Matthew Xuereb
No water and electricity meters for most yachts at public marinas
Most of the yachts at public-owned marinas do not have a meter for water and electricity. They pay a flat rate, which means that boat owners are not encouraged to save on consumption. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Just seven per cent of berths in public-owned yacht marinas have water and electricity meters installed, a state of affairs that has forced the authorities to impose a new fee to cover costs. Figures provided by the Malta Maritime Authority show that 972 of the 1,047 berths at the Ta' Xbiex, Msida and Mġarr yacht marinas are unmetered, so it has started to impose an annual fee according to the length of each yacht.
Over and above their regular fees, yacht owners whose berths are not metered have to pay €24 per metre.
The measure was taken following the rapid rise in the cost of electricity over the past years. Supplying power to the marinas cost the government €159,196 in 2005 and €165,858 in 2007.
Previously, a charge for water and electricity for unmetered berths was included in the berthing fee at a flat rate, while those which had meters would benefit from a weekly reduction in the fee. But as the surge in electricity costs started to pinch, the authority had to include the new charge. Yacht owners face a standard fare, which means they do not have an incentive to save on consumption as they do not pay for what they waste as such.
A spokesman for the Malta Maritime Authority, which runs the marinas, said it did not pay to have meters installed now as the government was in the process of privatising the marinas.
Berthing fees are paid annually according to the size of the berth, ranging from just over €750 for eight metres to €1,938.04 for a space 16 to 18 metres in length. These fees will now have to be topped up by €24 per running metre of the boat to cover water and electricity consumption if the yachts are berthed on quays or pontoons which do not have a meter. Moreover, the authority will also be levying a 30 per cent surcharge for yacht owners who live on their boats either all year round, during summer (May 1 to September 30) or in winter (October 1 to April 30).
The plan to lease out the marinas to the private sector has been delayed because the Privatisation Unit is dealing with the privatisation process of the Malta Shipyards. The government intends to lease out the marinas for a period of 25 years.
Applicants will be expected to submit proposals for investment they are willing to commit to in terms of facilities, berthing fees and services offered, among other things.
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11 Comments
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Charlie Bartolo
Mar 13th 2009, 20:59
WHAT! no water or electricity meters for most yachts.. well what a chocker eh! Say as our famous saying goes ..if you don't like it you know what to do..start yachting ahoy! there Captain Birdseye
Muscat.Paul
Mar 13th 2009, 15:30
It is only fair that boat owners pay according to their energy consumption. However, the way things stand, foreign boat owners who live on the boat and consume water and electrcity especially in winter and in summer when using their AC, have to be subsidised by the other boat owners, who do not live on the boat. Meters should be installed and boat owners are expected to pay as they consume. Nothing wrong with paying; paying for other people's consumption is simply illogical and a mistaken short-cut typical of beaurocrats.
G.Borg
Mar 13th 2009, 15:21
The meter rates exercise should be re-visited if Govt really believe in "Social Justice". How come that I am going to be charged or being charged extortionist meter rates for a domestic one car garage? Why are these similar garage owners being subjected to such meter rates and not treated similar to those who have garages connected to their residence? A garage being used for domestic purposes can be easily identified by their consumption. Everyone understand that something has to be changed vis-a vis water and electricity charges, but the least the Govt can do is to keep an existing percentage over household rates, and not the extortionist rates that he wants to impose on GARAGES BEING USED ONLY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES i.e. GARAGING OF A CAR.
The same principle should be used for the small boat owners and not treat everyone on the same level.
Mark Agius
Mar 13th 2009, 13:15
This is wrong. Such an unfair decision. I agree with the 5 amp recommendation below. The electricity points should never have been illegally tampered with to allow a higher load. If this state of affairs had been clamped down on by the MMA from the start we would never be in this situation of blatant abuse. Is this clear case of lacking administration not to be dealt with?
vinc arrigo
Mar 13th 2009, 12:41
i wonder how decisions are taken in this country. Why 24 euro accross the board for an 8 metre boat with no freezers and no airconditioning has to pay the same rate as the ones with all the amenities. Install meters and let everybody pay as per consumption, as it should be.Where is fairness in this country.
wally vella-zarb
Mar 13th 2009, 12:21
Quite right, John Schembri. Without meters, people like us who just use the electricity to keep out batteries topped up are subsidising not only the air conditioners that you mention but also the owners of large power boats who keep freezers on their boats rather than at home.
george pace
Mar 13th 2009, 11:17
yet another Govt Qassata !! Why charge them per yacht meter, who decided on this famous break through in mathematical terms. Yacht owners should pay like all citizens do, I have seen yachts of all sizes with AC switched on all day and night during the summer months in fact a number of yacht owners sleep on their boats to enjoy the luxury of a freebee. Enough of these Govt inaccuracies and blatant discrimination. Charges/ fees should be paid by all even moreso by our mini millionaires. Enough is enough !!
L..Galea
Mar 13th 2009, 10:20
John Schembri
You are correct John
Everybody should pay for what s/he actually uses not for what others waste.
It makes one cry seeing great amounts of fresh water being used to wash not a small frejgatini or sail boat, but large millionnaires yachts.
This also applies to the license where small boat owners are extensively charges compared to the millionnaire yachts who comparatively pay a token fee.
John Schembri
Mar 13th 2009, 10:15
Believe me L.Galea. Nobody wants the meters more than we do, as long as we are billed an honest percentage over household rates, and not the extortionist rates the commercial marinas charge. My small boat is my only indulgence, and it's getting to the point it's not making sense anymore. Waste is never a good thing. Someone said this somewhere on another post I've read this morning. The systems this government puts in place only favour the rich and squeeze those who can scarce afford. This is more proof of it. With this system, those who economize have to make good for those who waste.
L..Galea
Mar 13th 2009, 09:57
They waste free water and electricity when they can afford it while we are made to pay for them through our noses.
METER THEM FORTHWITH.
John Schembri
Mar 13th 2009, 09:57
What this article fails to mention, is that the responsibility for all this rests with the MMA. As boat owners we are all ready to pay for what we consume, at honest rates. Meters could have been introduced years ago, and the costs split between berth owners, and nobody would have objected. What I object to, as a boat owner on a budget, with a small sailboat, is to pay for my neighbours airconditioner. This proposed formula compounds that, because airconditioners will be left full blast even more, and we who do not use them will be paying the bill. There is a simple solution to this. Any multi circuit breaker that has been changed, past the original 5 amp switch must be set back to its original 5 amp. Without meters excessive consumption simply is not acceptable. MMA and government please take note. Must everything be done wrong in this country?