Swimmers' zones in 18 areas

The Malta Maritime Authority is launching its 2003 Safety at Sea Campaign which seeks to promote safety measures at sea among sea craft drivers and the public.

The aim is to raise awareness among the marine community, including windsurfers, jet-skiers, divers as well as swimmers, that everyone is responsible at sea.

The main initiative undertaken is the earmarking of a number of swimmers' zones that cannot be accessed by any seacraft. These zones are marked by clearly visible yellow and red coloured buoys deployed at 50 metre intervals.

A total of 18 swimmers' zones have been earmarked for this summer: Golden Sands, Ghajn Tuffieha, Mellieha Bay, Paradise Bay, next to St Paul's Bay's breakwater, commonly known as Veccja, and next to the spot known as ta' l-Ghazzelin, Imgiebah Bay, St Julian's and Birzebbuga. In Gozo, these are situated at Ramla l-Hamra, Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn, Qbajjar, Hondoq ir-Rummien and San Blas bays and at the Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija and San Niklaw bays in Comino.

Mechanically propelled seacraft or sailing boats, including wind surfers, surf boards and jet-skis are prohibited from navigating in these zones between tomorrow and September 30.

Swimmers should keep away from the launching lanes established by water sports centres in operation in popular beaches. These operators are required by law to provide a lane, marked with white marker buoys, to be used to launch rented craft, including jet skis.

MMA is also reminding boat enthusiasts that no speedboat or any other mechanically propelled sea craft will be allowed to proceed at a speed exceeding 10 knots inside any harbour, in any place within 300 metres of the foreshore of any sandy beach and in any place within 200 metres of any other part of the foreshore. These regulations also apply to water skiing. Furthermore the MMA strongly recommends that every boat be equipped with the necessary safety and life saving equipment.

To further enhance the effectiveness of the campaign the MMA, as in previous years, will be assisting the Administrative Law Enforcement Section of the police to carry out its duties more effectively.

The ALE will use three fully equipped speedboats that have been donated over the past years to the department by the MMA.

MMA encouraged the public to cooperate with the police and report any abuses to the police by dialling 191.

Some interesting figures:-

Nautical licences issued up to June 11, 2003: 2,587

Seacraft registered with Small Ships Register:

Non propelled boats under 12 feet: c. 500
Non propelled boats over 12 feet and propelled boats up to 10HP: c. 6,000
10HP-25HP: 990
25HP - 50HP: 1,221
50HP-75HP: 1,413
75HP- 150HP: 1,772
over 150HP: 1,115
Total: 13,011 boats

Pleasure yachts registered under the Valletta register (that is, can travel outside Maltese territorial waters. )

Under 100 GT: 1,458
Over 100 GT: 41