Malta Flag Archives

The new Malta Passenger Yacht Code

May 31, 2021 Leave a Comment

On the 24^th May 2021 the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport Malta published Merchant Shipping Notice 171 notifying the industry that the Malta Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) will enter into force on the 25^th May 2021. The code was drawn up following consultation with industry stakeholders.

Prior to the entry into force of the PYC, commercial yachts registered under the Malta flag and carrying more than 12 passengers were required to satisfy requirements similar to those for passenger ships since they fall outside the scope of the Malta Commercial Yacht Code. Due to the increasing size of commercial yachts and the onerous requirements applicable to passengers ships, the Merchant Shipping Directorate recognised the need to develop a code which specifically caters for larger commercial yachts carrying more than 12 passengers. The PYC caters for a number of equivalencies specifically designed for passenger yachts which carry more than 12 passengers and up to 36 passengers, do not carry more than 200 persons, do not carry cargo and are engaged on international voyages.

This is a welcome development since it addresses technical issues and concerns faced by whoever wishes to register larger commercial yachts under the Malta flag.

The PYC may be found here: https://www.transport.gov.mt/Passenger-Yacht-Code-PYC.pdf-f6340

By Lara Saguna Axiaq, Fenech & Fenech Advocates

Source: Lexology

Brexit’s impact on Malta as a choice of maritime flag

May 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

The United Kingdom officially left the European Union on 1 January 2021. However, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit led many vessels and yachts to leave the United Kingdom’s shipping registry much earlier than the country’s official departure from the European Union, and even before the implications of Brexit were fully understood. The rationale behind such a decision was that shipowners wanted to adopt a cautious approach and retain an EU flag rather than being faced with the risk of instability which Brexit was expected to create for future commercial arrangements within the European Union. From a Maltese perspective, Brexit has given rise to a new opportunity for the Malta Ship Registry to consolidate its position as the largest flag in Europe and the sixth largest in the world – a position it has consistently held for several years.

Increased popularity of Malta flag

French shipping giant CMA CGM, then the largest owner of container ships under the UK flag, was one of the major shipowning companies which transferred its fleet to other European countries as a consequence of the Brexit referendum, with the vast majority of its fleet reflagged to Malta in 2019. As the world’s fourth largest container shipping line, CMA CGM constitutes one of the more high-profile reflagging cases that the Malta Ship Registry has witnessed as a direct result of Brexit. Several factors influenced the French company’s decision to reflag to the Malta and other EU flags, principal among which was the fact that it had traditionally always used EU flags and complied with the EU regulatory framework. Consequently, CMA CGM viewed an EU flag as an integral part of the dynamics of its business, as well as a means to ensure that it remains competitive.

Other notable reflagging cases during this period involved Norwegian vehicle carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which completed the transfer of its UK-registered vessels to Malta towards the end of 2019. Further, the Naples-based Grimaldi Group staggered the reflagging of its fleet of roll-on, roll-off vessels to the Malta flag over several years, with the most recent reflaggings completed in the first few months of 2021.

The Malta Ship Registry saw an unprecedented increase in the number of new registrations between 2019 and 2020, with Malta’s registered tonnage increasing by 7%, the largest increase in the world at the time.

Benefits of Malta flag

The uncertainties caused by Brexit are not the only reason why Malta is a popular flag choice. Many shipowners view the Malta flag as a strict flag which maintains high standards and quality tonnage and are attracted to its experience, versatility and good reputation. Further, the Malta flag is white listed in the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control. This means that Malta-flagged vessels are subjected to fewer port state inspections, which translates to smoother and more time-efficient port operations for shipowners. Moreover, the financing aspect has a contributary affect, since shipowners are a priori often required by their financiers to register their vessels with an EU flag. In such instances, financial conditions in loan documentation typically stipulate that vessels must be registered with an EU flag or even with certain specific flags where the jurisdiction is deemed to be creditor friendly.

Malta is one such jurisdiction which is generally considered as providing additional creditor confidence. This is because Maltese law stipulates that a registered mortgage grants a watertight executive title in favour of the mortgagee. In practical terms, an executive title enables creditors to swiftly enforce their mortgage upon an event of default simply by tendering a notice of default. These facets collectively render the Malta flag an attractive option to financiers and shipowners alike.

