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2004 Saftety at Sea Campaign Launched Date: 22/6/2004 2004 SAFETY AT SEA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED The Malta Maritime Authority today launched the Safety at Sea Campaign for 2004. The educational campaign, now in its ninth consecutive year, seeks to promote the utmost importance of safety amongst boat owners and swimmers alike. The launch of the 2004 campaign was held on board the motor yacht ‘Alevok’ when touring various swimmer zones. The event was attended by Hon Censu Galea, Minister for C, MMA Chairman Dr Marc Bonello and officials from the Malta Maritime Authority, the Police, the Civil Protection Department, the AFM, Rempec and the Maritime Institute within MCAST. Addressing the media, Minister for Competitiveness And Communications, Mr Censu Galea said “the aim of the campaign, which runs throughout the summer season, is aimed at raising awareness amongst the boating community including windsurferers, jet-skiers, divers as well as swimmers, that everyone is responsible at sea. Within this aspect, respecting all regulations set by the authorities is vital because ultimately, everyone at sea has a responsibility towards himself and to others. Everyone has the right to enjoy the sea however, no one has the right to endanger himself or others.” Malta Maritime Authority chairman, Dr. Marc Bonello announced the establishing of a new swimmers in St George’s Bay in St Julian’s. “In fact, following the recent embellishment works in the bay namely the formation of a new sandy beach with new imported sand the MMA immediately recognized that this bay is set to become one of Malta’s most popular beaches due to its central location and its proximity to some of Malta’s most popular hotels and resorts. The MMA immediately recognized this fact and in this regard has carried out the necessary arrangements for the instating of a swimmers zone in this bay. This brings the amount of swimmers’ zones in Malta and Gozo to 20.” “The earmarking of these swimmers’ zones is one of the main initiatives undertaken by the Malta Maritime Authority,” added Dr. Bonello “This involves the delineation of specific areas reserved for swimmers that cannot be accessed by any seacraft. These zones are marked by clearly visible yellow and red coloured buoys deployed at 50 metre intervals. In Malta, besides St George’s Bay, the swimmers’ zones are situated at Golden Sands, Ghajn Tuffieha, Mellieha Bay, Paradise Bay, next to St. Paul's Bay’s breakwater commonly known as Veccja and next to the spot known as ta’ l-Ghazzelin, Imgiebah Bay, St Julian’s under the Independence Garden and near the waterpolo pitch and Birzebbugia. In Gozo, these are situated at ir-Ramla l-Hamra, Xlendi Bay, Marsalforn, Qbajjar, Hondoq ir-Rummien and San Blas bays and at the Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija and San Niklaw bays in Comino.”
Referring to the number of seacraft, Minister said “there are currently over 13,400 boats registered with the Small ships register of the Malta Maritime Authority and this number of boats in Maltese seas is constantly on the increasing. Therefore, the safety aspect is likewise becoming ever more important. In past years, the campaign has been very successful thanks to a number of promotional activities aimed at adults and the younger generations alike. However there is always room for improvement and we need to keep emphasizing this important message continuously. We invite the public to cooperate with all the authorities concerned in order to ensure another successful ‘Safety at Sea Campaign,” reiterated Mr. Galea. The Authority also reminds the general public to refrain from swimming in the vicinity of the launching lanes established by water sports centres in operation in popular beaches. These operators are required by law to provide a lane, marked with white marker buoys, to be used to launch rented craft including jet skis. Moreover, the MMA is also reminding all boat enthusiasts that no speedboat or any other mechanically propelled sea craft will be allowed to proceed at a speed exceeding 10 Knots inside any harbour, in any place within 300 metres of the fore shore of any sandy beach and in any place within 200 metres of any other part of the fore shore. These regulations also apply to water skiing. Furthermore the Malta Maritime Authority strongly recommends that every boat is equipped with the necessary safety and life saving equipment. To further enhance the effectiveness of this campaign the Malta Maritime Authority, as in previous years, will be assisting the ALE section of the Police to carry out its duties more effectively. In this regard, the Administrative Law Enforcement Section will make use of two fully equipped speedboats that have been donated over the past years to the department by the Malta Maritime Authority. These boats are used both in rescue operations as well as for patrolling in order to curb on abuse from sea craft owners who violate the specified regulations. In this regard, the Malta Maritime Authority is encouraging the public to cooperate with the police in order for everyone to enjoy the sea safely.
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