Fond Ghadir in Tas-Sliema, Xemxija and St George’s Bay in Birzebbuga are three new zones Transport Malta (TM) has reserved exclusively for swimmers for this summer. These bring the total number of Swimmers’ Zones around the Maltese Islands to 43. Transport Malta announced this during the launch of the Safety at Sea Campaign, now in its 16th year, which aims at educating boat owners to enjoy their pastime in a responsible way and in full respect of regulations and swimmers.

Dr Stanley Portelli, CEO of Transport Malta, said recently, “in line with our strategic objective to promote a safer culture within all modes of Transport, the Authority is stepping up its efforts to educate and increase safety awareness among boat users. We are encouraged by the positive feedback we receive each year and look forward to further initiatives in promoting the safe enjoyment of the sea by both swimmers and boat users.”

Dr Portelli thanked the enforcement officers, the ALE section of the Police force and others that contribute for the successful implementation of the ‘Safety at Sea’ campaign. “Transport Malta wishes both the swimmers and boat users an enjoyable safe summer and urges everyone to enjoy it responsibly,’ concluded Dr Portelli.

Assistance Commissioner Josie Brincat remarked that it is everyone’s duty to act responsibly when at sea be it swimmers or boat owners. “Adherence to basic regulations would greatly help in ensuring an accident-free summer,” concluded AC Brincat.

This year’s campaign also includes the installation of 36 speed markers buoys, 4 buoys marking hazardous and dangerous reefs and an initiative to improve the organization of Blue Lagoon in Comino aimed to enhance everyone’s safety. This year also marks the first season since the introduction of new legislation that makes a nautical licence obligatory for drivers of all mechanically driven craft having engine/s output of 30 H.P. and over. This initiative lead to a steep increase in the number of nautical licencees during the past months, which licencees today amount to 9829. The Authority is also encouraging boat owners having smaller engines installed on their boats to attend basic seamanship training at the various approved institutions and obtain the nautical licence.

Aimed at assisting safer navigation around the Maltese coast, TM has taken the initiative to mark four hazardous reefs which may pose potential threat to mariners. Together with the 36 speed markers, this offers a considerable improvement in the navigational aids installed around the Islands. These markers will be installed at Marsalforn Gozo, Blue Lagoon, Comino, Gnejna Bay and Ghallis Rock in Qawra.

Similar to last year, TM enforcement personnel will also act as bay coordinators at Blue Lagoon, Comino and at Mellieha Bay. The role of such coordinators is educational and has proved to be very useful in ensuring disciplined use of these two popular bays. .

In Comino, Transport Malta has re-installed the demountable pier at Blue Lagoon, established a larger swimmers’ zone aimed at offering better protection for both the swimmers and the sensitive environment of the area. The Authority also earmarked specific anchorage areas for commercial vessels and other areas for pleasure boat users. The anchorage areas have been defined with appropriate fairway space in between.

List of Swimmers Zones in Gozo for 2011

Qbajjar

Marsalforn

Ramla l-Hamra

San Blas

Hondoq ir-Rummien

Mgarr ix-Xini

Xlendi

Permalink: TM reserves 43 bays in Malta & Gozo just for swimmers