Censu Galea

“Malta recognises the importance of short sea shipping in minimising congestion on European roads and the accrued benefits to the transport operators and users. The promotion of frequent direct links to different ports in Europe is beneficial to the Maltese business community.” This was stressed upon by Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea when addressing a seminar on Short Sea Promotion Centres today.

The Seminar aimed at providing first-hand information on Short Sea Promotion Centres whilst highlighting the European Short Sea Network and promoting the relations amongst the ports Administrations concerned.

“It was only last year that I announced my intention to establish a Short Sea Shipping office which would act as a facilitator within the ports industry. Several steps have already been taken in this regard, particularly by the Malta Maritime Authority, coupled by considerable assistance on part of the Italian Short Sea Shipping Promotion centre,” said the Minister. “This discussion comes at a time when Government is seeking to encourage the establishment of new ventures which may enhance the present traffic volumes of passengers and cargo handled in Maltese ports. Following EU membership, local vessel operators now have the opportunity to apply for EU funds in order to help them to establish new routes which would be beneficial not only to Malta but also to other European countries.”

Throughout the last 15 years Malta has seen the development of two distinct markets within the short-sea-shipping scenario: those of roro vessels and ferries, catering for the transport of local cargo to neighbouring ports, and feedering services, developed as a response to the transshipment business at the Malta Freeport Terminals. “In both markets we have seen considerable investment by both local and foreign ship operators. Within a competitive concept, therefore Malta is reaping benefits from a wider choice of operators and services.”

The establishment of the short sea promotion centre similar will serve to bridge the gap between shipping lines and shippers thus ensuring a constant service, having also the advantage that it will form part of an EU network providing the local shippers with a more comprehensive picture of shipping lines in the Europe. The Competitiveness and Communications Minister said that Government is also enhancing its cooperation with other Mediterranean EU-member states in taking the necessary initiatives to promote these concepts within the region. “Malta believes that it has the capacity and the obligation to enhance the Euro-Mediterranean dimension with the objective of a closer integration between EU members and the other Mediterranean countries.”

Minister Galea said that within the local scenario, the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications has taken several initiatives which would help minimise bottlenecks in the transportation chain. In fact, recently, Malta has:

1. Ratified the IMO Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, whereby vessels calling in Malta benefit from simplified documentary procedures since they may now use the internationally recognised harmonised documents;

2. The upcoming port reform, which is one of Government’s main objectives for the coming months, will definitely help to promote the efficient and cost-effective operation of the ports in Malta by upgrading the necessary policies and legislation;

3. Plans are in the pipeline to facilitate cargo clearance through the ports and;

4. The development of a Maritime Centre that will serve as a one-stop-shop for all port services, effective in ensuring an efficient and customer-focused service.