 
lines.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
44. (1) A master of a ship anchored, moored or berthed in a
port shall receive on board, make fast or cast off lines or warps
from any other ship warping in and out of such port, when required
so to do by the Authority, or by the pilot or master of such aforesaid
ship.
(2) No person shall stretch any lines or warps across the waters
of a port without the permission of the Authority.
(3) The Authority may, in case of urgent necessity, cut any
12 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
warp, rope, cable, or hawser endangering the safety of any ship in a
port.
Animals. 45. The landing and shipping of animals shall be carried out in
a humane manner and, where the case so permits, in accordance
with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule.
PART IV
CONTROL OF PORTS - PREMISES AND PLACES ASHORE
Closing roads, 
wharves, etc.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
46. The Authority may, when it considers it desirable so to do,
within any enclosed port area, close any road, quay, warehouse or
any part thereof, and may permit or prohibit the use thereof subject
to such conditions as the Authority may deem fit to impose.
Trespassers.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
47. No person shall, without the permission of the Authority,
enter into or climb upon any warehouse, silo, grain handling plant,
lighthouse, signal station or navigation mark.
Vehicles to take 
place assigned.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
48. A driver of a vehicle within an enclosed port area or on any
quay shall take the position or place assigned to him by the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be.
Vehicles to move 
when required.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
49. A driver of a vehicle within an enclosed port area or on any
quay shall move the vehicle when required so to do by the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be.
Dangerous driving. 50. No person shall drive a vehicle within an enclosed port
area so as to be a danger to persons or property.
Control of 
vehicles.
Substituted by:
L.N. 17 of 1975.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
51. (1) No person shall drive or cause or allow to be driven a
vehicle into an enclosed port area unless such vehicle is intended
for use in the exercise of lawful business in connection with port or
shipping operations.
(2) A driver of a vehicle shall at all times while in or entering
or leaving an enclosed port area or while on a quay in a port comply
with such orders as may from time to time be given by the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, and with the terms
of any notices or signs exhibited by the Authority.
Fire hydrants. 52. No person shall park any vehicle over or near any fire
hydrant in a port or in any way obstruct access to the use of any
such hydrant.
Fire-fighting 
operations.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
53. Every person in a port shall obey the directions of the
Authority and any police officer in the event of an outbreak of fire,
and no person shall obstruct or in any way interfere with the
fire-fighting operations.
Power to exclude 
public in case of 
fire.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
54. The Authority may, in the event of an outbreak of fire,
exclude the public from the vicinity of the fire and may close such
section of the port as it may deem fit.
Entering or leaving 
an enclosed port 
area.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
55. Any person entering or leaving any enclosed port area shall
do so through the entrances or exits provided for the purpose and
while in such area or on any quay shall comply with such orders as
may from time to time be given by the Authority or the contractor,
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 13
as the case may be, and with the terms of any notices or signs
exhibited by the Authority.
Parcels, etc., to be 
examined.
Amended by:
L.N. 17 of 1975;
L.N. 18 of 1976;
L.N. 63 of 1988;
XVII. 1991.81.
56. (1) No person shall load or cause to be loaded into any
vehicle which is intended to be used for the conveyance of goods
out of an enclosed port area or take out of such area any parcel,
package or article of any kind except when he is in possession of a
gate pass-out which shall be in the form specified in the Thirteenth
Schedule issued by the Authority or the contractor, as the case may
be, authorising such person to take the parcels package or article
out of such area.
(2) A person who loads or causes to be loaded into any vehicle
which is intended to be used for the conveyance of goods out of an
enclosed port area or who takes out of such area any parcel,
package, or article of any kind which is not duly covered by a gate
pass-out in respect of quantity, quality or other indications shall,
unless he proves otherwise, be deemed to have knowingly loaded or
caused to be loaded into such vehicle, or to have knowingly taken
out of such area such parcel, package, or article without being duly
authorised to do so.
(3) The pass-out check referred to in subregulation (1) shall be
delivered up at the exit from the enclosed area to the authorised
representative of the Authority or of the contractor, as the case may
be.
Provided that a copy of the gate pass-out shall be made
available for retention by the person having taken delivery of the
goods for conveyance out of the port area.
(4) Pass-out checks in respect of manifested cargo, passengers’
baggage and unmanifested articles ex ship, shall not be issued until
all Customs duties have been paid when due and all Customs
requirements have been complied with and all dues and rates
payable on such goods have been paid or secured.
(5) Any person who is conveying any goods on any vehicle
from an enclosed port area or quay shall ensure that all goods
which are being so conveyed have been duly released by an officer
of the Customs and/or duly delivered by the Authority or by its
contractor, as the case may be.
Port gates closed in 
non-working 
hours.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
57. The gates of enclosed port areas shall be closed to goods
vehicles outside such regular working hours as may be fixed by the
Authority from time to time, except when a ship is working in
hours other than regular working hours.
Prohibition of 
entry in an 
enclosed port area.
Added by:
L.N. 35 of 1975.
Amended by:
L.N. 145 of 1975.
58. (1) A person who, after the coming into force of these
regulations, has been found guilty or has been convicted of theft or
fraud shall not be allowed entry into an enclosed port area or access
to a quay:
Provided that this regulation shall not apply to such person
who for the first time has been found guilty or has been convicted
of theft of things the value of which does not exceed three liri or of
fraud in respect of the same amount.
14 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Cap. 171.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), the word "person"
includes any person who holds a licence or a permit issued to him
in virtue of any law or regulation, to work in a port or to perform
port work as defined in the Port Workers Ordinance.
Entry in certain 
parts of port.
Substituted by:
L.N. 13 of 1972.
Amended by:
L.N. 17 of 1975;
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 171.
59. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Port Workers
Ordinance -
( a ) a person who is employed by the contractor under any
conditions of work and who habitually works in an
enclosed port area, or a person who is licensed to work
in a port in terms of any law or regulations, or a person
who works in a port, shall, while in an enclosed port
area, wear an identity badge provided by the
appropriate authority; and
( b ) the identity badge referred to in paragraph ( a ) may be
provided against payment.
(2) A person who while in an enclosed port area fails to wear
his identity badge may be required to leave such area.
(3) No person shall enter an enclosed area or quay in a port
without the permission of the Authority which may, in granting
such permission, impose such conditions as it may deem fit.
(4) Any person who is entering or who has entered an enclosed
area or quay in a port shall, whenever so required by the Authority
or its contractor, thruthfully state the reason entitling him to be in
such place.
(5) Any person who has entered an enclosed area or quay in a
port shall leave such place immediately his business does not
require his presence therein any longer.
Hawking and 
trading.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
60. No person shall exercise the trade of hawker or pedlar
within an enclosed port area without the written permission of the
Authority.
Bathing. 61. No person shall bathe from any quay used for the purposes
of berthing ships or lighters or from any ship or lighter berthed
alongside any such quay.
Smoking.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
62. No person shall smoke within any part of a port wherein
"No smoking" notices are exhibited by the Authority or within any
transit shed used for the purpose of warehousing or depositing
goods.
PART V
WORKING OF SHIPS
Manifests of cargo 
inward and 
outward.
Amended by:
L.N. 23 of 1969;
XVII. 1991.81.
63. (1) The master of any ship shall, upon arrival of the ship
in port, deliver to the Authority a true copy in duplicate of the
complete manifest of cargo to be unshipped in Malta, giving
detailed weights and measurement in such form as may be
prescribed by the Minister responsible for ports or requested by the
Authority:
Provided that the Authority may direct that one of the
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 15
copies shall be delivered to the contractor.
(2) A ship shall not break bulk until -
( a ) the provisions of subregulation (1) and of any
direction given by the Authority thereunder have been
complied with; and
Cap. 37.
( b ) the master or agent has duly reported her cargo to the
Comptroller of Customs or has obtained special
authority from the Comptroller of Customs for so
doing in accordance with the provisions of the
Customs Ordinance.
(3) The master or agent of any ship shall deliver to the
Authority a true copy in duplicate of the complete manifest of
cargo shipped or transhipped to the ship in Malta, in accordance
with the provisions and for the purpose of the Act.
(4) The master or agent shall as soon as possible notify the
Authority of any subsequent amendment to any manifest copies of
which have been delivered by him in accordance with the
provisions of this regulation or of any direction given thereunder.
List of heavy lifts.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
64. (1) The master of any ship shall, upon arrival in a port,
deliver to the Authority a true list in duplicate of lifts over three
tons comprised in the cargo to be unshipped at that port.
(2) In no circumstances shall a lift of over six tons be landed or
deposited upon any quay except with the written permission of the
Authority.
Order of working 
of ships.
Amended by:
L.N. 28 of 1973;
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 171.
65. So far as may be practicable at the time, cargo shall be
discharged from and loaded into ships in the order of their arrival in
port subject to the provisions of the Port Workers Ordinance:
Provided that the Authority may -
( a ) vary such order of working if he deems it fit to do so;
( b ) refuse to permit cargo to be landed from any ship until
suitable quay, transit shed or other accommodation is
available for such cargo;
( c ) in circumstances in which the Authority or its
contractor will undertake the handling of the cargo,
refuses to permit iron and steel bars and pipes and
tubes of all kinds to be landed unless the conditions
regarding bundling and marking specified in the
Seventh Schedule have been complied with, and when
the landing of such goods is permitted notwithstanding
that those conditions have not been complied with, the
Authority or the contractor shall not be responsible for
any loss, damage, delay or misdelivery occasioned by
non-compliance with such conditions:
Provided further that cargo other than unit loads, unitised
cargo or mail including periodicals and newspapers shall not be
unloaded from or loaded to a RORO ship if such cargo cannot be
unloaded or loaded by lifting equipment through conventional
hatchways.
16 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Ship’s appliances 
to be ready for 
work.
66. The master shall have the ship and her cargo handling
appliances ready to discharge or receive cargo before the time fixed
for discharge or loading to commence.
Master to 
superintend 
loading or 
discharge.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
67. (1) The master, or some other responsible officer
appointed by him, shall remain on board the ship whilst loading or
discharging cargo for the purpose of superintending such loading or
discharge.
(2) The master or the officer specified in subregulation (1)
shall at once report to the Authority any cargo or ship’s gear that
may be dropped overboard and shall immediately recover such
cargo or gear if it is reasonably possible for him to do so:
Provided that, in default of such recovery, such cargo or
gear may be recovered by the Authority at the risk and expense of
the master.
Ships to be worked 
with reasonable 
despatch.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
68. (1) If a ship occupying a quay berth fails to load or
discharge her cargo with such despatch as appears reasonable to the
Authority, the ship may, after written notice has been given by the
Authority to that effect to the master, be removed from such berth
by the Authority at the risk and expense of the ship.
(2) If any plant or labour engaged by the Authority or its
contractor for the purpose of landing, shipping or transhipping any
cargo is not fully employed owing to the default of the ship, the
expenses incurred thereby shall be paid by the ship.
(3) The Authority may, in the event of any accumulation of
goods upon a quay, or in a lighter or warehouse, or for any cause
that may appear reasonable to it, require any ship to suspend,
discharge or to reduce the rate of discharge of cargo.
