Be Safe at Sea Campaign – has just been launched launched with the aim of raising awareness and minimise the risk of accidents at sea and is focused on both boat owners and swimmers.

Launched by Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg, together with the administration of Transport Malta, the campaign for boat users will concentrate on two aspects.

The first is on speed limits, to help minimise accidents. Last year, 37% of the contraventions issued by Transport Malta’s Maritime Enforcement section were for over speeding. Over speeding was the most frequent breach by far.

Minister Borg called for diligence and encouraged boat users to stick to the speed limits, the main one being 10 knots in harbours, 200 metres from rocky shores and 300 metres from sandy beaches.

He explained that the speed limit then goes down to 3 knots in marinas and in proximity of other moorings.

The campaign also raises awareness on the dangers that might result from driving under the influence.

Transport Malta’s Maritime Enforcement squadron helps maintain discipline at sea. Until now, the team has already inspected over 1000 vessels, issued close to 300 contraventions and over 100 warnings.

The campaign is also aimed at swimmers. The Authority has prepared 56 swimmer zones within the most popular bays around the Maltese islands. This year, two new ones were added from last year, one in Saint Thomas Bay in Marsascala and another in Kalanka, Delimara. The Minister encouraged swimmers to swim in these zones whenever possible for their own safety. The swimmer zones for Gozo and Comino are listed below:

Gozo

Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay

Marsalforn Bay

Mgarr ix-Xini

Qbajjar

San Blas

Xlendi Bay.

Comino

Blue Lagoon

Santa Marija (Inner)

Santa Marija Bay (Outer)

San Niklaw.

Transport Malta has prepared 40 slipways around Malta and Gozo with signs and paintings, besides the annual regular maintenance, to help avoid obstruction and allow their unhindered use by boat users.

The Minister concluded by encouraging both swimmers and boat owners not to litter, either on the beaches or at sea and encouraged the public to enjoy the season without accidents, by showing respect to all and towards the environment.

Photo by Alain Salvary

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