Residents unable to sleep due to Noma Island late-night party music, rangers say

Updated 5.30pm with footage from home CCTV and Mellieħa mayor report

The floating entertainment platform Noma Island blast music late into the evening in Mellieħa on Friday, leaving residents unable to sleep, according to the Malta Ranger Unit.

In a Facebook post the Rangers said the vessel ignored repeated orders from Transport Malta to lower the volume. Despite being berthed in the middle of Mellieħa Bay, the bass vibrations and loud music travelled directly into the built-up area of Santa Maria Estate due to northwest winds, where residents "couldn't sleep and had to close their windows", they said.

The Rangers said they reported the vessel four times throughout the evening, for disturbing the peace and ignoring the orders of the authorities.

"The Rangers filed their first report with Transport Malta at 19:15 hrs and were told that the vessel will be contacted. The music kept getting louder. Between 19:15 and 20:30, an additional 3 reports were filed by our Rangers," the group wrote on Facebook.

"Every time they were informed that the skipper had been spoken to and ordered to lower the music. The party continued until 23:00 with loud volume, leaving residents unable to sleep."

Times of Malta also received footage recorded from a Mellieħa resident's house on Friday evening. The resident said the music could be heard loudly even from inside the house.

Notice to Mariners 115 of 2025 explicitly prohibits commercial vessels from causing noise disturbances.

The Rangers also said that when pressed further, maritime officials admitted that Transport Malta had "no assets available at sea" during the evening to physically intercept the vessel.

It was only after 9.30pm, after persistent pressure from the rangers, that TM promised to dispatch a shore inspector. But the rangers said the party nonetheless raged on until 11pm, keeping a community awake.

"Whilst other party boats entered the area with minimum music, as should be to respect people around, Noma Island not only disrespected the residents but also the Law Enforcers' orders," the Rangers Unit said, calling the lack of maritime enforcement capability "worrying and disgraceful".

Meanwhile, Mellieħa mayor Gabriel Micallef told Times of Malta he also received several reports from residents in Għadira and Santa Marija Estate who also claim to have been distrubed by the noises.

He also reported the matter to the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and Transport Malta (TM) himself and asked them what enforcement action was taken following the complaints.

Times of Malta sent questions to Transport Malta, the Noma Island operators and the company which is believed to have organised the party.

Floating in controversy

The incident comes just months after the vessel, marketed by its operators as "Malta’s fourth island", sparked backlash from environmental NGOs, a parliamentary petition, and formal objections from the local councils of Sliema, Għajnsielem, and Mellieħa upon its arrival in Malta earlier this year.

Critics warned the floating platform would bring noise, light, and waste pollution to pristine marine environments.

The floating beach club, featuring a swimming pool, bars, and a restaurant with a 350-guest capacity, was reportedly forced out of the French Riviera following heavy pushback from local authorities and environmental groups before docking in Maltese waters.

Loud noises out at sea

The incident comes amid growing concern over a lack of nighttime maritime enforcement, which rangers say is leaving protected bays vulnerable to illegal activity.

Just last month, the Malta Sea Ranger Unit (MSRU) flagged two separate commercial charter boats for breaching conservation regulations within protected marine areas.

In both instances, the NGO reported that Transport Malta had no enforcement assets available at night to immediately respond, forcing rangers to rely on the Armed Forces of Malta or remote control-room interventions to clear the bays.