Pilotage is obligatory for ships exceeding 500 GRT (excluding fishing vessels and yachts, amongst others), when entering, leaving, shifting or anchoring in a ‘Compulsory Pilotage Port’, i.e., parts of The Grand Harbour of Valletta, Marsamxett Harbour, Marsaxlokk Harbour and Mgarr, Gozo, with the exception of cases where ships are unable to obtain the services of a pilot due to inclement weather conditions or when the ship has been exempted from pilotage by the Port Directorate.
It is worth noting that the Authority retains the right to demand that any vessel within a compulsory pilotage port shall be carried out under the direction of a pilot.
Pilots board vessels at the Fairway Buoy Pilot Stations located outside Valletta and Marsaxlokk. In bad weather, however, boarding may be limited to the harbour entrance. Pilotage and mooring services are available on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week.
Pilotage and mooring fees differ according to GRT of the ship, with a 5% supplement on standard rates for services between sunset and sunrise and on Sundays and public holidays.
The following dues are charged at a standard rate according to the Gross Registered Tonnage of a ship and cover any number of hours to be performed by members of the Pilotage Corps as follows:
Pilotage dues
Ships not exceeding 500 tons | €171 |
Ships exceeding 500 tons but not exceeding 1000 tons | €182 |
Ships exceeding 1000 tons but not exceeding 2000 tons | €193 |
Ships exceeding 2000 tons but not exceeding 3500 tons | €203 |
Ships exceeding 3500 tons but not exceeding 5000 tons | €214 |
Ships exceeding 5000 tons but not exceeding 7000 tons | €225 |
Ships exceeding 7000 tons but not exceeding 10000 tons | €235 |
Ships exceeding 10000 tons but not exceeding 15000 tons | €246 |
Ships exceeding 15000 tons but not exceeding 20000 tons | €257 |
Ships exceeding 20000 tons but not exceeding 25000 tons | €268 |
Ships exceeding 25000 tons but not exceeding 30000 tons | €278 |
Ships exceeding 30000 tons but not exceeding 40000 tons | €300 |
For every additional 10,000 tons or part thereof in excess of 40,000 tons | €48 |
Other charges are levied for additional services in terms of the Maritime Pilotage Regulations 2008 (S.L. 499.26)
Mooring and Unmooring dues
Ships not exceeding 30,000 tons | €100 |
Ships exceeding 30,000 tons but not exceeding 80,000 tons | €150 |
Ships exceeding 80,000 tons but not exceeding 110,000 tons | €200 |
Ships exceeding 110,000 tons but not exceeding 140,000 tons | €250 |
Ships exceeding 140,000 tons but not exceeding 170,000 tons | €300 |
For every additional 10,000 tons or part thereof in excess of 170,000 tons | €15 |
A surcharge of ten per centum on the standard rate shall be incurred for tankers. A levy of five per cent on the gross expenses incurred for mooring services is always charged. Other charges are levied in terms of the Regulations (L.N. 253 of 2012)
Pilotage is obligatory for ships exceeding 500 GRT (excluding fishing vessels and yachts, amongst others), when entering, leaving, shifting or anchoring in a ‘Compulsory Pilotage Port’, i.e., parts of The Grand Harbour of Valletta, Marsamxett Harbour, Marsaxlokk Harbour and Mgarr, Gozo, with the exception of cases where ships are unable to obtain the services of a pilot due to inclement weather conditions or when the ship has been exempted from pilotage by the Port Directorate.
It is worth noting that the Authority retains the right to demand that any vessel within a compulsory pilotage port shall be carried out under the direction of a pilot.
Pilots board vessels at the Fairway Buoy Pilot Stations located outside Valletta and Marsaxlokk. In bad weather, however, boarding may be limited to the harbour entrance. Pilotage and mooring services are available on a 24 hour basis, 7 days a week.
Pilotage and mooring fees differ according to GRT of the ship, with a 5% supplement on standard rates for services between sunset and sunrise and on Sundays and public holidays.
The following dues are charged at a standard rate according to the Gross Registered Tonnage of a ship and cover any number of hours to be performed by members of the Pilotage Corps as follows:
Pilotage dues
Ships not exceeding 500 tons | €171 |
Ships exceeding 500 tons but not exceeding 1000 tons | €182 |
Ships exceeding 1000 tons but not exceeding 2000 tons | €193 |
Ships exceeding 2000 tons but not exceeding 3500 tons | €203 |
Ships exceeding 3500 tons but not exceeding 5000 tons | €214 |
Ships exceeding 5000 tons but not exceeding 7000 tons | €225 |
Ships exceeding 7000 tons but not exceeding 10000 tons | €235 |
Ships exceeding 10000 tons but not exceeding 15000 tons | €246 |
Ships exceeding 15000 tons but not exceeding 20000 tons | €257 |
Ships exceeding 20000 tons but not exceeding 25000 tons | €268 |
Ships exceeding 25000 tons but not exceeding 30000 tons | €278 |
Ships exceeding 30000 tons but not exceeding 40000 tons | €300 |
For every additional 10,000 tons or part thereof in excess of 40,000 tons | €48 |
Other charges are levied for additional services in terms of the Maritime Pilotage Regulations 2008 (S.L. 499.26)
Mooring and Unmooring dues
Ships not exceeding 30,000 tons | €100 |
Ships exceeding 30,000 tons but not exceeding 80,000 tons | €150 |
Ships exceeding 80,000 tons but not exceeding 110,000 tons | €200 |
Ships exceeding 110,000 tons but not exceeding 140,000 tons | €250 |
Ships exceeding 140,000 tons but not exceeding 170,000 tons | €300 |
For every additional 10,000 tons or part thereof in excess of 170,000 tons | €15 |
A surcharge of ten per centum on the standard rate shall be incurred for tankers. A levy of five per cent on the gross expenses incurred for mooring services is always charged. Other charges are levied in terms of the Regulations (L.N. 253 of 2012)