The Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) has introduced regulations and revised those concerning small ships and mechanically driven boats in a bid to curb abuse at sea especially during the summer months.

The revised and new regulations (Legal Notice 183 of 2008) came into effect on August 1 with their announcement in the Government Gazette and form part of the MMA's Safety at Sea Campaign.

The regulations come with hefty fines ranging from €100 for such offences as failing to notify the MMA's small ships registry of any documentation or failing to notify the authority of a transfer of ownership, to fines of €1,000 for boat drivers caught driving under the influence of alcohol or waterskiing in prohibited areas.

The regulations impose fines ranging from €4,660 to €11,640 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months for failing to be covered by adequate insurance.

Other fines are contemplated for offences such a tampering with official documentation including certificates of registry, licences, registration marks and permits.

Other offences include driving at an excessive speed in any harbour or closer than 300 metres to a sandy beach or closer than 200 metres to a rocky beach (€600), polluting the sea with excessive exhaust emissions or fuel spills (€200), driving a boat recklessly (€600) and overloading a boat with passengers higher than it is permitted to carry (€300).

Enforcement officers, be they the police, MMA officials responsible for enforcement and AFM on patrolling duties, can order the offender to remove the boat from the water or in cases of a serious breach of regulations seize the vessel until the offender regularises his or her position according to law.