Transport Malta’s message.

A security message has been issued by the Maltese maritime authorities warning mariners of dangerous “armed vessels” roaming south of the island.

The message – not intended to alarm sailors but to increase vigilance – was issued by the Transport Authority on the back of reports that smugglers had fired warning shots at an Italian tug boat last week.

The message urges vessels navigating beyond 50 nautical miles south of Malta to be on the alert, as armed vessels could pose a risk. Questions sent to the Transport Authority had not been answered by the time of writing yesterday.

Harbour Master David Bugeja said he could not remember any messages like this having been sent out in the past, adding that such instructions were normally relayed from international authorities.

However, it was the Armed Forces of Malta that decided to issue a navigation warning, he said, adding it was not meant to alarm sailors but simply to keep them on the alert.

The message also follows complaints by fishermen who told the Fisheries Department they were feeling unsafe while fishing in the waters between Malta and Libya.

Jonathan Said was among the fishermen who made a report: “You hear of smugglers carrying weapons but now it has got to the point where every time I see a boat while I’m out at sea, I think: ‘Could that be a smuggler?’”