The Board of the Malta Maritime Forum holds dialogue session with a delegation of candidates for the forthcoming MEP Elections representing the Partit Laburista. “By its nature, the business activity related to most operators forming part of the maritime industry is conducted in EU or international waters, is subject to EU or international legislation and conventions and is therefore influenced by European and Global policy developments. “The EU and its [...]

Council Regulation (EU) 2023/2878 of December 18, 2023, amending Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 resulted in the adoption of the 12th package of sanctions against Russia, with the aim of imposing additional import and export bans combating sanctions circumvention and closing loopholes. This package of sanctions affects a wide array of areas and industries, ranging from Russian-origin diamond imports to the oil price cap mechanism. In particular to shipping, the regulation [...]

Valletta Cruise Port, operators of the Valletta Waterfront have recently finalised the restoration of the historic Forni Stores. The buildings referred to as Forni Stores consist of two separate blocks varying in size and proportion. The block closer to Pinto Stores is known as Forni 1 and was built in 1720, with the façade divided into two bays. The other block known as Forni 2 is composed of 3 bays [...]

As a partner of the Malta Maritime Forum since its inception, Bank of Valletta's relationship with the shipping industry has been vital for the operation of international trade and commerce, which is so important for Malta due to its insularity". This was stated by Kenneth Farrugia, CEO at Bank of Valletta during the recently held Malta Maritime Forum progress meeting. "At BOV we recognise the long tradition of maritime services [...]

The Malta Maritime Forum proudly congratulates Dr Ann Fenech, on her inclusion, once again, amongst the Lloyds List Shipping Industry’s most influential people. Typically, in its 2023 Edition Fourteen, The Lloyds List One Hundred People includes owners of the world’s largest fleets, box port operators, technology leaders, maritime lawyers, ship managers and shipbrokers amongst others. This is yet another remarkable achievement by the Forum’s active Board Member and co-founder in [...]

If big shipping lines move to non-EU ports as a result of an environmental tax that will be introduced by the European Union next year “it will be close to impossible” to bring them back, maritime law expert Ann Fenech told The Malta Independent on Sunday. Expressing her disappointment that the European Commission is biding its time with regard to the effect that such a tax will have on the [...]

The Malta Maritime Forum expressed concern about the “imminent risk” that major shipping companies pull out of Malta as a result of an environment tax that will be introduced in European Union countries as from next year. There is a “likely scenario” in which Malta will lose its role as a transhipment hub, as shipping countries choose ports of call outside the EU where no such tax is paid, MMF [...]

Malta Maritime Forum pushes on for the need to have a holistic maritime strategy and a dedicated authority. World Maritime Day has been celebrated on September 28 since 1978 to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment but it also serves to shed light on an industry which, despite its size and economic contribution, has often failed to receive the importance it deserves. [...]

The facts and figures relating to how much the maritime industry contributes to the Maltese economy have been referenced countless times and they are substantial. I will not quote them here as this information is quite easily attainable to anyone who searches the plethora of articles on this subject. What is irritating many people working in this industry is that such income is being taken for granted and there is [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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, [...]

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 [...]

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.

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]