Use of port plant 
and hire of plant 
and gear.
Amended by:
L.N. 17 of 1975
XVII. 1991.81.
S.L.352.02
69. (1) When the Authority so directs, the use of any cranes,
transporters, pneumatic suction plant or any other mechanical
handling equipment provided at any quay shall, subject to the
provisions of the tariff, be obligatory.
(2) Cranes, transporters, pneumatic suction plant or any other
mechanical handling equipment required for the loading or
unloading of cargo on or from a ship or for the handling of cargo on
wharfs or quays (other than the handling cargo in respect of which
rates are established in the Port Rates Regulations, and the handling
of bulk cargo in the Government Silo) shall be provided by the
contractor either on hire or in any other manner he considers
appropriate:
Provided that in order to make available such equipment the
contractor may himself hire such equipment from third parties.
(3) The application shall specify the time and place at which
such plant or gear is required.
(4) When such plant or gear is hired out by the Authority or its
contractor the conditions contained in the Eighth Schedule shall
apply:
Provided that the Authority may, in particular cases, impose
such additional conditions as he may deem fit.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 17
Requests to work 
and overtime work.
Amended by:
L.N. 7 of 1969;
L.N. 13 of 1972;
L.N. 15 of 1978;
XVII. 1991.81.
70. (1) Work ashore and afloat in connection with the loading,
unloading, landing, shipping and transhipment of cargo shall only
be undertaken with the permission of the Authority:
Provided that a specific permission for the unloading and
landing of cargo for transhipment shall be requested, on the form
contained in the Fourteenth Schedule, not later than forty-eight
hours before the arrival of the ship in Malta, and any such
permission, if granted, shall be subject to such conditions as the
Authority may impose.
Cap. 171.
(2) When a ship or a person whose cargo is being handled by
the Authority or its contractor desires to work such cargo during
hours other than the regular working hours of a port as established
under the Port Workers Ordinance, the master or agent or such
person, as the case may be, shall on each occasion make a written
request to that effect to the Authority in the form specified in Part I
of the Tenth Schedule; and any work specified in subregulation (1)
performed in connection with such request shall be considered as
overtime work and the expense thereof in accordance with the
provisions of the tariff shall be charged to the master, agent or
person requesting such overtime work.
(3) Where a person desires work other than that specified in
subregulations (1) and (2) to be performed by the Authority or its
contractor in hours other than the hours of business of the ports
fixed by regulations by the Minister responsible for ports for that
category of work such person shall make a written request to that
effect to the Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, in the
form specified in the Ninth Schedule, and such work shall be
considered as overtime work and the expenses thereof in
accordance with the provisions of the tariff shall be charged to the
person requesting such overtime work:
Cap. 171.
Provided that the work of the port workers registered in
terms of the Port Workers Ordinance shall be considered to be
overtime work only if such work is performed in hours other than
the regular working hours of a port as established under that
Ordinance.
Port closed on 
holidays.
Amended by:
L.N. 33 of 1971;
L.N. 17 of 1975.
Substituted by:
L.N. 38 of 1981.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 171.
71. Normally no port work shall be performed on the thirty-
first day of March, Good Friday, the first day of May, Christmas
Day and New Year’s Day, on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth
December (Christmas Eve) and after 5 p.m. on the thirty-first
December (New Year’s Eve):
Provided that on such days and afternoons port work
authorised by the Authority under the provisions of the Port
Workers Ordinance may be performed.
Receipts for cargo.
Amended by:
L.N. 28 of 1973;
XVII. 1991.81.
72. (1) When the Authority or its contractor receives cargo
unloaded from a ship, the Authority or its contractor shall, unless
otherwise specially agreed upon between the Authority or its
contractor and the master, issue a receipt to the master as soon as
possible after the completion of the operation for all cargo
received, subject to each item being properly marked and being
discharged in an orderly manner:
18 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Provided that where, in the opinion of the Authority or the
contractor, the cargo is of such a nature as to preclude an accurate
tally at the time of discharge, then a receipt shall be granted after
the sorting and stacking of the cargo wherever such sorting and
stacking takes place.
(2) When a ship receives cargo from the Authority or its
contractor, receipt shall be issued by the master to the Authority or
its contractor, as the case may be, for each separate consignment
received by the ship from the Authority or the contractor, as the
case may be.
(3) In the case of unit loads or unitised cargo the Authority or
its contractor may, subject to the provisions of this regulation, give
a receipt for the quantity only of unit loads received from the ship.
(4) In the case of unit loads or unitised cargo delivered to a
ship by the Authority or its contractor, the master shall, subject to
the provisions of this regulation, issue a receipt to the Authority or
its contractor, as the case may be, for each of the separate unit
loads or unitised cargo received by the ship from the Authority or
its contractor as the case may be.
When cargo 
considered landed.
Amended by:
L.N. 28 of 1973;
XVII. 1991.81.
73. Subject to the provisions of regulations 72 and 90, delivery
of cargo shall not be considered to have been made to the Authority
or its contractor until the cargo has been safely landed on to the
quay or into lighter and has been removed by the Authority or the
contractor, as the case may be, from the cargo handling gear used in
landing such cargo:
Provided that in the case of unit loads or unitised cargo
which is rolled off a ship or is otherwise landed by mechanical
means through the ship’s side door or ramp, delivery of cargo shall
not be considered to have been made to the Authority or its
contractor until the cargo has been safely landed onto the quay and
has been removed by the Authority or its contractor, as the case
may be, from the equipment used in the landing of such cargo.
When cargo 
considered 
shipped.
Amended by:
L.N. 28 of 1973;
XVII. 1991.81.
74. Unless otherwise specially agreed upon between the
Authority or its contractor and the master, cargo for shipment by
the Authority or its contractor shall, unless such cargo is declined
by the ship as damaged or in bad condition, be deemed to have been
properly delivered by the Authority or the contractor, as the case
may be, to the ship in good order and condition when placed into
the cargo handling gear at the ship’s side whether on the quay or in
lighter:
Provided that in the case of unit loads or unitised cargo
which is rolled on a ship or is otherwise loaded by mechanical
means through the ship’s side door or ramp, such cargo shall,
subject to this regulation, be deemed to have been properly
delivered by the Authority or its contractor, as the case may be, to
the ship in good order when placed in, or attached to, the loading
equipment on the quay.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 19
Cargo delivered on 
board.
Added by:
L.N. 15 of 1978.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
75. Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 73 and 74,
where cargo is loaded or unloaded by the Authority or its
contractor, delivery of the cargo shall be deemed to have been made
to the Authority or its contractor, as the case may be, in the case of
landing of goods, or to the master of the ship in the case of shipping
of goods, at the time the Authority or its contractor would have
taken the goods from the stack or after stowing the goods, on board,
as the case may be.
Landing and 
embarking 
passengers.
76. The master of a ship in port shall - 
( a ) whilst passengers are disembarking from or embarking
upon the ship, cause wherever practicable a second
gangway or accommodation ladder to be provided and
in every case order one of the crew of the ship to be in
attendance at each gangway or ladder to attend to the
security of the gangway or ladder and the safety of the
persons passing over it;
( b ) cause a life buoy with a line attached thereto, in proper
condition for immediate use, to be placed near to the
head of each gangway or accommodation ladder which
is available for use;
( c ) during the loading or unloading of the ship, take the
necessary precautions to avoid any injury or
annoyance to passengers or any other person or to
ships lying nearby, and in particular he shall ensure
that no cargo in course of discharging from or loading
to the ship shall be worked by crane, derrick or other
means over a passenger gangway or ladder.
PART VI
HANDLING OF CARGO
Handling of cargo 
at Authority’s 
direction.
Amended by:
XVII. 1981.81.
Cap. 37.
77. Landing, shipping or transhipping of cargo shall be
undertaken at such berths as the Authority may direct and at such
places as may have been established for the purpose in accordance
with the provisions of the Customs Ordinance.
Handling to be 
carried out by 
Authority.
Amended by:
L.N. 15 of 1978;
XVII. 1991.81.
78. (1) Save with the permission of the Authority, no person
other than the Authority or his contractor shall load, unload, land,
ship or transship any goods or cargo at any berth:
Provided that a specific permission for the unloading and
landing of goods or cargo for transhipment shall be requested, on
the form contained in the Fourteenth Schedule, not later than
forty-eight hours before the arrival of the ship in Malta, and any
such permission, if granted, shall be subject to such conditions as
the Authority may impose.
(2) Save with the written permission of the Authority, no
person other than the Authority or its contractor may sort or in any
other manner manipulate or handle any goods in the custody of the
Authority or the contractor, except for the purposes of customs
examination.
(3) No stack of cargo or individual item or package or cargo of
20 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
such weight and of such dimensions as to impose -
(i) a point load in excess of six tons, or
(ii) a static load in excess of four hundredweights
per square foot,
shall be stacked or handled at the Deep Water Quay.
(4) No mobile crane with a maximum lifting capacity in excess
of six tons and no vehicle with a maximum wheel load in excess of
nine tons shall be used at the Deep Water Quay.
Goods not to be 
delivered without 
authority from 
Customs.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81;
L.N. 3 of 1998.
79. (1) No consignee shall be entitled to the delivery of goods
or cargo from the Authority or its contractor unless he produces to
the Authority or the contractor the necessary authority from the
Comptroller of Customs.
Provided that where the Minister deems it expedient he
may, with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance,
direct in writing that the Authority and the contractor may deliver
goods to the consignee without the necessary authority from the
Comptroller of Customs.
(2) Goods for customs examination under a provisional entry
shall not be deemed to be cleared for delivery until a perfect entry
has been duly made.
Documents 
required before 
cargo delivered.
Amended by:
L.N. 7 of 1969;
L.N. 17 of 1975;
XVII. 1991.81.
80. (1) Before the delivery of goods or cargo may be made by
the Authority or its contractor the consignee or his agent shall
present to the Authority or the contractor, in such number of copies
as the Authority may require, at the place or places appointed by
the Authority during the hours of business fixed by regulations by
the Minister responsible for ports, the following set of documents: 
( a ) declaration and disposal orders, in the form specified
in the Tenth Schedule, (hereinafter in this regulation
referred to as "the said form") complete in every detail
and specifying the respective marks and numbers on
packages, or on articles in respect of unpacked goods,
their number, description and contents with the
deadweight, cubic measurement and when specifically
required by the Authority, the C.I.F. value thereof, the
disposal instructions, the name of the ship and such
other particulars as are required on the said form; and
there shall be a separate declaration and disposal order
for each separate consignment;
( b ) bills of lading or ship’s delivery orders showing
clearly to whose order the goods are to be delivered,
containing a complete and accurate chain of
endorsement from the shipper to the holder, and duly
released by the ship’s agents, for all cargo landed or to
be landed;
( c ) in the case of transhipment cargo, a shipping order
complete in every detail.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)( a ), the specification
of deadweight and cubic measurement shall not be necessary in the
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 21
case of cargo on which rates are assessed on the basis defined in the
tonnage scale provided for in the tariff, and in such case either the
deadweight or the cubic measurement shall be given in accordance
with the basis defined in he said scale of the said tariff.
