December 2022
Valletta Cruise Port celebrates 20th anniversary
Valletta Cruise Port, a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding celebrated its 20th anniversary. Stephen Xuereb, COO of Global Ports Holding plc and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port plc said: “I am so proud to have been part of this company since inception and to have led it over the past 8 years! It has been an eventful journey with plenty of milestones along the way. The early days allowed us [...]
November 2022
Malta needs a dedicated maritime authority by Godwin Xerri & Kevin J Borg
In July 2021, in the midst of rife speculation about a possible election date, the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) submitted a ‘Maritime-Centred Manifesto’ to the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. The document contained 10 concrete suggestions aimed at consolidating Malta’s leading position in the shipping world. Key among these was a proposal for the detachment of maritime industry responsibilities from Transport Malta and the re-establishment of a [...]
Jonathan Borg: Developing Malta’s maritime industry. The Malta Maritime Forum is well-positioned to spearhead innovation in the sector
As an island in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, maritime activity has always played a very crucial role in the development of Malta. Throughout history, we as Maltese have traded with seafarers providing services that have moulded our country’s hospitality culture – and in the last 30 years, the islands have come a long way in developing its maritime industry with various strategic and infrastructural investments. According to a [...]
MMF BOD Member Jonathan Borg appointed Chairman of Yachting Malta
The Malta Maritime Forum is delighted to announce that one of its Board Members, Jonathan Borg, has been appointed Chairman of Yachting Malta. Mr Borg is most active in the Forum since inception and, more importantly, has over thirty years of experience in the maritime industry, both in the public and private sectors with a successful track-record of steering complex projects. With a specialisation in research and analysis, he has [...]
Emanuele Grimaldi attends COP27
Naples, 7 November 2022: Yesterday marked the opening of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), or COP27, which brings together two hundred nations, thousands government delegates, scientists, representatives of international institutions and NGOs. The Conference, taking place at the International Convention Centre in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) and lasting two weeks, aims to give concrete implementation to the [...]
October 2022
MMF BOARD MEMBER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF COMITE MARITIME INTERNATIONAL
The Malta Maritime Forum is delighted to announce that Board Member and indeed one of its Founders, Dr Ann Fenech has been elected President of the Comité Maritime International. In fact, Dr Fenech is the first Maltese professional to be elected to this most prominent of posts in the international maritime sphere. She is also the first female to occupy the post of President of the CMI in its 125-year [...]
An Exclusive Economic Zone for Malta
Penned by Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon The Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) has considered a public document entitled ‘Exclusive Economic Zone – A Sea of Opportunities'. This document followed the enactment of the Exclusive Economic Zone Act 2021 (Chapter 625 of the Laws of Malta). The Act enables the Government to declare and designate by legal notice as being in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Malta an area that [...]
September 2022
The Malta Maritime Forum’s Budget 2023 proposals: Setting standards for a better country
For the second year running the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) articulated a set of concrete, maritime-focused proposals for the national Budget. The MMF was delighted to present its document in person to the Minister of Finance earlier in September where each of its nine recommendations were elaborated upon. The MMF’s vision for the forthcoming budget is all about supporting the industry and businesses within it to grow sustainably. The recommendations, [...]
August 2022
The Birth of the Malta Ship Register by Joseph Curmi MOM
It is said that the first steps leading to a successful adventure are quite important. The purpose of this concise write-up is to give the background to the highly successful results which now make Malta the foremost Ships’ Registry in Europe and a leading Register globally. As an introduction, I should state that my long involvement in shipping matters started surprisingly quite by coincidence. It so happened that when I [...]
MMF BOD Member Dr Ann Fenech on the Judicial Sales of Ships
MMF Board Member Dr Ann Fenech is an active member of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) and currently in her second term as Vice President of CMI. The Comité Maritime International is a non-governmental, not-for-profit international organization. It was established in Antwerp in 1897, with the objective to contribute by all appropriate means and activities to the unification of maritime law in all its aspects. To this end, it promotes [...]
July 2022
MMF Chairman on Specialized Court for Maritime Litigations
In his latest article, MMF Chairman Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon refers to the proposals the MMF submitted in 2021 to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition aimed at consolidating Malta’s position in the maritime sector. One proposal was the allocation through legislation of maritime litigation to a specialised court. To read the full article, please click here
June 2022
MMF Chairman on energy efficiency opportunities in maritime transport
In his article in The Malta Business Weekly Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon delves into two European Commission initiatives - Fit for 55 and REpowerEU. Please find the full article here
MMF BOD Member Capt. John M. Dalli on the skills gap in the sea-faring trade
Newly elected Board Member, Capt John Mary Dalli shares his views on the skills gap in the sea-faring trade in an article published in the Times of Malta. Capt Dalli initially aired these views during a conference on Blue Skills organised by the MMF and WestMED on 12 May. The full article is accessible here https://lnkd.in/eAhc5jui
May 2022
GRIMALDI GROUP’S ECO MALTA CHRISTENED IN VALLETTA
Valletta, 30 May 2022: Today the port of Valletta has hosted the christening ceremony of the Eco Malta, the latest ro-ro vessel delivered to the Grimaldi Group in March. This is the sixth of 12 hybrid ships belonging to the innovative GG5G (Grimaldi Green 5th Generation) class and ordered by the company from the Chinese Jinling shipyard located in Nanjing. President of Malta George Vella, representatives of other national authorities [...]
