As part of this year's Safety at Sea campaign, the Malta Maritime Authority, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, recently inaugurated an exhibition of 125 children's paintings at Bay Street.

The paintings are a selection of 1,200 submissions made in respect of the school painting competition launched last year by the MMA on the theme "Safety at Sea". The competition was aimed at creating awareness among schoolchildren and their parents on the various safety precautions one should take when actually at sea or at the beach.

The first four placed pupils were Dean Sciberras from Achille Ferris School, Msida, Clifton Farrugia from Zabbar Primary School, Karl Anthony Schembri of Zurrieq and Kristina Tabone from St Monica School. The first 15 children were each awarded money vouchers.

Congratulating the children, Charles Axisa, marketing and communications manager at the MMA, said that being the first competition it turned out to be quite successful.

Mr Axisa explained that the competition was one of the many initiatives being undertaken by the MMA to create and promote an awareness on enjoying the sea in a safe way. In line with this commitment, the authority every year earmarks a number of swimming zones specifically for swimmers.

This year, 18 swimmers' zones have been reserved and mechanically propelled seacraft or sailing boats, including windsurfers, surf boards, jet skis and aqua-scooters, are prohibited from navigating in these zones.

Mr Axisa thanked all school teachers for their support towards this campaign.