Today on the radio I heard an announcement by the Malta Maritime Authority saying that anybody having a boat with more than 100hp has to have a Malta maritime authority license to drive it. The announcement falls short of saying if all boats fall under this law or if it makes a difference between MFA, MFB, MFC or valletta registration, or inboard or outboard motors. Anybody knows any information?????
Yes, the nautical licence applies to all vessels irrispective of registration class, whether the vessel is registered MFA, MFB, MFC, valletta or S. All vessels powered by engines of 100hp and over, inboard or outboard, must be piloted by someone who holds a nautical licence issued by the MMA following an approved course and practical and oral test.
I guess we can only get the certification from MCAST?
gaffer mfa and mfb registration dont need the license till now
But can't the MMA make specific announcements while making use of public money????
Busu curious why MFA/MFB don't need a license! Most of their boats are powered by more than 100hp and they are out on the sea as well, so they should be included, no?
Skip although fishing boats are powered with over 100hp they arebnot fast boats. Some may only reach a top speed of 20 knots.
Our boat is made of wood and it is powered by 135 hp plus 85 hp but it barely reaches 8 knots.
You're right bigboy that some fishing boats reach a top speed of only 20 knots but, I can assure you that I once had a fishing boat chase me from a cima. I went up to over 35knots and believe me he was not far off!!! you therefore cannot draw a line that way - With that reasoning a little dinghy with a 9.9 can also reach great speeds. In my opinion it should therefore be 100hp across the board.
Busumark, that is not correct. I am/was registered as MFB and still had to obtain the licence.
Benri with todays cost of fuel, fishing bots never run at full speeds. The new fiber fishing boats yes can be fast as i have been on a 42 footer with 3 engines, 2 yanmar 280s and one volvo 360 and it can reach 40 knots easily. But big boats made from wood are heavy so no matter the power.
They also take in a matter of fact the lifetime of their engines. Since many fishing boats go out very far they only use 1/2 throttle so thier engines work at ease and also fuel consumption is not so high.
Our boat does 10 knots at full speed with 1 engine and it revs up to 2900 rpm. We usually run it at 1700 rpm getting 6knots at good fuel consumption of 1.50euro per mile.
Bigboy you are right in all you are stating but, cost of fuel and engines is up for everyone not just for MFA/B's so this shouldn't exempt anyone from a licence!
If you get caught by the police/AFM with a 100hp engine without a licence, you cannot tell them that you never use more than half throttle cause cost of fuel is high! :-)
the thing is its one weight two measures as usual. I cant understand the reasoning of the HP with a licence. Anyone using power on a boat should have a licence. The HP should have nothing to do with it. We get a licence whether we are driving a 10hp subaru (i have one) and a 100 hp ferrari (dont have one).
The licence is there to make sure that whoever is driving knows the rules of the road in our case sea for the safety of himself and of others.
my friend is mfb and i know people who are mfa when they checked with fisheries they told them that they dont need a license and nobody ever send them something that they need to do the license. did you do it to have the license or because they sent you a letter that you need one? gaffer
any one knows when the maritime license courses held please.
You can contact MCAST and they'll give you all info. The course needed is:
Basic Seamenship & Safe Boat Handling 31 Hours (2 Weeks) ?130.00
http://www.mcastshortcourses.gov.mt/
thank you benri ......
No, never received any notice that I need a licence. When I was stopped by AFM they demanded to see my licence. I called fisheries and they told me I do not need a licence. I called MMA and they said yes, I require a licence. I called fisheries again and they said from THEIR side I do not need a licence, but if MMA say I should have, then I must comply. And I did!...so much for fisheries!!!
As a clarification... L.N. 183 of 2008 clearly states that a licence is needed for all small ships. I am hereby pasting the definition of a small ship which clearly states that fishing vessels also fall under this definition ireespective of MFA/B/C or S.
?small ship? means a craft under twenty-four metres in length
employed solely in the navigation within the territorial waters of
Malta, whether mechanically driven or not, and whether privately
or commercially used< and includes, but is not limited to, all types
of craft such as sailing boats, yachts, fishing vessels and other
craft used for fishing like caiques, luzzijiet and frejgatini, cabin
cruisers, speedboats, jet skis, dinghies, passage boats and other
Maltese traditional boats, paddleboats, canoes, personal water craft,
air cushioned craft etc.
This notice then goes on to say the following which is very clear that they will be extended to even less than 100hp:
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Small Ships Regulations, 2008.
(2) (a) These regulations, other than regulation 29, shall come into force on their date of publication.
(b) Regulation 29 in respect of mechanically driven small ships shall come into force, where the small ship has an engine or engines with a combined power>
(i) of, or exceeding, 100 H.P., on the 1st September, 2001<
and
(ii) not exceeding 100 H.P., on such date as the Minister may prescribe.
like always in malta not even the authorities know the law. hawadni ha nifmek