Benefits of Brexit

In addition to the immediate impact that Brexit has had on increasing Malta’s registered tonnage, it has also given rise to other opportunities. Principal among them is the potential for attracting UK-based maritime organisations, such as protection and indemnity clubs and ship management companies, which want to set up an outpost to maintain access to the EU financial market. Malta may be considered an attractive jurisdiction for the relocation of UK-based organisations due to its:

cultural connection to Britain;
high availability of English-language proficient individuals specialised in a variety of areas, including:
- shipping;
- finance;
- insurance; and
- law

shipping law that is broadly based on English common law; and
approved tonnage tax and corporate tax system that offers a favourable fiscal environment.

Overall, Brexit may have a lasting positive impact on the growth of the Malta maritime flag and increase the presence of UK shipping organisations in Malta. This bodes well not only for the consolidation of Malta’s impressive maritime flag standing, but also for strengthening its maritime services industry as a whole and its status as a leading maritime hub in the Mediterranean.

by Peter Grima of Fenech & Fenech Advocates

Source: International Law Office

Revised Non-Convention Vessel (NCV) Code

April 20, 2021 Leave a Comment

The Malta Non-Convention Vessel (NCV) Code which previously came into force on the 1^st January 2019, has been revised and updated following consultation with interested parties by Transport Malta. The revised code comes into force on the 1^st September 2021 and is intended to better reflect and serve the needs of the industry and market.

The NCV Code applies to all Non-Convention Vessels ≥ 15m Length Overall, including commercial vessels ≥ 15m Length Overall which are certified and operating on domestic navigation including those vessels operating exclusively within Maltese waters and which are engaged in or intended for use in any trade, business or calling or operating for hire or reward, in the carriage of cargo/supplies/passengers or providing port services or services to other vessels.

Existing vessels which already hold an NCV Certificate must comply with the revised code by the vessel’s first periodical survey carried out on or after the 1st September 2021.

The Code can be downloaded from https://www.transport.gov.mt/NCV-Code-Rev-2.pdf-f6200

By Martina Farrugia and Lara Saguna Axiaq, Fenech & Fenech Advocates

Source: Lexology

The Grimaldi Group strengthens its presence in Malta

April 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

Naples, 6th of April 2021: In recent months, the Naples-based Grimaldi Group has proceeded to significantly strengthen its presence in Malta through various initiatives, showing its full commitment in promoting the country’s maritime vocation.

Following the effects of Brexit, Atlantic Container Line (ACL), a Grimaldi Group company, has proceeded to reflag its fleet in the last six months, leaving the Union Jack and opting for the Malta flag. A total of nine vessels of ACL are currently under Maltese flag while another one is due to be added in the next few months. ACL operates the biggest con/ro vessels in the world, offering a liner service between various North European and North American ports for the transport of rolling units and containers.

Moreover, Malta Motorways of the Sea Ltd (MMOS), a Grimaldi Group company, has recently strengthened its fleet with the purchase of two additional vessels: the ro/ro units Eurocargo Catania and Eurocargo Sicilia. Currently, Valletta-based MMOS has a fleet of six modern ro/ro vessels and operates various regular maritime services in the Mediterranean.

Particularly, MMOS runs, in cooperation with the Grimaldi Group, a regular service between mainland Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Salerno and Catania) and Malta, under a Public Service Obligation contract with the Maltese Government, thus guaranteeing the shipment of essential commodities into the country.

With a view of promoting maritime education in Malta, MMOS has a permanent cooperation agreement with MCAST – Maritime Institute for the training of sea cadets onboard its vessels. Hundreds of young Maltese cadets have received training so far, many of whom have also been hired by Grimaldi Group companies.

Finally, in the course of the month, the Grimaldi Group will further strengthen the maritime connections it offers between Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Catania) and Malta. In fact, in the second half of the April, Malta is due to be served with one of the 12 GG5G-class (Grimaldi Green 5th Generation) ro/ro vessels, currently under construction in Asia, four of which already delivered to the Group. A second vessel of the same class will be deployed on the same route at the beginning of June.

C O M U N I C A T O S T A M P A

The GG5G-class vessels are the biggest short sea ro/ro units in the world as well as the most ecofriendly. They have a length of 238 meters, a beam of 34 meters, a gross tonnage of 67,311 tonnes and a service speed of 20.8 knots. Their loading capacity is twice that of the previous class of ro/ro ships deployed by the Grimaldi Group: each vessel can carry over 500 trailers as well as 180 cars. Their quarter stern ramp allows the loading of freight units weighing up to 150 tons.

