Federation Meeting with Fisheries Board Sub Committee for new Sport/Recreational

[Moonwalker]

Thanks for the clarification Gogo. The problem is that with outboard one still cant register as MFC since for boats>6m the outboard has to be over 100Hp.
Now the registration fees for MFC Valletta are much cheaper than Valletta only.
Since I am registering the boat these coming days, do you think the 100Hp limit for MFC will be removed any time soon or it will be part of the new regulations set that will be presented to future Ministry?

[Gogo]

Moon walker [i]"Since I am registering the boat these coming days, do you think the 100Hp limit for MFC will be removed any time soon or it will be part of the new regulations set that will be presented to future Ministry?"[/i]

We are having a meeting with the Director General on this issue hopefully next Friday. This is a policy not a law. I think that if accepted by the DG it still has to be ratified by the Fisheries Board. I am not a legal man but I think removal of this policy does not need the approval of the Minister. However I may be wrong.
Still I think that this cannot come in force within few days also considering the festivities when usually meetings are adjourned.

Gogo

[benri]

what I cannot really understand is why for a 6m Valletta registered boat I am paying Eur200 annually, while for a 6m boat registered Valletta and MFC, charges are less!

[ganni]

I might be wrong on this one but if I recall correctly, vessels having both MFC and Valletta registration pay 50% of the Valletta registration and 50% of the MFC registration

[Gogo]

Benri  "what I cannot really understand is why for a 6m Valletta registered boat I am paying Eur200 annually, while for a 6m boat registered Valletta and MFC, charges are less!"

Benri, simple. With the Valletta register according to L.N. 83 0f 2012, all ships less than 24 metres length overall and less than 50 gross tonnage pay annually a basic fee of €25 and a tonnage tax of €200. Commercial and pleasure yachts have other tariffs.
On the other hand Fishing vessels of category A,B and C pay annually a basic fee of €25 and and a tonnage tax of €36.

Gogo

[benri]

But don't you still have to pay Valletta with MFC or am I mistaken? Is there some subsidy?

[Gogo]

Benri  "But don't you still have to pay Valletta with MFC or am I mistaken? Is there some subsidy?"

The point is that when a boat is registered with TM  whether in the SSR or Merchant Act (Valletta) the register is solely to allow navigation in territorial and/or international waters. This registration has nothing to do with Fishing licenses. TM are not responsible for fishing. Always remember that 'S' is not "Sport" but "Small Ship Register"
To fish then one applies to FCD for MFC according to size as I have already posted to skip earlier on.

Gogo

[benri]

thanks for the explanation but some issues are still a bit hazy. Does this mean that MFC Valletta are currently not registered with TM?

[Gogo]

Benri "thanks for the explanation but some issues are still a bit hazy. Does this mean that MFC Valletta are currently not registered with TM?"

On the contrary. MFC Valletta which all are above 6 metres so capable to navigate in International Waters are correctly all registered with TM Merchant Act i.e Valletta jew 'tal-bandiera' to navigate (€61) and also have an MFC license according to size of boat to fish i.e. €58.23 for a 6 to 7.99 metre boat.

The below 6 metre MFC are not registered with TM, in this case SSR. These boats cannot navigate beyond the 12 mile territorial waters. This is the anomaly which the  departments of FCD and TM are correcting. The Federation is insisting that since these boats have to be registered with SSR the initial registration is waivered as they already paid with FCD and so will pay only the annual SSR renewal fee according to engine power and the fishing license which they are already paying annually.

I hope this time it is clear.

Gogo     

[benri]

Thanks again Gogo. But why do MFC Valletta pay Eur61 (plus Eur58.23) and Valletta only (no MFC) Eur200 for the same sized 6m boat?

[Gogo]

Benri [color=green]"But why do MFC Valletta pay Eur61 (plus Eur58.23) and Valletta only (no MFC) Eur200 for the same sized 6m boat?"[/i][/color]

Because TM Merchant Act separates Ships less than 24 metres in five categories:
A) Fishing vessels  MFA,B and C. €61
B) Commercial Yachts € 325
C) Pleasure Yachts less than 50 gross tonnage € 200
D) other ships less than 50 gross Tonnage €225
E)  other ships of 50 gross tonnage or more. €350

Then there are  categories for over 24 metres. This does not apply for us.

You seem to qualify for section 'C'. You do not have a fishing license from FCD but only to navigate in all Waters. This is one of the problems in the present situation which is under discusion.

Gogo

[ganni]

much more clear now, thanks gogo

[benri]

Thanks Gogo - Very clear now :-)
So hopefully soon I'll be able to get registered under "Section A".

[Gogo]

benri "So hopefully soon I'll be able to get registered under "Section A"."

Is it the 100 HP outboard ban that is keeping you back?

Gogo

[benri]

Unfortunately yes - it is. I have a 140hp outboard.