Letters | Wednesday, 01 April 2009

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Reference is made to the article carried in Maltatoday of Wednesday 18th March 2009 under the heading “Epistles (1)” by Dr Anna Mallia.
First of all I would like to clarify that I have been appointed CEO and not Chairman of the Malta Maritime Authority.
Secondly, I would also like to apologise on behalf of the Authority for not acknowledging Dr Mallia’s e-mail.
To answer her valid query:
The Malta Powerboat School does not issue a nautical license. It provides instruction courses for powerboat driving and is recognised as a training centre by the UK Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Persons who are in possession of an RYA Powerboat Level 2 Certificate and additionally a certificate or document that demonstrates that they have also attended a training course/session covering Basic First Aid at Sea are eligible to sit for the Malta Maritime Authority’s examination for the nautical license. Examinations are conducted at the Maritime Institute in Kalkara, which apart from being a training centre in its own right, is also the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) recognised examination centre for the nautical license. The nautical licence issued by the Authority is valid for navigation in Maltese Territorial Waters (and thus cannot be used to navigate in International Waters) and for vessels the length of which does not exceed 24 metres.
The Malta Maritime Authority does not organise any courses. It is the Maritime Institute (MCAST) in Kalkara that organises the Basic Seamanship Course. Persons who are in possession of the Basic Seamanship Course Certificate are eligible to sit for the Malta Maritime Authority’s Examination for the Nautical License. Whilst it is true that such course does not have international recognition, the Maritime Institute organises courses for seafarers sailing on seagoing ships on international voyages in accordance with the STCW Convention namely from Officer of the Watch (deck and engineer) to the level of Master Mariner and Chief Engineer. MCAST also delivers courses for local seafarers at various levels in accordance with the Commercial Vessels Regulations. This particular basic course was specifically devised by the former Nautical School more than 15 years ago as a foundation course for all persons sailing within the Maltese territorial waters.
One understands that the syllabus of such course is to be adjourned to today’s requirements and in fact the Authority is considering reviewing and updating the course syllabus. The issue of international recognition is also being discussed internally.
There seems to be some misunderstanding on the duration of the course at MCAST. The impression being given is that the MCAST course is four weeks long as opposed to the two days of the RYA. MCAST offer the course on an 8-day span with a total of about 25 hours of tuition including the first aid and fire fighting modules. The examination is common to all. One should also mention that there are instances where MCAST organises the same course in Gozo over a weekend. It is to be noted that the Authority recognises the course upon verification that the course material covers the standard required to sit for the nautical licence examination. The Authority does not interfere with the teaching or training methodology applied by the training centre. The Authority will recognise training centres provided that they satisfy certain criteria and may in future also recognise other training centres to ensure that the public has a choice of training centres that can cater for individual needs, whilst guaranteeing good quality training.
I trust this clarifies the query raised by Dr Mallia and thank her for prompting the opportunity of looking into the matter.

Dr Stanley Portelli
CEO, Malta Maritime Authority

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