(3) The presentation to the Authority or the contractor of the
documents specified in subregulation (1) shall be sufficient
grounds for the Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, to
deliver the goods to which those documents relate to the person
presenting such documents:
Provided that all dues and rates specified in the tariff in
respect of such goods have been paid or duly secured.
Empty containers.
Added by:
L.N. 18 of 1976.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
81. (1) No person shall place an empty container or an empty
trailer in any part of a port unless -
( a ) he has previously obtained the permission of the
Authority to do so, and,
( b ) he has marked such empty container or trailer on at
least two of its sides with a label bearing the word
"EMPTY" printed in block letters not less than four
inches high and one quarter of an inch wide.
(2) Notwithstanding any permission given by the Authority
empty containers or trailers shall lie in any part of a port at the sole
risk and expense of the person to whom such permission is given.
(3) The Authority may revoke any such permission and may
require any person to whom such permission is given to remove
any empty container or trailer from any part of a port within such
time as it may specify.
Depositing of 
imported goods.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
82. (1) No person may deposit or stack any goods landed from
any ship on any quay or in any part of any port except at such quay
or place and under such conditions as the Authority may direct; and
notwithstanding that the Authority has not laid down specific
conditions in any particular case, no person shall so deposit or
stack such goods in such a way as to cause an obstruction or to
prevent the free access to a quay or to prevent the landing or
shipping of other goods.
(2) The Authority may remove or cause to removed any goods
deposited in contravention of the provisions of subregulation (1)
and, where such is the case, the owner, in addition to the penalty
specified in regulation 134, shall be liable to pay to the Authority
the cost of the removal of such goods.
Documents 
required for goods 
for export.
Amended by:
L.N. 7 of 1969;
XVII. 1991.81.
83. (1) Any person desiring goods to be shipped by the
Authority or its contractor shall present to the Authority or the
contractor, in such number of copies as the Authority may require,
at the place appointed by the Authority during the hours fixed by
regulations by the Minister responsible for ports, shipping orders in
the form specified in the Eleventh Schedule (hereinafter in this
regulation referred to as "the said form") complete in every detail
and specifying the respective marks and numbers on packages, or
on articles in respect of unpacked goods, their number, description
22 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
and contents with the deadweight or cubic measurement or value
thereof according to the basis of calculation defined in the tonnage
scale prescribed in the tariff in respect of such goods, the name of
the ship, the port of destination, and such other particulars as may
be required on the said form.
(2) There shall be a separate shipping order in respect of each
separate consignment.
Depositing of 
goods for export.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
84. (1) No person may deposit any goods for export in any
part of any port except at such place and at such time and under
such conditions as the Authority may direct and, notwithstanding
that the Authority has not laid down specific conditions in any
particular case no person shall so deposit or stack such goods in
such a way as to cause an obstruction or to prevent the free access
to a quay or to prevent the landing or shipping of other goods.
(2) The Authority may remove or cause to be removed any
goods deposited in contravention of the provisions of subregulation
(1) and, where such is the case, the owner, in addition to the penalty
specified in regulation 134, shall be liable to pay to the Authority
the cost of removal of such goods.
Goods for export 
and relative 
documents to be 
received in time.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
85. (1) Any goods intended for shipment by the Authority or
its contractor by any particular ship together with the relative
shipping orders shall be presented to the Authority or the contractor
not later than nine regular working hours prior to the ship’s
appointed sailing time:
Provided that in particular cases where the Authority or the
contractor deems it expedient the Authority may allow the
presentation of the goods and the shipping orders to be made at
shorter notice and in such cases any additional expenses incurred
by the Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, shall be paid
by the exporter.
(2) Goods in respect of which shipping orders are presented
shall be ready for shipment in every respect and if at any time the
Authority finds that goods that have been accepted by it or the
contractor for shipment are not fit for shipment in every respect the
Authority may forthwith order their removal from the port by the
exporter and at the exporter’s expense:
Provided that the Authority or the contractor may
undertake, on request and if facilities are available, to mark,
measure or weigh goods, in accordance with the provisions of the
tariff, after the presentation of the relative shipping orders.
Cancelling or 
amending orders.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
86. Subject to the provisions of the tariff, orders from persons
in control of goods, cancelling or amending previous orders, may
be accepted by the Authority or its contractor:
Provided that in the opinion of the Authority or the
conductor as the case may be, it is reasonably possible to act upon
such orders at the time such orders are received.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 23
When weight or 
measurement not 
available.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
87. (1) Subject to the provisions of the tariff, when weight or
cubic measurement of goods is not available, the goods may be
weighed and measured by the Authority or the contractor, as the
case may be, at the expense of the owner of the goods.
(2) All packages exceeding three tons in weight shall have the
actual weight thereof legibly painted on the outside of the package
in close proximity to the shipping mark; in default, saving the
provisions of regulation 88, the package may be weighed by the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, and all expenses of
weighing, extra handling, transport and other expenses, shall be
charged to the owner and shall be forthwith recoverable from him.
(3) The Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, shall
not be liable for any error in any weighment or measurement made
in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and any such
weighment or measurement made by the Authority or contractor
shall be for the purposes of these regulations only and it shall not
be joined in any suit arising out of a dispute between buyer and
seller or shipper and consignee or any other persons in respect of
any goods so weighed and measured.
Marking of 
packages.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
88. (1) When goods are insufficiently or erroneously marked,
the Authority or its contractor, notwithstanding that all dues and
rates have been secured or paid, may require from any person
claiming such goods a special release order, signed by the ship’s
agents or an indemnification against any loss or damage which the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, may sustain by
reason of the delivery of the goods to such person.
(2) In the cases mentioned in subregulation (1), the provisions
of the tariff shall continue to apply in respect of any goods
remaining in the custody of the Authority or the contractor in
consequence of such insufficient or erroneous marking.
(3) The Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, shall
not be liable for any damage, loss, delay, or non-delivery of goods
occasioned by insufficient or erroneous marking.
Delivery to 
Government 
warehouse.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 37.
89. The delivery by the Authority or its contractor of goods to a
Government warehouse appointed by the Comptroller of Customs,
as defined in the Customs Ordinance, shall constitute delivery of
such goods to the consignee, and the Authority or the contractor, as
the case may be, shall not be liable for goods after they have been
so delivered:
Provided that -
( a ) before withdrawing any such goods from such
Government warehouse, the importer, owner or
consignee, as the case may be, shall pay or secure to
the satisfaction of the Authority all dues and rates
payable by him in accordance with the provisions of
the Act in respect of such goods; and
( b ) pending payment, the Authority shall retain
unprejudiced all its rights relating to the payment of
such dues and rates.
24 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Defective 
packages.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
90. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of regulation 73 or the
fact that the Authority or its contractor, as the case may be, has
given a receipt for the goods, where any goods have been landed in
packages of a defective or leaky character, delivery of the goods
shall not be considered to have been made to the Authority or the
contractor, as the case may be, until such packages have been
repacked, rebagged, or repaired at the expense of the ship’s agent in
a reasonably sound condition and such goods have been checked in
the presence of the ship’s agent or a customs’ officer, and the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, shall be deemed to
have accepted delivery of only such goods as are found upon such
check.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), the
Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, may decline to
accept any goods which are tendered for landing in packages of a
defective or leaky character until such packages have been properly
repaired or the goods rebagged or repacked to the satisfaction of
the Authority or the contractor, as the case may be, on board the
carrying ship.
Unpacking of 
goods.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
91. Except for Customs purposes, no goods or cargo of any
kind shall be unpacked or otherwise manipulated in any warehouse
without the special permission of the Authority and all straw or
other material from which goods may have been unpacked and any
broken or damaged goods shall be immediately swept up and
removed by the owner or agent or person in control of such goods,
as the case may be, in default of which the same may be swept up
and removed by the Authority or the contractor at the expense of
such owner, agent or person, as the case may be.
Acids, etc., landed 
in leaky condition.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
92. (1) When acids, grease, oils, tar, pitch, paints or other
similar substances are accepted by the Authority or its contractor in
a leaky condition, the Authority or the contractor, as the case may
be, may in its discretion repair the leaky or defective packages at
the expense of the owner, and may refill any packages from which
the original contents have leaked with like substances from other
leaky or damaged packages forming part of the same consignment.
(2) If the packages are repaired or refilled, the consignee or
owner, as the case may be, shall have no claim in respect of the
manipulation of such packages and the Authority or the contractor,
as the case may be, shall not be liable for any damages by reason of
such manipulation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulations (1) and
(2), the consignee or owner, as the case may be, may before the
landing of such goods notify the Authority or the contractor, as the
case may be, that he wishes such goods to be set aside, and in that
case they may be removed to a depositing ground or placed in a
warehouse at his risk and expense.
Authority may deal 
with dangerous and 
offensive goods.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
93. (1) In case of emergency, or for the purpose of securing
the better safety of a port or the shipping therein, the Authority
may, whenever he deems it expedient so to do, remove any
dangerous goods within a port at the expense of the owner or his
agent.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 25
(2) Where any cargo or matter of an offensive nature has been
landed or placed upon the wharves, jetties or quays or any other
part of a port, the Authority may, after giving at least two hours’
notice to the owner of the goods or agent, or, if the owner or agent
cannot be found, then without such notice, order the removal of any
such cargo or matter at the expense of the owner or his agent.
Carriage of 
explosives.
Added by:
L.N. 28 of 1973.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
94. Subject to the provisions of these regulations, the master or
agent of every ship proposing to carry for or from Malta or in
transit through Malta any explosives or any goods of an
inflammable or dangerous nature, including radioactice and fissile
material, in unit loads or as unitised cargo shall require the
permission of the Authority before such cargo is accepted for
carriage in unit loads or as unitised cargo.
PART VII
WAREHOUSING
Goods warehoused 
in the open.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
95. At his discretion, the Authority may order that paints, oils
or other inflammable liquids, goods which by their nature may
contaminate or damage other goods and the goods specified in the
Twelfth Schedule shall not be warehoused in buildings, but will be
stored or deposited in the open, and always at the sole risk of the
owner.
Certain goods for 
warehousing may 
be refused.
Amended by:
L.N. 15 of 1998.
96. (1) The Authority may refuse or may allow the contractor
to refuse for storage in a warehouse, except under special
conditions and always at the sole risk of the owner, the following
goods:
( a ) articles of unusual length, bulk or weight, or of
exceptional bulk in proportion to weight;
( b ) articles improperly, insecurely, or insufficiently
packed;
( c ) dangerous, hazardous or offensive goods, being any
goods which are likely to cause harm or damage to
persons or property or are of an insanitary or offensive
nature;
( d ) animals;
( e ) perishables, including refrigerated cargo and goods
inherently liable to wastage in bulk or weight, or to
latent or inherent defect, vice or natural deterioration;
( f ) scrap metal.
(2) The Authority may refuse, or allow its contractor to refuse,
for storage in a warehouse any cargo unloaded or to be loaded for
transhipment except under such conditions as the Authority may
impose.
Transfer of goods 
within a port.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
97. Subject to the provision of the tariff, imported goods in
respect of which documents completed in accordance with the
provisions of regulation 80 have not been presented to the
Authority within six working days of the arrival of the ship, may be
26 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
moved within the warehouse or transferred from one warehouse to
another, at the discretion of the Authority.
