Transport Malta’s Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued Merchant Shipping Notice 127. Rev 3, setting out revised guidelines for the seaworthiness assessment of vessels under the Malta flag registration.
Although this notice replaces the previous Rev. 2, it does introduce tighter requirements around vessel age, pre-registration inspections and documentation.
In this update, we provide a quick summary of the key changes, but be sure to read the full PDF here for the full update.
As a general rule, merchant ships over the age of 20 will no longer be accepted for registration under the Malta flag however, vessels under 20 years still remain eligible provided: they are classed, or in the process of being classed with a Recognised Organisation; hold valid statutory certificates; and have confirmation from their classification society that all certificates can be issued without outstanding recommendations – the directorate also requires satisfactory information on the ISM managers