At the same speed, the GG5G-class vessels consume the same amount of fuel compared to the previous generation vessels and are therefore able to halve CO2 emissions per unit transported: this was made possible through the adoption of several innovative technological solutions that optimize fuel consumption and ship performance. Moreover, they are equipped with an exhaust gas cleaning system for the reduction of sulphur and particulate emissions.

During port stays, the GG5G-class vessels are capable of cutting emissions to zero by using the electricity stored in mega lithium batteries with a total power of 5 MWh, which are recharged during navigation thanks to shaft generators and 350 m2 of solar panels.

“We are very proud to contribute to strengthening our long affiliation with the Maltese Islands, its people and its industry”, states Emanuele Grimaldi, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Group and Vice-President of the Malta International Shipping Council. “Having been present for over half a century in Malta is a demonstration of our commitment to the wellbeing of this nation whom we intend to serve with increasingly modern and ecofriendly vessels”, concludes Emanuele Grimaldi.

Court orders extension of effects of flag injunction to security deposited by debtor

February 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

Creditors’ ability under Maltese law to file an application before the courts for an injunction prohibiting the sale, transfer or deregistration of Maltese-flagged vessels has proven to be a useful and effective tool to protect maritime claims.

Section 37 injunction

In essence, the Section 37 injunction allows creditors, in certain circumstances which give rise to a maritime claim attracting the jurisdiction of the Maltese courts in rem, to obtain a court order which prohibits the vessel from being sold or entering any further mortgages until the merits of the case have been decided in the appropriate jurisdiction. When granted, the order is served on the registrar of Maltese ships and is recorded against the vessel’s entry in the registry. This obliges the registrar to refrain from:

recognising any transfer of ownership;
recognising any further mortgages; and
issuing any deletion certificate for the vessel.

Further, if a transcript of register is issued, the injunction will appear on the transcript.

The law provides that the demand for the order must be made by sworn application as though the party were commencing an action. As with all such applications, this must be served on the defendant, which has 20 days to file a defence. The matter is also given a hearing date. Submissions and ultimately a court decision follow. The court will decide whether to agree to the request to order that no further transfers can be effected until the matter on the merits is decided. As this will take time and because any forewarning in the issuing of the injunction may defeat the object of the exercise, the law allows creditors to file an ex parte application together with the statutory sworn application, containing the same demands and requesting that the court agree to the order immediately and on an interim basis until the statutory sworn application has been heard and decided definitively. This caters for the element of urgency which often accompanies the necessity of obtaining such injunctions to ensure timely protection of creditors’ interests.

Case law

In the recent case of Dr Ann Fenech as mandatory for and on behalf of Clearlake Shipping Pte Ltd v Global LNG Limited, the creditor followed the above procedure in seeking security for a claim arising from a dispute under a charterparty concluded between the parties in relation to the MV Portovyy. While the merits were, in terms of the arbitration clause contained in the charterparty, subject to arbitration in London, the charterers were keen to ensure that their rights would be secured in the eventuality of them obtaining a favourable award.

The Maltese courts granted the Section 37 order on a provisional basis on the same day as the filing of both the statutory sworn application and the ex parte application (as described above). The owners eventually filed a cash deposit in the amount claimed by the charterers in the court registry, together with a request for the court to order that the Section 37 order be revoked.

By means of a 26 November 2020 decree, the court held that rather than ordering the revocation of the Section 37 injunction, the effects of said order would cease to exist insofar as the vessel itself was concerned but would continue to apply exclusively to the cash deposit provided by way of security by the owners, pending the final determination of the merits or a settlement being reached by the parties.

Comment

This case illustrates the practical efficacy of these procedures, which are an efficient tool for obtaining security while allowing owners to continue to make full use of their vessels. Further, the law allows owners to shift the effect of such an injunction from the vessel itself onto adequate security that may be provided by them in terms of law.

By Alison Vassallo, Fenech & Fenech Advocates

Source: ILO

Member of the Comité Maritime International

The new Malta Passenger Yacht Code

Brexit’s impact on Malta as a choice of maritime flag

Revised Non-Convention Vessel (NCV) Code

The Grimaldi Group strengthens its presence in Malta

Court orders extension of effects of flag injunction to security deposited by debtor

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