The Mepa board has issued permits for the setting up of a yacht marina in Kalkara Creek, the second yacht marina in Grand Harbour.

The new marina will be set up by Kalkara Marina Co. Ltd. which earlier this year reached an agreement with the Transport Ministry to operate the marina for eight years.

The site, Villa Bighi and Villa Portelli, just in front the Kalkara boat yard, was identified by Transport Malta as one of the sites suitable for the development of a temporary marina when it published the study “Development of Yachting Facilities in Malta” in April 2009. The Authority had then issued a request for proposals  for the management and operation of this marina.

The marina will consist of three pontoons some some 120 yachts.  According to the signed agreement, the operator will pay Transport Malta a concession fee of €20,000 on an annual basis. 

During the hearing, Nicholas Sammut, chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology noted that the government recently allocated funding for the setting up of an interactive science centre at Villa Bighi to promote science and research. The centre will extend to Kalkara creek. He said the MCST was not against the yacht marina, but he was requesting a shifting of the pontoons by 30 metres to prevent overlap.

The architect representing the yacht marina operator such shifting the pontoons may be a breach of the contract conditions under which the operation of the marina was granted.

Stanley Portelli, chairman of Transport  Malta pointed to the costs of any decision to shift the location of the pontoons.

The Mepa board decided to approve the project but urged both parties to discuss the matter so that a stettlement may be reached.