Boat parties will have stricter controls on noise and loud music under new rules
Transport Malta issues new rules after coastal residents complain to Ombudsman
Commercial boat parties must turn off music by 11 pm, keep volume to a minimum when near residential areas, and refrain from conducting sound checks close to shore, according to new rules issued by Transport Malta.
The rules follow the intervention of the Office of the Ombudsman, which acted after receiving complaints from residents living near coastal areas about excessive noise from commercial boat parties operating close to the shore.
Residents complained that the problem was worse during bad weather when boat parties would move closer to bays and harbours, resulting in loud music and disturbances.
The Office of the Ombudsman organised meetings between Transport Malta and the Malta Police Force to determine which entity was responsible for enforcement in such cases.
It was agreed that Transport Malta would issue a revised Notice to Mariners, introducing specific noise-related provisions for commercial vessels hosting parties.
The updated notice, issued on July 11, specifically mentions commercial boat parties for the first time and outlines various conditions targeting these events, popular in Malta during the summer months.
The rules include:
- turn off any music by 11pm;
- sound checks in ports, bays, and harbours are not permitted;
- commercial boat parties operating near residential areas and environmentally sensitive areas must adhere to strict noise control measures and reduce any music to a minimum volume.
The notice warns enforcement action will be taken.
Noise is defined as unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to hearing. The rules do not list any objective measure of noise, such as decibel levels.