28/Sep/2016 at 12:21 Press Release 28 September 2016 - Lane adjustment in Kappara     Kappara contractor will be painting new lines on part of Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli as works on the project move on to another area.   Tonight, for a few hours after eight, the contractor will close off one of the two lanes towards Valletta, to be able to do the job safely.   Drivers must follow temporary signage and official’s instructions.  It is imperative that drivers stick to the 30Km/h speed limit to safeguard the safety of workers on site.   Map Link: http://bit.ly/2dwikNL Read more

15/Sep/2016 at 15:07 Press Release 15 September 2016 - Kappara: Triq G. Miceli l-Gzira       Kappara contractor will carry out trenching works in Triq Sliema l-Gżira. Works will start tomorrow after 09:30hrs and are expected to be ready during the last week of September 2016. During works, part of Triq G. Miceli l-Gżira will be closed to traffic.   Works will be carried out in phases. To ease traffic flow, a number of parking bays in Triq Turu Rizzo will be removed.   Transport Malta reminds that the areais a construction site. Drivers are encouraged to  abide to the restricted speed limit, follow temporary signs and respect workers on site.  We also encourage drivers to visit news.transport.gov.mt.   Map Link: http://bit.ly/2cpAgbn Read more

14/Sep/2016 at 12:07 Press Release 14 September 2016 - Maltese-registered vessel MV Duzgit Integrity     Arbitral Tribunal renders Award in favour of Malta in proceedings concerning Maltese-registered ship   On 22 October 2013, Malta had instituted arbitral proceedings against the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe under Article 287 and Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in respect of a dispute concerning the Maltese-registered vessel mv Duzgit Integrity.    Following an exchange of written pleadings and a hearing at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Peace Palace in The Hague, on 5 September 2016 the Tribunal constituted in terms of UNLCOS issued an Award in respect of the said dispute. The Tribunal found, unanimously, that it had jurisdiction over the dispute and that Malta’s claims were admissible.   The dispute concerned the arrest by São Tomé of the Maltese registered ship when it attempted to undertake a ship-to-ship cargo transfer in São Tomé’s archipelagic waters, and the subsequent measures taken by São Tomé in relation to the vessel, its master, cargo, owner and charterer.   The Tribunal determined that Article 49 of UNCLOS, which relates to the exercise of a State’s sovereignty over its archipelagic waters, was applicable. The Tribunal noted that, under international law, enforcement measures taken by a coastal State in response to activity within its archipelagic waters are subject to the requirement of reasonableness, which encompasses the general principles of necessity and proportionality. The Tribunal found that the initial measures taken by São Tomé fell within the exercise of its law enforcement jurisdiction.   The Tribunal, however, found that the other penalties imposed by São Tomé – the prolonged detention of the master and vessel, the monetary sanctions, and the confiscation of the entire cargo – when considered together, could not be regarded as proportional when considering the original offence or the interest of ensuring respect for São Tomé’s sovereignty. The Tribunal found, by majority, that the disproportionality was such that it rendered the cumulative effect of the sanctions incompatible with the responsibilities of a State exercising sovereignty on the basis of Article 49 of UNCLOS. Consequently, the Tribunal held, by majority, that Malta was entitled to claim reparation regarding certain heads of claim in a later phase of the arbitration.   This case has highlighted the commitment of the Maltese Government, particularly through Transport Malta, as a leading flag Administration, to afford the necessary support to operators operating their ships under the Malta flag. This has continued to provide the necessary assurance to shipowners of the firm commitment and support of the Malta flag Administration afforded to their operations.   The full details of the Tribunal decision may be found at:  https://pca-cpa.org/en/news/the-duzgit-integrity-arbitration-the-republic-of-malta-v-the-democratic-republic-of-sao-tome-and-principe/     Read more

13/Sep/2016 at 08:41 Press Release 12 September 2016 - Route 109 to Bahrija resumes as from 13/09/16   Road leading to Baħrija will be accessible to Scheduled Public Transport as from tomorrow 13th September.   Route 109 will resume its normal schedule whilst the shuttle service to and from Rabat will no longer be operated as from tomorrow.   Read more

30/Aug/2016 at 14:05 Press Release 30 August 2016 - Azure Window in Gozo   Transport Malta has issued a Notice to Mariners to ban boats from getting close to the Azure Window in Gozo.  The Authority issued the notice following recent reports that parts of the structure are crumbling.    Transport Malta asks boat drivers to heed the notice for their safety and the safety of persons or passengers on board.   Map Link http://bit.ly/2byISLv Read more

18/Aug/2016 at 14:19 Press Release 18 August 2016 - European Mobility Week - Skola Sajf Sessions   What is the main cause of pollution? What problems are we facing because of pollution and how can these be reduced? How is pollution effecting our daily living and is it having a financial burden on our economy, even at family level? What alternatives do we have to conventional transport modes?   These questions along with other related issues were raised and discussed by the Malta National Electromobility Platform (MNEP) Unit within Transport Malta with around 1,500 children aged between 7 and 12 years, who are attending the Skola Sajf Program coordinated by the Foundation for Educational Services. Four sessions where held during the month of July and included one session in Gozo. This activity was held as part of this year’s annual programme for European Mobility Week 2016and European Mobility Actions.   The talks started off with an introduction to the subject, discussing the effects of both air and noise pollution, the greenhouse effect and respiratory complications which are consequences of pollution. In order to reduce traffic jams and emissions, several suggestions were put forward by the children themselves. Some of these included car pooling, car sharing and cleaner transport modes. Other modes of transport were also suggested. These included public transport, the use of ferries, walking, cycling, electric vehicles, travelling in a car with 3 people or more, making use of the priority lanes when using such modes of transport, as well as the safe use of bicycle lanes.   Electric vehicles were one of the main focuses of these talks, so much so that an electric car was on display. To give children something to look forward to, they were given the opportunity to take photographs with one of the electric vehicles owned by Transport Malta, during a short break. A number of benefits of electric vehicles were highlighted such as the fact that they do not produce any noise or emissions, cost less to run and can easily be charged at home.   When branching out into the subject of safety on the streets, emphasis was made on the importance of the proper use of the street, especially the use of pelican crossing and zebra crossing, by giving several tips and examples. A lot of importance was given to the ‘STOP-LOOK-LISTEN’ rule as well as making sure that cars have completely stopped before crossing the road.With regards to cycling, a number of benefits and other relevant tips were mentioned. Safety tips like the importance of having proper clothing and equipment as well as regular servicing of the bicycle were heavily stressed.   To make the sessions more entertaining for the children, on the right reply to certain key questions, a t-shirt promoting the European Mobility Week as well as the Malta National Bicycle Ride was presented.     Read more