BUOYAGE DUES [ S.L.352.08 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 352.08
BUOYAGE DUES REGULATIONS
3rd April, 1979
LEGAL NOTICE 44 of 1979, as amended by Legal Notices 23 of 1982,
30 of 1983 and 12 of 1985, and Act XVII of 1991.
Citation. 
Regulations.
Interpretation.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
Cap. 352.
2. In these regulations, "Authority" means the Malta
Maritime Authority established under the Malta Maritime
Authority Act.
Use of buoys.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
3. No master of a ship shall use any buoy which is the
property of, or is under the control or management of, or is being
operated by the Authority without the prior permission of the
Authority.
Requirement of 
tugs.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
4. In allowing a master to moor his ship on a buoy, or to leave
such moorings, the Authority may require him to engage such
number of tugs as in the opinion of the Authority are necessary to
ensure that the ship will not cause any damage to the particular
buoy and/or mooring.
Ship’s cable to be 
made fast to ring of 
buoy.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
5. (1) Unless with the permission of the Authority, the master
of a ship shall make fast the cable of the ship only to the ring of the
buoy but to no other part of the mooring.
(2) The master of a ship which is moored on a buoy shall take
all such precautions as are necessary to avoid any damage or undue
strain to the buoy or moorings, and, in particular, shall not, without
the prior permission of the Authority, use the engine of the ship
whilst the ship is fast on the buoy.
Precautions while a 
ship is on a buoy.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
6. The master of a ship while moored on a buoy shall, at all
times, have sufficient hands on board to -
( a ) attend to the lights and to any other signals;
( b ) keep the moorings properly adjusted;
( c ) drop an anchor in the event of the ship breaking adrift;
( d ) inform the Authority of any collision with the ship or
moorings.
Removal of ship 
sinking or 
becoming a wreck.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
7. (1) If a ship sinks or becomes stranded or a wreck when
about to take up, taking up, lying at, or leaving, the buoy, the owner
and/or master of the ship shall forthwith remove the ship to such
berth or place as shall be indicated by the Authority.
(2) If the master or the owner of the ship does not comply,
within twenty-four hours, with the provision of subregulation (1),
the Authority may mark the ship with such light, buoy, or other
marks at the risk and expense of the master or owner of the ship.
(3) If the master or owner does not, within fifteen days or
2 [ S.L.352.08 BUOYAGE DUES
within such other longer or shorter period as the Authority may, in
its absolute discretion, in any particular case decide, remove the
ship as provided in subregulation (1), the Authority may take
possession of, remove or destroy such ship and wreck and recover
from the master or owner of the ship such costs and expenses as
shall have been incurred by the Authority as well as such damages
as may have been suffered by the Authority.
Imposition of 
conditions.
Amended by:
XVII. 1991.81.
8. In granting permission for the use of any buoy as is
referred to in regulation 3, the Authority may -
( a ) require from the master, owner and/or agent of the ship
an undertaking indemnifying the Authority from any
damages which may be suffered by the ship using that
buoy and from any damages caused to any other ship,
or to life or property and arising out of the use of that
buoy, and
( b ) impose any other condition as it may decide in its
absolute discretion.
Dues and payment 
thereof.
Amended by:
L.N. 23 of 1982;
L.N. 30 of 1983;
XVII. 1991.81.
9. (1) The owner, master or agent of a ship using a buoy as is
referred to in regulation 3 shall, in addition to any other dues, fees
or rates, pay in respect of the buoys shown in the first column of
the Schedule the relative rate per day or part thereof shown in the
second column of the said Schedule.
(2) The relative rate payable as provided in subregulation (1)
shall be doubled when any ship using such buoy is not fully
manned with deck and engine room officers and men, or is not
manned with such number of deck and engine room officers and
men as is agreed with the Authority.
(3) The Authority may demand that payment for the use of any
buoy as is referred to in regulation 3 be made in advance, and it
may also demand an advance deposit in respect of such use.
(4) The mooring of a ship to any particular buoy shall be at the
sole discretion of the Authority.
Exemptions. 10. The Minister responsible for ports, with the concurrence of
the Minister responsible for finance, may exempt any owner,
master or agent of any ship from the payment of any dues which
would otherwise be payable under the provisions of these
regulations.
BUOYAGE DUES [ S.L.352.08 3
SCHEDULE Substituted by:L.N. 23 of 1982;
L.N. 30 of 1983;
L.N. 12 of 1985.
Regulation 9
First Column Second Column
GRAND HARBOUR
No. 14 / 14A / 14B; 15 / 15A Lm100
MARSAMXETT HARBOUR
No. 1 / 1A; 2 / 2A; 3 Lm100
