Twenty zones reserved for swimmers

The Malta Maritime Authority has included the newly enlarged beach at St George's Bay in the list of zones restricted to swimmers, bringing up to 20 the areas that cannot be used by boats.

Speaking at the launch of the ninth Safety at Sea campaign - through which the MMA seeks to promote safety among boat owners and swimmers, especially at the beginning of summer - MMA chairman Marc Bonello said recent embellishment works at St George's Bay were bound to attract more swimmers. The MMA had therefore decided to include it in the list of designated areas.

The other zones that have been marked by red and yellow buoys are at Golden Sands, Ghajn Tuffieha, Mellieha Bay, Paradise Bay, the area next to St Paul's Bay's breakwater known as il-Veccja and the spot know as ta' l-Ghazzelin, Imgiebah Bay, beneath the Independence Garden and close to the water polo pitch in Sliema, and Birzebbuga.

In Gozo, restricted areas are at ir-Ramla l-Hamra, Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn, Qbajjar, Hondoq ir-Rummien and San Blas bays, while in Comino they are the Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija and San Niklaw bays.

Another four areas are earmarked to become swimming-only zones. Dr Bonello said the MMA was in talks with four local councils so that they could take over the management of such zones in the future.

"There are talks going on with the Marsascala local council for the creation and management of another two swimmer zones. This also goes for another delineated area in Sliema and another in Gozo to be possibly managed by the Sannat local council," he said.

The launch of the Safety at Sea campaign was held on board the motor yacht Alevok. Officials from the MMA, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Administrative Law Enforcement unit and the Maritime Institute, together with Communications and Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea and members of the press, embarked on the Alevok at St Paul's Bay jetty.

The vessel sailed to Mellieha Bay escorted by two dinghies - one manned by ALE personnel and the other by members of the AFM's Maritime Squadron - and anchored in the bay.

At a press conference held on board, Mr Galea said the aim of the activity was to increase awareness among boaters, including windsurfers, jet-skiers, divers and swimmers, that everybody should be responsible at sea.

"With 13,407 seacraft registered under the Small Ships Register of the Malta Maritime Authority, the safety aspect is of paramount importance. We invite the public to cooperate with the authorities to make sure that we all enjoy the sea safely," Mr Galea said.

A large share of the vessels registered with the MMA, around 6,054 boats, are non-propelled boats over 12 feet and propelled boats of up to 10 horse power. Propelled boats between 75hp and 150hp number 1,781 while 1,120 vessels have an engine that is over 150hp.

Since 2001, the MMA and the Maritime Institute of the Malta College of Science and Technology have been conducting a course in basic seamanship to cater for a new regulation that lays down that all sea farers sailing a motor powered vessel over 100 horse power have to have a licence.

To date, more than 2,000 people have successfully obtained a license and, as from October, sea farers with boats of 75 hp and over will also have to possess a licence.

Asked about the hiring of jet skis to people under 18 years of age, the minister said water sport operators are obliged to have a qualified instructor who, apart from giving instructions, should ensure that rules are respected.

The MMA said there are 33 licensed water sport operators and since regular checks started being made, the incidence of young people using jet skis had decreased and operators were being more careful since they were ultimately responsible for the equipment they hired out.

Just as the press was asking questions, the AFM dinghy berthed alongside the Alevok had to be despatched to intercept two jet skis that were over speeding close to shore.

Safety at sea, in fact, is also the prerogative of the ALE and AFM. Major Martin Cauchi Inglott, from the AFM's Maritime Squadron, said that in 2003, AFM dinghies and patrol boats investigated 1,600 vessels and craft. Of these, 903 were boarded and action was taken against the owners of 60 craft for lacking proper registration and insurance documents.

In the search and rescue area, the AFM received 175 alerts from big merchant ships, of which only three were real distress calls. There were 40 towing operations and seacraft valued at a total Lm500,000 was saved.

Police Inspector Raymond Zammit from the ALE said 200 people were taken to court for breaching regulations while at sea last year.