Removal of export 
cargo.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
98. Subject to the provisions of the tariff, where an exporter
desires to remove any export goods already in a warehouse in the
custody of the Authority or its contractor for any purpose other
than that of shipment, the Authority or the contractor, as the case
may be, shall provide the necessary facilities as soon as he may
deem expedient.
When insufficient 
warehousing 
accommodation 
available.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 37.
99. (1) Subject to the provisions of the tariff, if in the opinion
of the Authority there is, or is likely to be, insufficient warehousing
accommodation available for cargo as a whole, or for goods of any
particular category, the Authority may -
( a ) in the case of imported goods or cargo, on which
storage rent has become due, transfer or authorise the
contractor to transfer, after notice, such goods or cargo
to a Government warehouse as defined in the Customs
Ordinance and such transfer shall constitute delivery
of such goods or cargo by the Authority or the
contractor, as the case may be, to the importer, owner
or consignee:
Provided that -
(i) before withdrawing any such goods from such
warehouse, the importer, owner or consignee, as
the case may be, shall pay or secure to the
satisfaction of the Authority the payment of all
dues and rates payable by him in respect of such
goods; and
(ii) pending payment the Authority shall retain
unprejudiced all its rights relating to the
payment of such dues and rates;
( b ) in the case of export goods or cargo proferred for
shipment, refuse permission for such cargo to be
deposited on any quay or refuse or authorise the
contractor to refuse to accept such goods, until such
time as the loading ship is on the loading berth;
( c ) in the case of export goods or cargo, deposited for
shipment on which storage rent has become due, not
being goods in bond, order the owners or agents of
such goods or cargo, as the case may be, to make,
within a period specified by the Authority,
arrangements for the removal of such goods.
(2) The notice mentioned in subregulation (1)( a ) shall be given
to the importers, owners or agents of the goods or cargo, as the case
may be, personally or by means of publication in Gazette or in a
local newspaper.
Change of 
ownership of 
goods.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
100. Any change in the ownership of goods accepted or about to
be accepted by the Authority or its contractor, as the case may be,
shall be notified to the Authority immediately such change takes
place, and, in the absence of such notification, the last known
owner shall be deemed to be the owner and shall be held
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 27
responsible for all dues or rates.
Transhipment 
cargo.
Substituted by:
L.N. 15 of 1978.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 37.
101. While awaiting reshipment, transhipment shall not, without
the written permission of the Authority and the approval of the
Comptroller of Customs, leave the custody of the Authority or its
contractor, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to
manipulation by any person other than the Authority or its
contractor, as the case may be, unless, subject to the provisions of
the Customs Ordinance, such manipulation is authorised by the
Authority.
Passengers’ 
baggage.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
102. Subject to the provisions of the tariff, passengers’ baggage
removed from the Customs Examination Hall at a port within
twenty-four hours after clearance may be removed and warehoused
by the Authority or its contractor, as the case may be.
PART VIII
EXPLOSIVES, INFLAMMABLE OR DANGEROUS GOODS
Definitions.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
103. (1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires -
"ship" means any ship other than a naval ship and other than
small craft;
"explosives" means any of the goods specified in Parts I and II of
the First Schedule but shall not, for the purposes of this Part,
include any explosives carried by a ship for use as distress signals
kept in safe storage and custody; and shall be divided into the
classes and divisions specified in Part III of the First Schedule; and
references to classes and divisions in relation to explosives are
references to the classes and divisions specified in Part III of that
Schedule;
"service explosives" means explosives belonging to or destined
for the armed forces of Malta or the armed forces of a country who
are present in Malta under arrangements with the Government of
Malta;
"radioactive materials" and "fissile materials" mean, in respect of
radioactive materials, any material which spontaneously emits
ionizing radiation and of which the radioactivity per gram is greater
than 0.002 microcurie or any radioactive material the packing or
transportation whereof is regulated by any provisions therefor
made by the International Atomic Energy Agency or any national
atomic energy agency or authority, and, in respect of fissile
materials, plutonium 239, plutonium 241, uranium 233, uranium
235 or any material containing any of the foregoing that falls
within the definition of radioactive materials;
"gross weight" with reference to explosives, means the gross
weight of the explosive together with any envelope, case, or
contrivance forming part of such explosive and shall include the
weight of any barrel, case or package in which such explosive is
packed for conveyance;
"authorised service representative" means a person duly
authorised to act in connection with the handling and conveyance
28 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
of explosives in accordance with the provisions of these regulations
for and on behalf of the armed forces of Malta or the armed forces
of a country who are present in Malta under arrangements with the
Government of Malta.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Part, the
Authority may give such orders or directives as it may deem proper
regarding the carriage and handling of explosives and of
inflammable or dangerous goods, including radioactive and fissile
materials, and the movement and berthing of ships carrying such
goods or explosives, and it shall be the duty of every person to
whom they are directed to comply with such orders or directives.
Classification of 
explosives.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
104. For the purpose of these regulations explosives carried in
ships shall -
( a ) if service explosives, be deemed to fall within one of
the following categories:
(i) Shipping Category C - those explosives which
have a mass explosion risk;
(ii) Shipping Category B - those explosives which
have a fire or minor explosion risk but not the
risk of mass explosion and weapons having a
toxic risk;
(iii) Safety Class - those explosives which do not
belong to shipping category C or shipping
category B;
( b ) if explosives, other than service explosives, of -
(i) Division 1 of Class 6, be deemed to be the safety
class specified in paragraph ( a )(iii);
(ii) Division 2 of Class 7 be deemed to be of
shipping category B specified in paragraph
( a )(ii);
(iii) all other divisions and classes, be deemed to be
of shipping category C specified in paragraph
( a )(i):
Provided that where the characteristics of
any such explosives are compatible in the
opinion of the Authority with the safety
characteristics of any other shipping category or
class the Authority may, in its discretion, deem
such explosives to be of such other shipping
category or class;
( c ) if explosives specified in Part II of the First Schedule
and are stowed together with any explosives of
shipping category C, such explosives shall be deemed
to be of shipping category C, unless they are separated
therefrom either by the boiler room or engine room or
by the hold of a ship.
Application of Part 
VIII.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
105. (1) This Part shall apply only to ships.
(2) Every ship having on board only -
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 29
( a ) explosives of Division 1 of class 6,
( b ) service explosives of the safety class specified in
regulation 104( a )(iii),
( c ) explosives not in excess of 20 gross weight in the
aggregate and properly stowed, excluding explosives
which are included in Class 5 or Division 2 or 3 of
Class 6 specified in Part III of the First Schedule,
( d ) such explosives as the Authority may from time to
time exempt by notice in the Gazette,
shall be exempt from the provisions of this Part:
Provided that any such explosives shall be landed and dealt
with in accordance with the subsequent provisions of these
regulations.
Responsibility of 
master.
106. Nothing in this Part shall be taken to relieve the master of
his responsibility for the safety of the ship, the crew, any person
working in it and the cargo carried in the ship.
Master or agent to 
give notice of 
explosives, 
inflammable or 
dangerous goods 
including 
radioactive and 
fissible materials 
on board.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
107. (1) The master or agent of every ship proposing to call at
Malta and having on board for discharge at Malta or in transit any
explosives or any goods of an inflammable or dangerous nature,
including radioactive and fissile materials, shall, not less than forty
eight hours before arrival, give notice thereof in writing and in
duplicate to the Authority on the form specified in the Second
Schedule.
(2) Such notice shall state the gross weight of all such goods,
where the goods are stowed in the ship, and whether the goods are
for discharge at Malta or are in transit; and
( a ) in the case of explosives, the gross weight of the
explosives in each shipping category, or in each
division and class together with the equivalent
shipping category;
( b ) in the case of radioactive or fissile materials -
(i) the name of the radioactive or fissile material,
and a description of its physical and chemical
form, or whether the material is in a special
form;
(ii) the type and category of the packages and, for
each package, the principal radioactive content,
its quantity and the activity of the contents
expressed in curies;
(iii) the details relating to transport, packaging,
stowage, and other matters, required in
paragraph 11 of the Second Schedule;
(iv) the country of origin and port of shipment of
such materials;
(v) the gross weight and number of packages
containing such materials.
(3) The master or agent of every ship proposing to call at Malta
30 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
and having on board for discharge at Malta or in transit any
radioactive or fissile materials shall, in addition to the notice
aforesaid, submit to the Authority not less than forty-eight hours
before arrival -
( a ) where the carriage of the consignment of radioactive
or fissile materials is subject to the issue of a
certificate by the competent authority of the country of
origin stating that such materials are packed, labelled,
loaded, stowed and carried in a proper manner as
approved by the competent authority, a certified or
facsimile copy of such certificate; or
( b ) where the carriage of the consignment of radioactive
or fissible materials is not subject to the issue of a
certificate by the competent authority of the country of
origin, a certificate detailing the radioactive goods
under the original or stamped facsimile signature of
the consignor or his duly authorised agents endorsed in
the following terms: "This is to certify that the
above-named goods are properly described and are and
marked in accordance with (here reference to the
relevant regulations of the country of origin shall be
inserted by the consignor) and are in proper condition
for transport"; and
( c ) such other information or certificates, including
certificates of indemnification, as the Authority may
from time to time require.
(4) No such goods shall be landed before all the necessary
arrangements have been made for the clearance of such goods and
for their removal from the place of landing to a place of safe
storage and if any such goods are landed before such arrangements
have been made, the Authority may order the goods to be placed on
board the ship from which they have been landed or otherwise deal
with them or destroy them as it considers necessary at the risk and
expense of the master of the ship from which they have been
discharged.
(5) Notwithstanding that the provisions of subregulations (1)
and (2) have been complied with such goods shall, at the discretion
of the Authority, be discharged at such a time as will enable them
to be disposed of or otherwise removed from the port during the
regular working hours of the port on the same day and not later than
sunset.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation, any explosives
described in Part II of the First Schedule which may be included in
a consignment of category B explosives shall be specified
separately in the notice as category B Part II explosives.
(7) The notice specified in subregulation (2) shall also be given
to the Commissioner of Police.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 31
Berthing of ships 
carrying 
explosives, 
inflammable or 
dangerous goods 
including 
radioactive and 
fissile materials.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
108. (1) Ships having on board explosives, or inflammable or
dangerous goods including radioactive and fissile materials shall be
berthed in such ports and at such particular places as the Authority
may direct and shall not without the written order or permission of
the Authority be moved therefrom, except for the purpose of
leaving the port.
(2) The Authority may in its discretion establish the maximum
quantity of any explosives which may be carried on board a ship in
order that it may be allowed to enter a port or to berth at any place
within the confines of any port.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of these regulations the
Authority may prohibit the entry into any port of a ship carrying
explosives or inflammable or dangerous goods including
radioactive and fissile materials or may require any such ship to
leave any port.
Master’s 
confirmation of 
notice of 
explosives, 
inflammable or 
dangerous goods 
on board.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
109. On the arrival in port of a ship carrying on board any
explosives or any inflammable or dangerous goods including
radioactive and fissile materials the master shall confirm in writing
at the time of pratique the advance information given under the
provisions of regulation 107 and shall on demand supply such other
relevant information as the Authority may require.
