Transport Malta is planning another 240 berthing spaces and six floating pontoons in a new yacht marina at Sa Maison.
The project, still in the planning stage, involves four pontoons ranging in length from 100 to 150 metres at Haywharf and Sa Maison and two shorter ones of about 25 metres at Pietà Creek, according to an environmental impact report.
There will also be a car park, a revetment (embankment) to protect the new pontoons from waves hitting the existing quay and a new deck to replace the current berthing arrangements along the Pietà quay.
A report commissioned by Transport Malta and compiled by Adi Associates said the project would meet “some of the demand” for berthing facilities. It quoted 2009 estimates that a local yacht owner spends an average €15,000 a year on a 15-metre long boat, between €4,000 and €6,000 on a 15-20 metre long yacht and about €100,000 on a super yacht.
Malta is facing a supply problem and significant competition from other Mediterranean countries that are aggressively developing their berthing capacity.
In light of the existing demand, new marinas should be developed rather than extending existing ones, the report noted.
The security gate and guardhouse at the Armed Forces of Malta’s maritime base in Haywharf will be relocated and the ramp and Gozo Channel operations will be moved to an alternative site.
The report said the visual impact on the Valletta fortifications and Haywharf would be of ‘major significance’,with a substantial change to the view
The report said the visual impact on the Valletta fortifications and Haywharf would be of “major significance”, with a substantial change to the view, as the boats would screen the fortifications. Seabed surveys did not identify any archaeological features but the report said the archaeological potential of Marsamxett harbour “is considered to be high”.
The area was found to be covered in thick layers of mud and sediment, and artefacts could possibly be buried in such layers.
Monitoring the works on the seabed and inspecting the excavated material were among the mitigation measures proposed.
The marina will be managed by the private sector, and last year the government issued a call for tenders to manage it for 25 years.
There were five bidders: Marina di Valletta Consortium, Harbour Management Ltd, Valletta Marina Consortium and CGS – both from the General Workers’ Union through one of its commercial companies – and a partnership.