Malta: Marine/ Shipping

Malta has established itself as one of the world's premier yachting jurisdictions, with over 1,000 superyachts registered under its flag. What makes Malta's combination of EU compliance, competitive VAT rates, and flexible registration pathways so attractive to yacht owners and operators seeking a strategic Mediterranean base?

The International Maritime Organization has confirmed that the HNS Convention, governing liability and compensation for damage from hazardous cargo transport by sea, will enter force on 29 November 2027. After nearly three decades of delays, this creates immediate compliance obligations for Malta's ship registry and the global maritime industry, requiring new insurance certificates, reporting systems, and a two-tier compensation framework backed by both shipowners and cargo receivers.

Malta's Commercial Court has been re-established as a superior court with extensive jurisdiction over commercial disputes, maritime matters, aviation claims, and intellectual property cases. The reform introduces significant changes to how commercial litigation will be handled, though certain aspects of the Court's scope remain subject to interpretation. Practitioners must carefully navigate the new jurisdictional framework to ensure cases are filed in the appropriate forum.

The Maltese Registry of Ships has introduced Merchant Shipping Notice 206, offering a streamlined alternative for accepting foreign documents without full apostille or legalisation requirements.

By virtue of Act I of 2025 and Legal Notice 26 of 2025, significant amendments were introduced to the Merchant Shipping Act (MSA) Chapter 234 of the Laws of Malta and to the Merchant Shipping...

Transport Malta's Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued Commercial Yachting Notice 15, establishing clear protocols for Certificate of Competency endorsements on Malta-flagged commercial yachts.

Building on the introduction of the Small Commercial Yacht Code in 2024, Malta is once again reinforcing its status as a global leader in the yachting sector, this time by updating its established Commercial Yacht Code.

The Merchant Shipping Directorate has announced that the Malta Ship Registry will begin issuing electronic certificates as of the 01st of June 2025, in line with IMO guidelines on the use of electronic certificates.

The Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued a revised Commercial Yacht Code ("CYC") 2025, which will replace the current CYC 2020.