Ship’s fire-fighting 
appliances to be 
ready.
110. When a ship in port has explosives, or inflammable or
dangerous goods on board the master shall ensure that -
(i) the fire-fighting appliances are kept in a state of
immediate readiness; and
(ii) full pressure is available on the ship’s hoses for
immediate use in case of fire; and
(iii) sufficient crew is kept on board at all times to
man the fire-fighting appliances; and
(iv) fire drill and inspection of fire-fighting
appliances are carried out daily.
Restrictions and 
precautions.
111. (1) No person shall smoke or be allowed to smoke at or
near any place or in any hold or conveyance containing explosives
or inflammable goods, where such explosives or goods are being
handled in any port.
(2) No person engaged in handling explosives or inflammable
goods or being otherwise present at or near the place of handling
such explosives or goods shall carry or be permitted to carry
matches, or any form of naked light, or other means of producing
ignition.
(3) No intoxicated person shall be allowed in the hold of any
ship or in any conveyance into or out of which explosives or
inflammable goods are being handled and no such person shall
approach or be permitted to approach explosives or inflammable
goods which are being so handled.
(4) The master of a ship carrying explosives or inflammable
goods shall ensure that the provisions of this regulation are
complied with within the ship and that the provisions of this
32 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
regulation are brought to the notice of all persons employed in any
craft alongside the ship.
No fires, lights, 
etc., in craft 
carrying explosives 
or inflammable 
goods.
112. No smoking, fire or light of any description (other than the
lights required by law) shall be allowed in any craft which is being
used for carrying explosives or inflammable goods.
Working of 
wireless 
transmitter and 
radar installations.
113. No person shall work the ship’s wireless transmitter or
radar installation while explosives or inflammable goods are being
unloaded or while any hold containing explosives is open.
Fires and lights. 114. No person shall use any fire or artificial light, other than an
electric lighting installation of a safe type or a safety lamp, on any
ship which is loading or unloading explosives or in the vicinity of
the explosives at the place where such loading or unloading is
being carried out:
Provided that the provisions of this regulation shall not
apply to -
( a ) navigation or signal lights so disposed as to prevent
any risk of fire or explosion;
( b ) engine room fires when such fires are carefully tended;
( c ) public street lighting.
Repairs.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
115. No person shall carry out any repairs of any kind or
perform any chipping or scaling in or about any ship carrying
explosives save with the written permission of the Authority.
Ship to be in a state 
of readiness to 
move.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
116. (1) A ship with explosives on board shall not drop main
steam or immobilise her main engines while in port and the master
shall ensure that throughout the time that the ship is in port or the
explosives are on board, the ship is capable of moving under main
engines at short notice and at all times within half an hour of an
order to do so from the Authority.
(2) Should such a ship for any reason whatsoever have her
main engines immobilized the master shall immediately inform the
Authority who may thereupon require the master to engage a tug or
tugs, suitable for unberthing or moving such ship, to stand by the
ship during the period that the engines are immobilized or until all
the explosives are discharged and such tug or tugs shall be engaged
at the risk and expense of the ship.
(3) In the event of a fire occurring the port either in such ship
or elsewhere the Authority may similarly require the master to
engage a tug or tugs to stand by the ship and at the risk and expense
of the ship.
Landing places for 
explosives.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
117. No explosives shall be landed from any ship or small craft
at any place save that indicated by the Authority after consultation
with the Commissioner of Police and, in the case of service
explosives, also after consultation with the authorised service
representative.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 33
Control of landing, 
loading etc., of 
explosives at 
quays.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
118. No explosives shall be landed at, loaded from, brought into
or deposited at, any quay, warehouse or other place in the port
except at such quay, warehouse or place as the Authority may from
time to time and in particular cases direct; and, no explosives shall
be landed at, loaded from, brought into or deposited at, any such
quay, warehouse or place until the ship or vehicle by which the
explosives are to be removed therefrom shall be at the place in
readiness to receive such explosives.
Loading and 
unloading of 
service explosives.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
119. (1) Where service explosives are being conveyed by or
loaded into or unloaded from a ship, an authorised service
representative shall give technical advice to the Authority and to
the master of the ship to secure the safety of the operations, and the
Authority shall, after consulting such authorized representative,
determine what precautions shall be taken for the safety of the port.
(2) An authorized service representative shall be present before
such loading or unloading begins, and such loading or unloading
shall not begin until he has made such inspection as he may think
necessary of the ship or small craft and of the explosives, or, where
they are a package, of the package containing them, and he shall be
available throughout the loading or unloading to give such advice
as he may be asked for or may deem it proper to give.
(3) An authorised service representative shall ensure that the
explosives shall not be unloaded out of any ship until a vehicle or
ship into which they are to be loaded is ready to receive them, and
shall not be unloaded out of any vehicle until a ship into which they
are to be loaded is ready to receive them.
(4) Before the loading or unloading of the explosives into or
out of any ship or vehicle is commenced and throughout the time
that it continues, the authorised service representative and the
master of any ship affected by that operation shall respectively
after consulting, if they consider it necessary or expedient, the
Authority, ensure that all due precautions are taken to reduce, to
such extent as is possible, the risk of fire or explosion arising in the
course of the loading or unloading and the consequences of such
fire or explosion should either event take place.
(5) No small craft or vehicle shall be used for the purpose of
assisting in the loading or unloading of any service explosives into
or out of any other ship or small craft or vehicle unless it is a small
craft or vehicle which has been approved for such a use by the
authorised service representative.
(6) No sling or other appliance shall be used for the purpose of
assisting in the loading or unloading of any service explosives
unless it has been approved for such a use by the authorised service
representative, and no sling or other appliance shall be used for
such purpose in a manner which the authorised representative may
consider unsafe; and where the authorised service representative
deems it necessary, special slings or other appliances to assist in the
loading or unloading shall be provided and shall be used in such
manner as he shall direct.
(7) Where any explosives are being loaded into or unloaded
from a ship carrying a mixed cargo of service explosives and
34 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
commercial explosives, the authorised service representative shall
be available throughout such loading or unloading to give such
advice as he may be asked for or as he may deem it proper to give.
Inspection and 
examination.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
120. Every person in control of any explosive or of any ship or
small craft or vehicle containing explosives shall, when so required
by the Authority, show all explosives under his control or upon his
ship or small craft and shall afford every reasonable facility to
enable inspection and examination of such explosives to be made to
ascertain whether these regulations are being duly complied with.
Permits to land 
explosives.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
121. Explosives shall not be landed except on production to the
Authority of one of the following certificates or permits:
( a ) in the case of explosives other than service
explosives-
(i) if shipped from any foreign port, the certificate
issued by a duly qualified person competent to
issue such certificate and, where the Authority
so requires, authenticated as such by a Maltese
consular authority, to the effect that the
explosives have been shipped in good order and
condition, properly packed and labelled, safe to
be handled in a warn climate; and
(ii) if shipped from one port of Malta or Gozo to
another, the permit of a person duly authorised
by the Commissioner of Police; and
( b ) in the case of service explosives a certificate issued by
a person competent to issue such a certificate to the
effect that the service explosives have been shipped in
good order and condition, properly packed and
labelled, and safe to be handled in a warm climate.
Direction of 
Authority.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
122. (1) Subject to the provisions of regulations 118 and 119,
the Authority may require the attendance of fire-fighting units
during the unloading, loading or handling of explosives or when a
ship having explosives on board is in any port.
(2) The unshipping, transport and landing of explosives shall
take place where the Authority so directs, under the supervision of
a customs official and, if the Commissioner of Police so directs,
also of a police officer.
(3) A red flag shall be fixed on the craft used for the transport
of explosives, and at the place of landing.
(4) Any expense incurred in the attendance of watchmen,
customs officials, police officers, or fire-fighting units or in the
provision of any facility in connection with the handling and
discharge of explosives shall, except where otherwise provided in
these regulations, be borne by the owner, importer, exporter, or
agent, as the case may be.
Conveyance of 
detonators.
123. Detonators shall not be conveyed in any craft conveying
any other explosives and no explosives shall be conveyed in any
craft with any other goods whatsoever.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 35
Technical advice.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
124. The proper officer of the Malta Police Force and, in the
case of service explosives, the authorised service representative,
shall give any necessary technical advice to the Authority and to
the master of the ship loading or unloading explosives.
Ship’s supervision 
of handling of 
explosives.
125. The loading or unloading of explosives to or from a ship
shall be carried out under the supervision of an officer of that ship
specially charged with the duty of supervising that operation by the
master and he shall be present at all time while that operation is
being carried out.
Handling of 
explosives.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
126. (1) Where any explosive or any package containing
explosives appears to be damaged all work in the vicinity shall
cease until the Authority or the contractor, or the master, as the
case may be, or, in the case of service explosives, the authorised
service representative, has made arrangements for the safe disposal
of such explosive or package and such disposal has been
satisfactorily completed and any explosive which may have
escaped from its package during handling shall likewise be safely
collected and disposed of before work is allowed to proceed.
(2) The master shall inform the Authority as soon practicable
of any explosives which may be dropped overboard during
handling and the master shall be liable to pay all the expenses
incurred in recovering the explosives.
(3) Packages containing explosives shall not, whenever
practicable, be dragged or rolled but shall be passed from hand to
hand when the ship’s discharging gear is not available; and, when
dragging or rolling cannot be avoided, the surface over which the
packages are to be moved shall first be covered with suitable
canvas, cloth or similar material, and packages shall be carefully
lifted, deposited, or stowed, and shall not be thrown or dropped
when handled.
(4) The owner, master or agent of a ship loading or unloading
explosives shall ensure that all stevedoring gear used is of a pattern
and in such condition as to be suitable for the safe handling and
discharging of explosives.
Explosives not to 
be handled with 
any other goods.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
127. During the time explosives are being loaded or discharged,
no other goods or articles shall be handled or dealt with at or near
the place of work and no person other than those actually engaged
in or superintending the work of loading or discharging the
explosives shall approach the place of work. At his discretion, a
police officer or other person authorised by the Authority may
order any person to go to a reasonable distance from such place of
work.
General 
precautions.
128. While loading or unloading of explosives is being carried
out, the master and all persons engaged in handling explosives
shall-
( a ) take all due precautions to prevent -
(i) accidents by fire or explosion; and
(ii) unauthorised persons from obtaining access to
explosives;
36 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
( b ) abstain from any act whatever which tends to cause a
fire or an explosion and is not reasonably necessary for
the purpose of such loading or unloading; and shall use
every reasonable endeavour to prevent any other
person from committing any such act;
( c ) suspend all handling of explosives during
thunderstorms or other periods of atmospheric
electrical disturbances or when such conditions are
imminent.
Fire-fighting 
arrangements.
129. When a ship in port has explosives on board, the master
shall ensure that he is in possession of full information concerning
the fire-fighting arrangements in the port with particular reference
to the ship’s berth and the means of giving the alarm.
Maximum 
quantities on craft.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
130. (1) The Authority may in its discretion establish the
maximum quantity of any explosives which shall be carried in
small craft within the confines of any port.
