Malta's maritime industry is largely governed by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1973, Chapter 234 of the Laws of Malta (the "Merchant Shipping Act"), a legislative cornerstone regulating among others, vessel registration, security interests such as mortgages, safety standards, seafarers' rights and shipowner obligations.
Malta's maritime industry is largely governed by the
Merchant Shipping Act of 1973, Chapter 234 of the Laws of Malta
(the "Merchant Shipping Act"), a
legislative cornerstone regulating among others, vessel
registration, security interests such as mortgages, safety
standards, seafarers' rights and shipowner obligations. Over
the years, the Merchant Shipping Act has evolved to keep pace with
global maritime trends, and now, it stands on the brink of another
major transformation through Act No. I of 2025 (the
"Act").
A key aspect of the Act is the introduction of the finance
charter instrument, formalising the concept of a finance charter
interest as a legal mechanism for securing the rights of a finance
lessor. This article explores the implications of this security
instrument and its potential impact on ship financing in Malta.
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
View source
