The Malta Maritime Authority has made a series of proposals for the setting up of permanent and temporary yacht marinas to meet growing demand, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt said today.

He said there is currently demand for 2,060 berths when only 1,500 are available. Demand for permanent berths is growing by 100 a year, plus demand for another 150 berths per year for temporary berthing.

He said that temporary yacht berthing facilities were being proposed for Mgarr outside the North breakwater, Cirkewwa close to the ferry terminal, Vecca in St Paul's Bay, Qalet Marku in Bahar ic-Caghaq, St Julian's, Marsascala and Birzebbuga.

The MMA had also proposed permanent yacht berthing facilities at Sliema ferries, an extension of Ta Xbiex and Pieta marinas, Marsa Creek and Kalkara Creek in Grand Harbour. Other potential sites for permanent yacht marinas were Fekruna Vecca, and Gillieri areas in St Paul's Bay, Spinola in St Julians, Birzebbuga and Marsascala.

Stanley Portelli, CEO of the MMA, said that Dock 1 in Grand Harbour would be turned into a temporary marina for this summer, and would be able to accommodate 62 yachts.

He said the Authority would await feedback on its proposals until May 29 and then issue its conclusions by June 19.

A request for proposals from the private sector to set up the temporary berths would be issued in September. The MMA would carry out an environmental impact assessment on the proposed permanent sites by October and then issue a call for proposals by investors within a year.

Dr Gatt said the aim was to have an additional 1,100 berths. If no private investors showed interest the idea would be shelved.

"If private industry says no, it would be suicide for the government to go ahead and do it," he said.

He stressed that public access to the proposed sites would remain guaranteed.