(2) The master or agent of a ship, or the owner of the
explosives or of the small craft shall duly carry out the directives of
the Authority in this regard.
Indemnity.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
131. The owner, master or agent of a ship carrying radioactive
or fissile materials entering any harbour within these Islands shall
produce to the Authority an idemnity, to such amount and in such
form as the Authority deems fit, against loss of life, or injury to
persons, or damage to, or loss of property, or against any possible
combination of such risks arising from such materials while they
are on board his ship:
Provided that the Authority may accept any form of
indemnity agreement between the owners or master of such ship
and the competent authority of any country, where such indemnity
in favour of any person or public authority who may suffer loss of
life, or any injury or loss or damage to property or any combination
of such risks arising from such materials while they are on board
such ship.
PART IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Powers of 
Authority.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
132. No person shall in any port suffer any obstruction or
nuisance made or caused by him to remain unabated.
Licences.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
133. (1) Subject to the provisions of these regulations, all
licences issued or renewed by the Authority shall be valid from the
date of issue or renewal, unless some other date is indicated thereon
for such purpose, and all such licences shall lapse on the thirty-first
day of December of the year in which they are issued or renewed,
subject to renewal.
(2) Where any licence is issued or renewed after the first day of
January of any year, the period between the date on which or with
effect from which such licence is issued or renewed and the
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 37
thirty-first day of December of that year shall be deemed to be a
full year for the purposes of the payment of any fees prescribed in
relation to such licence in the tariff.
(3) The Authority may at any time cancel any licence or permit
issued or given in accordance with the provisions of these
regulations whenever it deems fit, and it may refuse to renew any
licence.
(4) The Authority may attach to any licence or permit issued or
given in accordance with the provisions of these regulations such
conditions as it may deem fit, and in the case of each failure to
observe such conditions, or any of them, the holder of such licence
or permit shall be deemed to have acted without a licence or permit,
as the case may be.
Penalties.
Amended by:
L.N. 45 of 1974;
L.N. 53 of 1974;
L.N. 17 of 1975;
L.N. 18 of 1976;
L.N. 24 of 1976;
L.N. 98 of 1978;
L.N. 11 of 1988;
XVII. 1991.81.
134. (1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of
regulations 4, 8, 9, 11, 20, 25, 29, 36, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52,
55, 59, 60, 61, 62, 66, 91, 125, 127 and 129 shall be guilty of an
offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding five liri.
 (2) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of
regulations 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 28, 34,
35, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 54, 63, 64, 67, 76, 78, 94, 111, 112,
113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 126 and 128 shall
be guilty of offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine
( multa ) not exceeding fifty liri.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulations
3, 5, 6, 21, 26, 30, 33, 39, 53, 56(1), 56(2), 56(3), 56(5), 103(2),
107, 108(1), 109 and 116 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, liable to fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred liri or
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both
such fine and imprisonment.
(4) Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulations
10, 14, 27, 31 and 110 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on
conviction, be liable to fine ( multa ) not exceeding fifty liri and to
an additional fine ( multa ) not exceeding five liri for every day
during which the default continues.
(5) Any person who contravenes the provisions of regulations
81, 82 and 84 shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction,
be liable to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding five liri for every day
during which the default continues.
(6) Prosecution in respect of offences under these regulations
shall be instituted by the Police with the consent of the Authority,
and the provisions of this regulation shall be without prejudice to
prosecutions in terms of any other law or regulations where the fact
constitutes an offence under that law or regulation.
Other enactments 
and regulations.
135. The provisions of these regulations are in addition to and
not in derogation of the provisions of any law or regulations.
Forms.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
136. The forms specified in the Second, Fourth, Tenth and
Eleventh Schedule shall be available from the Office of the
Authority on payment of such charge as may from time to time be
38 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
fixed by the Authority.
Application of Part 
IX of the Act.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
137. The provisions of Part IX of the Act shall apply to offences
under these regulations as they apply to offences under the Act.
Authority may 
remove any ship.
Added by:
L.N. 99 of 1991.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
138. (1) Without prejudice to any powers conferred by these
regulations or by any other law, the Authority may remove, or
direct or cause to be removed, any ship which is kept, moored,
berthed, stationed or anchored in breach of any of the foregoing
regulations, from any place within a port to any other place within
that port or any other port.
(2) Any removal effected in pursuance of this regulation shall
be at the ship’s risk and expense.
(3) Any removal effected in pursuance of this regulation shall
not prejudice any criminal or civil action taken or instituted, or
which may be taken or instituted, against the master, owner, agent
or any person in charge of the ship, for breach of the regulations.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 39
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulations 2, 103)
EXPLOSIVES AND INFLAMMABLE OR DANGEROUS GOODS
PART I 
EXPLOSIVES
Gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun-cotton, blasting-powder, fulminate of
mercury or of other metals, coloured fires, chlorate of potash, chlorate of barium,
and every other substance whether similar to those above mentioned or not used or
manufactured with a view to producing a practical effect by explosion or a
pyrotechnic effect, fog-signals, fireworks, fuses, rockets, percussion caps for mines,
detonators, cartridges, ammunition of all descriptions and every adaptation or
preparation of any such explosive substance or article.
PART II
EXPLOSIVES (CATEGORY B PART II)
Ammunition for cannon without projectiles
Cartridges B.L.
Charges, propellant
Compositions (Type F) P.N.
Compositions (Type F) S.R.
Compositions (Type G) P.N.
Compositions (Type G) S.R.
Cordite
Motors, Rocket, High Capacity
Nitro-cellulose cannon powder
Plastic propellant Type 1
Smokeless powder for cannon.
When these explosives belonging to Shipping Category B are on the same ship as
explosives belonging to Shipping Category C they shall be deemed to be explosives
of Shipping Category C for the purposes of these regulations, unless they are
separated thereupon either by the boiler room and engine room, or by a hold of the
ship.
PART III
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
For the purposes of this Schedule explosives shall be divided into seven classes as
follows:
Class 1  Gunpowder
Class 2 Nitrate-Mixture
Class 3 Nitro-Compound
Class 4 Chlorate-Mixture
Class 5 Fulminate
Class 6 Ammunition
40 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Class 7 Firework
and when an explosive falls within the description of more than one class it shall be
deemed to belong exclusively to the latest of the classes within the description of
which it falls.
CLASS 1 - GUNPOWDER CLASS
The term "gunpowder" means exclusively gunpowder ordinarily so called.
CLASS 2 - NITRATE-MIXTURE CLASS
The term "nitrate-mixture" means any preparation, other than gunpowder
ordinarily so called, formed by the mechanical mixture of a nitrate with any form of
carbon or with any carbonaceous substance not possessed of explosive properties,
and whether sulphur be or be not added to such preparation, whether such
preparation be or be not mechanically mixed with any other non-explosive
substance.
The nitrate-mixture class comprises such explosives as -
Pyrolithe,
Pudrolith,
Poudre Saxifragine,
and any preparation coming within the above definition.
CLASS 3 - NITRO-COMPOUND CLASS
The term "nitro-compound" means any chemical compound possessed of
explosive properties, or capable of combining with metals to form an explosive
compound, which is produced by the chemical action of nitric acid (whether mixed
or not with sulphuric acid) or of a nitrate mixed with sulphuric acid upon any
carbonaceous substance, whether such compound is mechanically mixed with other
substances or not.
The nitro-compound class has two divisions. Division 1 comprises such
explosives as -
Nitro-glycerine,
Dynamite,
Lithofracteur,
Dualine,
Glyoxiline,
Methylic nitrate,
and any chemical compound or mechanically mixed preparation which consists
either wholly or partly of nitro-glycerine or of some other liquid nitro-compound.
Division 2 comprises such explosives as -
Gun-cotton, ordinarily so called,
Gun-paper,
Xyloidine,
Gun-sawdust,
Nitrated gun-cotton,
Cotton gun-powder,
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 41
Schultz’s powder,
Nitro-mannite,
Picrates,
Picric powder,
and any nitro-compound as before defined, which is not comprised in the first
division.
CLASS 4 - CHLORATE-MIXTURE CLASS
The terms "chlorate-mixture" means any explosive containing a chlorate. The
chlorate-mixture class has two divisions.
Division 1 comprises such explosives as -
Horsley’s blasting powder,
Brain’s blasting powder,
and any chlorate preparation which consists partly of nitro-glycerine or of some
other liquid nitro-compound.
Division 2 comprises such explosives as -
Horsley’s original blasting powder,
Erhardt’s powder,
Reveley’s powder,
Hochstadter’s blasting charges,
Reichen’s blasting charges,
Teutonite,
Chlorated gun-cotton,
and any chlorate-mixture as before defined, which is not comprised in the first
division.
CLASS 5 - FULMINATE CLASS
The term "fulminate" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture,
whether included in the foregoing classes or not, which, from its great susceptibility
to detonation, is suitable for employment in percussion caps or any other appliances
for developing detonation, or which, from its extreme sensibility to explosion, and
from its great instability (that is to say, readiness to undergo decomposition from
very slight exciting causes), is especially dangerous. This class consists of two
divisions.
Division 1 comprises such compounds as the fulminates of silver and of mercury,
and preparations of these substances, such as are used in percussion caps; and any
preparation consisting of a mixture of chlorate with phosphorus, or certain
descriptions of phosphorus compounds, with or without the addition of carbonaceous
matter, and any preparation consisting of a mixture of a chlorate with sulphur, or
with a sulphuret, with or without carbonaceous matter. 
Division 2 comprises such substances as the chloride and the iodide of nitrogen,
fulminating gold and silver, diazobenzol, and the nitrate of diazobenzol.
CLASS 6 - AMMUNITION CLASS
The term "ammunition" means an explosive of any of the foregoing classes when
enclosed in any case or contrivance, or otherwise adapted or prepared so as to form a
42 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
cartridge or charge for small arms, cannon, or any other weapon, or for blasting, or
to form any safety or other fuse for blasting or for shells, or to form any tube for
firing explosives, or to form a percussion cap, a detonator, a fog signal, a shell, a
torpedo, a war rocket, or other contrivance other than a firework.
The term "percussion cap" does not include a detonator.
The term "detonator" means a capsule or case which is of such strength and
construction, and contains an explosive of the fulminate-explosive class in such
quantity that the explosion of one capsule or case will communicate the explosion to
other like capsules or cases.
The term "safety fuse" means a fuse for blasting which burns and does not explode
and which does not contain its own means of ignition, and which is of such strength
and construction and contains an explosive in such quantity that the burning of such
fuse will not communicate laterally with any other like fuses.
The ammunition class has three divisions:
Division 1 comprises exclusively -
Safety cartridges,
Safety fuses for blasting,
Railway fog signals,
Percussion caps.
Division 2 comprises any ammunition as before defined which does not contain its
own means of ignition, and is not included in Division 1, such as -
Cartridges for small-arms, which are not safety cartridges,
Cartridges and charges for cannon, shells, mines, blasting, or other like
purposes,
Shells and torpedoes containing any explosives,
Fuses for blasting which are not safety fuses,
Fuses for shells,
Tubes for firing explosives,
War rockets,
which do not contain their own means of ignition.
