No water and electricity meters for most yachts at public marinas

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.