Owners of yachts that berth at Ta' Xbiex filed a judicial protest against Transport Malta today, complaining that the authority is not maintaining the quay even though they pay thousands of euro in fees.

The yacht owners said the quay is now in a dangerous state.

Furthermore, because of a lack of surveillance, a number of thefts from yachts had been reported.

The yacht owners called on Transport Malta to carry out its obligations in terms of the law.

The yacht owners have been involved in a court battle with the authority for years.

They argue that they were given an indefinite right to berth at the marina 20 years ago. But the authority then wrote to them asking them to sign a new contract, or face eviction.

The yacht owners took the authority to court and won the case, but the authority then won on appeal.

The case is now before the European Court.

Lawyers David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt signed the protest.