Division 3 comprises any ammunition as before defined which contains its own
means of ignition, and is not included in Division 1, such as -
Detonators,
Cartridges for small-arms, which are not safety cartridges,
Fuses for blasting which are not safety fuses,
Fuses for shells,
Tubes for firing explosives,
which do not contain their own means of ignition.
By ammunition containing its own means of ignition is meant ammunition having
an arrangement, whether attached to it or forming part of it, which is adapted to
explode or fire the same by friction or percussion.
CLASS 7 - FIREWORK CLASS
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 43
The term "firework" comprises firework composition and manufactured fireworks.
Division 1 - The term "firework composition" means any chemical compound or
mechanically mixed preparation of an explosive or inflammable nature which is used
for the purpose of making manufactured fireworks, and is not included in the former
classes of explosives, and also any star and any coloured fire composition, subject to
the proviso hereinafter set forth.
Division 2 - The term "manufactured fireworks" means any explosive of the
foregoing classes and any firework composition when such explosive or composition
is enclosed in any case or contrivance, or is otherwise manufactured so as to form a
squib, cracker, serpent, rocket (other than a war rocket), maroon, lance, wheel,
Chinese fire, Roman candle, or other article specially adapted for the production of
pyrotechnic effects or pyrotechnic signals or sound signals:
Provided that a substantially constructed and hermetically closed metal case,
containing not more than one pound of coloured fire composition, of such a nature as
not to be liable to spontaneous ignition, shall be deemed to be a "manufactured
firework".
PART IV
INFLAMMABLE OR DANGEROUS GOODS
Compressed gases - permanent, liquified or dissolved.
Inflammable liquids or solids, including alcohol, acetone, petroleum and
turpentine.
Solids liable to spontaneous combustion, including coal, hay and cotton waste.
Substances liable to spontaneous combustion and which become dangerous by
interaction with water.
Substances which become dangerous by interaction with water.
Substances which are strong supporters of combustion.
Poisonous substances including those which do not give off poisonous gases or
vapour.
Corrosive substances.
Laboratory chemicals and/or medicinal preparations.
Radioactive and fissile materials as defined in regulation 98.
44 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
SECOND SCHEDULE
Regulations 4, 107
NOTICE OF EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF A SHIP
l. Name of ship ...............................................................................................
2. Nationality ..................................................................................................
3. Last Port of Call ..........................................................................................
4. Tonnage: Gross .......................................... Net ..........................................
5. Length overall .............................................................................................
6. Estimated deepest draught ...........................................................................
7. Date expected ..............................................................................................
8. Approximate tonnage and description of cargo to be landed:
Deadweight ................................................. Tons
Bill of Lading .............................................. Tons
Description ..................................................................................................
9. Approximate tonnage and description of cargo to be shipped:
Deadweight ................................................. Tons
Bill of Lading .............................................. Tons
Description ..................................................................................................
10. Description (explosives by division and class or shipping category) and
gross weights of explosives, inflammable or dangerous goods; giving
stowage and whether in transit or to land. 
.....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
11. Description of radioactive and/or fissile materials giving:
(i) the transport group ..............................................................................
(ii) the name of the radioactive or fissile material, and a description of its
physical and chemical form, or whether the material is in special form
............................................................................................................
(iii) the activity of the radioactive or fissile material in curies .....................
(iv) the category of the package, i.e. I - WHITE, II - YELLOW, III -
YELLOW ............................................................................................
(v) the transport index (for YELLOW labelled packages only) ...................
(vi) the type of packaging (whether Industrial, Type A or Type B) ..............
(vii) in respect of a consignment of fissile material:
(a) if exempt, the quantity in grammes, the concentration and the
enrichment in U-235 where appropriate .......................................
( b ) in other cases, the fissile class of the package ...............................
(viii) the country of origin and port of shipment of such materials .................
(ix) the gross weight and number of packages containing such materials .....
(x) stowage ...............................................................................................
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 45
(xi) name of Consignee in the case of materials to be landed at Malta
............................................................................................................
(xii) certificates attached to this notice (regulation 107) ..............................
(xiii) details of identity as required by regulation 131 ...................................
12. Approximate number of passengers to disembark .........................................
13. Approximate number of bunkers required ....................................................
14. Approximate quantity of fresh water required ..............................................
15. Agents .........................................................................................................
16 Remarks ......................................................................................................
.............................
Owner /Agent
............................
Date
Note: The information required in paragraph 11 is to be given by reference to the
Regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Safe Transport of
Radioactive Materials, as amended from time to time.
46 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN PORTS
1. A red square flag shown at the Palace Tower Signal Station or at Fort St
Angelo in the Grand Harbour by day or four red lights in a vertical line one over the
other six feet apart, such lights being visible all round the horizon at a distance of
not less than three miles shown at the Station and Fort by night, shall signify that the
restriction of traffic is considered necessary for any particular purpose; and during
such time no ship shall enter or leave the Grand Harbour or shall obstruct the fairway
in any way.
2. A red square flag hoisted at the dip by day or three red lights shown
vertically by night in each case at the Palace Tower Signal Station or at Fort St
Angelo, shall signify that all merchant traffic in the Grand Harbour is to cease:
Provided that during such time a merchant ship in charge of a pilot may
enter or leave Grand Harbour for the purpose of berthing or leaving the Fishmarket
Anchorage, but may not proceed south-westward of a line joining Customs House
and Fort St Angelo Flagstaffs.
3. A red diamond (double cone) by day and a red light over a white light by
night shown at the Palace Tower Signal Station or at Fort St Angelo shall signify that
ships may enter but not leave the Grand Harbour.
4. Two red diamonds, one above the other by day, and two red lights one above
the other by night, shown at the Palace Tower Signal Station or at Fort St Angelo
shall signify that a ship may leave but not enter the Grand Harbour.
5. Two black balls shown vertically by day and a white light over a red light by
night shown at the Palace Tower Signal Station or at Fort St Angelo shall signify that
weather conditions preclude the pilot launch from going outside the Grand Harbour
to meet incoming ships.
6. (1) Ships under way with a pilot on board shall display by day the
International Code Flag "H" and by night two lights in a vertical line visible all
round, the upper being white and the lower red.
(2) Ships manoeuvring with a pilot on board in the circumstances specified in
Column One of the Table immediately following, shall display by day, in addition to
the "H" flag specified in subparagraph (1) and by night in lieu of the light signals
specified in subparagraph (1), the appropriate signals specified against each item in
Column Two of the said Table and when that is the case the provisions contained in
Column Three of the said table shall apply:
THIRD SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 126 of 1975.
Regulation 6
TABLE
Column One Column Two Column Three
1. The ship is
manoeuvring to anchor or
berth.
by day: International Code,
Pennant No. 2.
The ship shall not be
obstructed or passed
closely.
by night: 2 vertical white
lights.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 47
(3) Ships lying off a port or in the approaches to a port shall, when in the
circumstances specified in Column One of the Table immediately following, exhibit
the appropriate signals specified in Column Two of the said Table.
7. A triangular blue flag, shown at the Palace Tower Signal Station or Fort St
Angelo, shall signify that it is unsafe for boats and low powered craft to proceed
outside the limits of the Grand Harbour or of Marsamxett Harbour.
8. A square red flag with a white St Andrew’s cross shown by any ship shall
indicate that divers are working in the vicinity and in such circumstances all ships
shall keep clear and shall exercise all necessary caution in passing such ship.
9. (1) A large pendant, shown at Fort St Angelo accompanied or not by short
blasts sounded on a siren, shall signify that aircraft are alighting in or taking off
from the Grand Harbour.
(2) While the pendant specified in subparagraph (1) is flying, all craft shall keep
clear of the vicinity of the aircraft.
(3) A boat displaying International Code Flag "F" will patrol the area to assist in
keeping it clear.
(4) The completion of the manoeuvre specified in subparagraph (1) shall be
signified by the hauling down of the black pendant, accompanied or not by the
sounding of a blast of ten seconds duration on the siren.
(5) Notwithstanding that the provisions of subparagraphs (1) and (3) have not
been complied with, all craft shall on their own initiative keep well clear of any
aircraft which is landing in the Grand Harbour.
10. The provisions of this Schedule shall not apply to small craft or to ships of
not more than 500 tons gross register plying exclusively in the territoral waters of
2. The ship is getting
under way to proceed to
sea.
by day: International Code,
Flag "G" at the dip.
The ship shall not be
overtaken or passed
closely.
by night: 3 vertical lights,
the upper and lower
red, and the middle
white.
3. The manoeuvre has
been stopped.
by day: International Code
Pennant No. 2 over
Internationally Code
answering pennant.
The ship may be passed or
overtaken.
by night: 3 vertical lights,
upper and lower white
and middle red.
TABLE
Column One Column Two
I am carrying explosives and am
awaiting berthing instructions.
by day: A black ball hoisted over
International Code Flag
"B".
by night: Three lights in a vertical
line one above the other the
upper being white and the
lower ones red.
48 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Malta:
Provided that such small craft or ships shall not obstruct in any way ships
manoeuvring in accordance with the signals prescribed in this Schedule.
11. (1) A ship or small craft passing a dredger shall in all cases pass at slow
speed and with caution and shall give a wide berth to the dredger and her anchors.
(2) When, during the day, a dredger shows a black ball on the top of the mast
and a red diamond shape on either end of the yard arm of that mast, or, during the
night a dredger shows a white light on the top of the mast and a red light on either
end of the yard arm of that mast, no ship or small craft shall pass on either side of the
dredger until such time as such signals are taken down or are replaced by the signals
set down under subparagraph (3).
(3) When, during the day, a dredger shows a black ball on the top of the mast
and one red diamond shape on one side of the yard arm of such mast and a black ball
on the other side of that yard arm, or when during the night, a dredger shows a white
light on the top of the mast and one red light on one side of the yard arm of that mast
and one white light on the other side of that yard arm, then no ship or small craft
shall pass on that side of the dredger showing the red diamond shape or the red light,
as the case may be.
(4) In this paragraph the black ball or the red-diamond shape shall not be less
than two feet in diameter and the light shall be visible at a distance of at least one
mile on a dark night with a clear atmosphere.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 49
FOURTH SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 33 of 1971.
Substituted by:
L.N. 252 of 2002.
Regulation 4
IMO General Declaration
Arrival Departure
1. Name and description of ship 2. Port of arrival/departure 3. Date - time of arrival/departure
4. Nationality of ship 5. Name of master 6. Port arrival from/Port of destination
7. Certificate of registry (Port, date, number) 8. Name and address of ship’s agent
9. Gross Tonnage 10. Net tonnage
11. Position of the ship in the port (berth or
station)
12. Brief particulars of voyage (previous and subsequent ports of call, underline where remaining cargo will be
discharged
13. Brief description of the cargo
14. Number of crew
(incl. Master)
15. Number of
passengers
16. Remarks
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Attached documents
(indicate number of copies)
17. Cargo Declaration 18. Ship’s Stores
Declaration
19. Crew List 20. Passenger List 21. Date and signature by master, authorised agent or officer
22. Crew’s Effects
Declaration*
23. Maritime
Declaration of
Health
For official use
* only on arrival
50 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
PART I
PROHIBITED ANCHORAGE AREAS
1. The area in the Grand Harbour of Valletta enclosed between two lines drawn
respectively from the landing stage at the north-eastern corner of Lascaris Bastion to
Fort St Angelo flagstaff and from the Customs House flagstaff to Isola Watch
Tower.