MMF Vice Chairman elected Chairman of WWSA
The MMF congratulates Vice Chairman Godwin Xerri on his election to the prestigious, international position of Chairman of the Worldwide Ship Agencies Association
MMF invited to launch of new course at MaritimeMT
On the invitation of Capt Jesmond Mifsud and MaritimeMT, the MMF Board was invited to a launch of a new course, the STCW Officer of the Watch unlimited. The event was also attended by the new minister responsible for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Hon Aaron Farrugia and the Chairman & CEO of Transport Malta. At the event, the MMF congratulated MaritimeMT on this important milestone. In fact, it is being [...]
We urgently need to bridge the skills gap in the Blue economy’ – Chairman, MMF
Addressing concerns regarding a lack of trained staff in the maritime sector, limited opportunities locally and career guidance for those looking to get into the sector are all hot topics for the Malta Maritime Forum. Dayna Camilleri Clarke speaks to Judge Emeritus JOSEPH ZAMMIT MCKEON, Chairman, Malta Maritime Forum ahead of a conference on the same subject. “I was recently honoured to open a seminar organised by the Malta Maritime [...]
March 2022
Credit where credit is due − Joseph Zammit McKeon
We should thank the men and women who salvaged the Chem P tanker. This is one proud moment for the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) to take a step forward and salute all those involved in the salvage operation on the chemical tanker Chem P, particularly Tug Malta and its crew members who, through their determined and brave actions, last weekend, managed to avert disaster for the vessel, its crew and, [...]
Sustainable transport and cleaner solutions
Pollution and climate change could be reduced through waterborne transport. In February, I represented the Malta Maritime Forum in a national conference, organised by Transport Malta, on ‘Sustainable Transport and Cleaner Solutions’. The event was held online on February 24 and tackled various topical issues with respect to the maritime industry and how it can support a shift to more sustainable transport. During my intervention, I maintained that one way [...]
November 2021
The Role of Technology in Enhancing the Progress towards Carbon-Neutrality in the Maritime Industry
The maritime industry is already the most energy efficient mode of transport of goods and people. This efficiency results from the critical mass it enjoys – transporting 23,000 containers at one go, on a single ship. Shipping gives the lowest emission cost per ton mile, so therefore, the carbon footprint of transporting, say, a shoe-box is much smaller if transported by sea as compared to road or other forms of [...]
August 2021
Maritime-focused electoral manifesto presented to Malta’s political leaders
In this article CEO Kevin J Borg elaborates on a maritime centred electoral manifesto that was presented to the leaders of the major political parties in July in advance of the 2022 General Election. True to its mission to serve as a maritime cluster and a common platform for the maritime industry for the purposes of influencing national maritime policy and facilitating communication between industry players and the country’s [...]
April 2021
The Effect of Covid-19 on the Maltese Shipping Industry
In this article, MMF member Dr Adrian Attard of Fenech & Fenech explains the restrictive measures implemented by the authorities at the early stages of the pandemic and the effects on the local shipping industry. This article appeared in the ILO Shipping & Transport news and can be accessed here.
March 2021
Accolades to the Malta Flag of Ship Registration
In this article, Board Member Godwin Xerri sheds light on Malta’s admirable performance in the Shipping Industry State Performance Table 2020/2021 published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The ICS is the global trade association for ship owners and ship operators representing over 80% of the world merchant fleet with 100,000 vessels. The comparative analysis of all the flags of ship registration is published annually to give ship [...]
MMF playing pivotal role in Maritime Industry’s success
This article was contributed by Kevin J Borg, a few weeks into taking over the MMF CEO position. in this piece, he draws attention to the importance of the maritime sector for the Maltese industry which continued to serve the country even though the most challenging times of the pandemic. Mr Borg argues that too often maritime services are generally taken for granted and people tend to overlook the [...]
November 2020
The maritime sector’s potential towards economic growth
In this article, Board Member Godwin Xerri outlines the main conclusions of a study commissioned by the Malta Maritime Forum about the economic contribution of the maritime industry to the country in terms of GDP, employment and productivity. With the professional economic analysis of empirical facts, the study is the first of its kind and aims to serve both policymakers and the public to appreciate the importance of the [...]
October 2020
Voice of Malta’s Flagbearers
MMV Vice-Chairman, Lino Vassallo, provides an insight into the history and the raison d’être of the Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA), formerly the Malta International Shipping Council, which was established in 2004 as a voluntary NGO when the growth of the Maltese Ship Register to one of the largest of the world called for a national association international in nature. MISA’s main aim is to foster and protect its [...]
February 2019
A Holistic plan for Maritime Malta
Maritime Malta is one of the country’s prime assets. What we lack by way of natural resources is amply compensated for by our surrounding seas. The sea is our source of living, our ‘hinterland’, our means of communication with the outside world. The sea does not isolate us – rather it is our bridge to the rest of the world. Quoting from a recent feature penned by Professor Oliver Friggieri [...]
January 2018
Malta’s Maritime Vocation
Malta - the leading Global Maritime Centre. An island at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Malta - strategically located at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea just six nautical miles off the vital Gibraltar and Suez Canal routes. Throughout its chequered history dating back millennia, Malta has always been an important hub for both merchant as well as naval shipping. Its natural harbours were a [...]