Malta welcomes new pilot regs

NEW pilotage regulations have come into force in Malta in the form of Legal Notice 96, 2003, reports Malta-based lawyer Ann Fenech, a partner at Fenech & Fenech Advocates and chairman of Malta’s Pilotage Board.

The new Maritime Pilotage Regulations are long overdue, not only given the changes that have take place in the industry over the years but also because previous regulations, in trying to regulate both mooring personnel and pilots at the same time, had caused a number of unnecessary problems.

Prior to the new regulations, pilots were, for some purposes, considered employees of the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) and, for others, considered to be self-employed. This led to a number of unhappy situations which could have been avoided by the creation of a separate legal entity - a service provider - with whom the Malta Maritime Authority, as the regulator and body responsible for the ports and harbours of Malta, could contract.

The new regulations provide the MMA with the rights and powers to ensure the provision of pilotage services in the ports by entering into a pilotage agreement with the service provider. The pilots have formed a co-operative giving them greater autonomy in the conduct of their affairs, subject to the terms of the contract of service with the MMA.

It is hoped that the new regulations will provide pilots with the necessary encouragement to continue to improve the service they provide, particularly in view of the development of Malta as a home port for the rapidly increasing numbers of cruise liners now calling at the new cruise line terminal.