2. The area in Marsamxett Harbour, south-east of Lazzaretto, within the
following limits:
( a ) Eastern limit:
A line drawn in a 159 degrees direction from a point on the Manoel
Island shore, which bears 052 degrees 420 feet from the south-east
corner of the Lazzaretto building, across the Harbour to the Valletta
shore;
( b ) Western limit:
A line drawn in a 174 degrees direction from a point which bears 271
degrees 130 feet from the south-east corner of the Lazzaretto building,
across the Harbour to the Valletta shore.
PART II 
PROHIBITED MOORING AND ACCOSTAGE AREAS FOR SMALL CRAFT
1. The waters fronting the Deep Water Quay at Marina Pinto from the north
eastern extremity of the Wine Verandahs to the nort-eastern boundary of the
N.A.A.F.I. building.
2. The waters fronting the Bonded Stores Wharf in the south-west extension of
the Grand Harbour between the steps opposite the north-east end of Cejlu Street and
a point on the wharf opposite the north-west end of Cejlu Street.
3. The quay fronting the Customs House.
4. The waters fronting Shipwrights Wharf.
5. The waters fronting Coal Wharf.
6. The waters fronting Laboratory Wharf.
FIFTH SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 18 of 1976.
Regulations 15, 16
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 51
SIXTH SCHEDULE
Regulation 45
PROVISIONS AS TO LANDING AND SHIPPING OF ANIMALS
Horses, asses, 
mules and bulls . 1. (1) Horses, asses, mules, bulls and cows shall be landed orshipped by means of slings protected by such material as, in the
opinion of the Principal Government Veterinary Surgeon, will
prevent chafing.
(2) Horses, asses, mules and cows shall be individually
disembarked but bulls may be disembarked in pairs.
Preganant animals. 2. Any pregnant animal shall be landed or shipped in a portable
box.
Injured or wild 
animals. 3. If any animal has a limb broken or is otherwise seriouslyinjured or is in a wild state so as to be incapable of being landed or
shipped in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, the
person in charge of the landing or shipping shall forthwith inform a
Government Veterinary Surgeon, and the animal shall then be dealt
with in accordance with such directions as such Government
Veterinary Surgeon shall give.
52 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
SEVENTH SCHEDULE
Regulation 65
 BUNDLING AND MARKING OF IRON AND STEEL BARS, ETC.
1. (1) All pipes and tubes up to 2" outside diameter shall be bundled and
securely fastened with strong wire or bands in at least three places.
(2) Each bundle shall be marked with a metal tag, securely fastened, and printed
with embossed letters and numbers, giving the shipping marks and numbers of the
consignment.
(3) Each bundle shall be clearly marked with a distinctive oil paint colour mark.
2. Loose iron or other metal pipes, tubes, rods or bars of more than 2" outside
diameter shall each be clearly marked with a distinctive oil paint colour mark, and 5
per centum of each consignment shall be marked with a metal tag as specified in
paragraph 1(3).
3. Loose asbestos sheets or ridges or earthenware pipes and tubes of more than
2" outside diameter shall each be clearly marked with a distinctive oil paint colour
mark, and 5 per centum of each consignment shall have clearly stenciled shipping
marks and numbers.
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 53
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE HIRE OF PLANT OR GEAR
1. All port plant or gear hired out and the crew thereof, if any, shall be under
the sole control of the hirer during the period of the hire:
Provided that the hirer shall conform with any reasonable order or condition
in regard to the working or stoppage of work of the port plant or gear which may
from time to time be given or imposed by the Authority.
2. The Authority shall not be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by the
port plant or gear and the crew thereof or by delay due to breakdown of any harbour
plant or by failure of electric power howsoever caused, or through any labour dispute
or through the wrongful act of any third party.
3. Notwithstanding that the port plant or gear is worked by the employees of
the Authority, the hirer shall be liable for any damage done to any such port plant or
gear or to any gear used in connection therewith, during the period of such hire, fair
wear and tear only excepted.
4. Should any such port plant or gear in the opinion of the Authority be used in
an improper manner the Authority shall have power immediately to terminate the
hire of such plant and the hirer shall at once return it at his own expense to the place
appointed by the Authority.
5. In the case of port plant consisting of cranes the following additional
provisions shall apply:
( a ) no person shall use any crane to break out cargo from holds without the
permission of the Authority;
( b ) no person shall make or attempt to make a hoist which exceeds the
certified lifting capacity of the crane;
( c ) no person shall reeve the wire rope or chain of the crane under the
coamings of any hatches; and
( d ) no person shall drag cargo from under or across decks by the wire ropes
of the crane.
EIGHTH SCHEDULE Amended by:XVII. 1991.81.
Regulation 69(4)
54 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Form of application for overtime work
MALTA MARITIME AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF OVERTIME
Name of Applicant ................................................................................................
Address ................................................................................................................
Date .....................................................................................................................
Permission is requested to*
Attendance of port officers and/or of contractor’s employees is required at ...........
o’clock on the .......................................
I/We hereby undertake to defray all expenses for the performance of the work here
requested, and also to pay for the attendance of port officers and of contractor’s
employees directed to attend if the work requested is not performed.
Signature ...................................
* Here insert nature of service required.
This request should be lodged with the Malta Maritime Authority in sufficient
time to permit the Authority to make arrangements for the work required.
NINTH SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 33 of 1971;
XVII. 1991.81.
5c stamp
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 55
FORM OF DECLARATION AND DISPOSAL ORDER
MALTA MARITIME AUTHORITY
DECLARATION AND DISPOSAL ORDER
TENTH SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 33 of 1971;
XVII. 1991.81.
PART I PART II
(To be filled by Importer or his Agent) (To be filled by the Malta Maritime 
Authority)
Importing Ship ................................. Port of Loading ..................................... Date of arrival of importing ship ....
Duty Entry No. ................... Cargo handled at (1) main quays/
other quays.
The goods specified in this D. & D.O. are being discharged on (1) F.I.O./liner
terms as shown in BILL OF LANDING No. ....................
Weight on Test ..............................
M/M on test ...................................
Marks 
& Nos.
No. of 
Packages
Description 
of contents Deadweight Cu. M/M
Value
(C.I.F.)
(2)
Disposal 
instruc-
tions
Certificate No. .................
Lm c Lm c
CHARGES
Wharfage  .....................
Handling ......................
Heavy Lifts ..................
Storage ........................
TOTAL TOTAL
I declare the above particulars to be true and correct.
Importer ................................................. Calculated by ......
(Block letters) Checked by .........
Signature of Importer or his Agent..................................... Date ....................
Address .................................................................... Date ...............................
Malta Maritime 
Authority
(1) Delete as necessary.
(2) Appropriate letter to be entered in Disposal Column: A. For local delivery
B. To Customs Bonded Stores C. For transhipment/Re-Export.
56 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Form of Shipping Order
MALTA MARITIME AUTHORITY
Shipping Order
Part I
(To be filled in by the Exporter or his Agent)
Mala Maritime Authority
Please receive the following goods for shipment on *F.I.O./liner terms by S.S.
......................... sdailing on ................................. destined for .................................
Shipping Order No. ............................. .
I/We declare that the goods are:
*A of local productionB transhipment C re-exports
Exporter’s name ................................................... Signature ................................
Address ................................................................. Date ......................................
ELEVENTH SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 33 of 1971;
XVII. 1991.81.
Marks and 
Numbers No. of Packages Description of contents Deadweight Cu. M/M
Value
f.o.b
Lm c
PART II PART III
Received and shipped on board S.S. ............................
the above mentioned goods, handled at *main quays/other
quays.
(To be filled by the Malta Maritime Authority)
Weight on Test ....................... M/M on Test ..................
Certificate No. .....................
REMARKS CHARGES Lm c
................................................................. Wharfage  .................................................
Landing and Shipping Co. Handling ..................................................
(Goods received on board) Heavy Lifts ..............................................
Storage ....................................................
TOTAL
MASTER Calculated by ...........................................
Checked by ..............................................
* Delete that which is not applicable. Date .................................
Malta Maritime Authority
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 57
GOODS STORED IN THE OPEN
Asbestos pipes, sheets and ridges, ashes, asphalt, bones, bricks, chalk, charcoal
cinders, clay, coal, concrete manufactures, flowerpots (earthen), firewood, girders,
horns, iron, steel and other metals or manufactures thereof, whether cast, forged or
rolled and in such forms as pigs, ingots, billets, blooms, slabs, bars, plates,
galvanised sheets and sections, rods, tubes, pipes or girders, ores, scrap metal pipes
(earthen), sand, slate, sleepers, stone, straw, sulphur in bulk (not being flowers of
sulphur), timber, vehicles and chassis and articles or packages which being of such
length, bulk or weight or of such exceptional bulk in proportion to weight as in the
opinion of the Authority cannot be conveniently handled in buildings.
TWELTH SCHEDULE Amended by:XVII. 1991.81.
Regulation 95
58 [ S.L.352.01 PORTS
Malta Maritime Authority
Gate Pass-Out  No. .....................
Date .............................. Time ......................
Registration No. of Road Vehicle ..........................................................................
Name of Ship .............................................................. B/L No. ............................
.........................
Signature
Received the goods in good order and condition with the following exceptions:
..............................................................................................................................
Signature ...............................
Consignee or his
Authorised Agent
This pass is to be used only for motor transport vehicles using the Port. It is valid
for the date of issue only.
THIRTEENTH SCHEDULE Added by:L.N. 17 of 1975;
XVII. 1991.81.
Number of packages Marks Description of Goods
.......................................... .................. ...............................................................
.......................................... .................. ...............................................................
PORTS [ S.L.352.01 59
Request for unloading cargo for transhipment
1. Name of ship: ..............................................................................................
2. Nationality: .................................................................................................
3. Tonnage: Gross: ............................................. Net: .....................................
4. Length overall: ............................................................................................
5. Estimated deepest draught on arrival ............................................................
6. Date expected: .............................................................................................
*7. Description and tonnage of cargo to be landed from each loading port:
Loading port: ...............................................................................................
Description: .................................................................................................
Deadweight: ................................................................................................
Measurement: ..............................................................................................
*8. Description and tonnage of cargo to be shipped to each port of destination:
Port of destination: ......................................................................................
Description: .................................................................................................
Deadweight: ................................................................................................
Measurement: ..............................................................................................
9. Estimated period of storage required for cargo by port of destination,
description, deadweight and measurement:
.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
10. Description and details of explosives, inflammable or dangerous goods -
giving gross weight, stowage and whether to land or remaining on board:
.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
11. Agents: ........................................................................................................
12. Remarks: .....................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
Date: .............................
..........................
Owner / Agent
Note: If space on this schedule is not sufficient, information should be continued on a separate sheet
which should also be signed by Owner / Agent.
FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE Added by:L.N. 15 of 1978.
Regulations 70, 78
