Malta Maritime Authority
Encyclopedia
Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) used to be an independent state corporation and government agency
that is responsible for the governance, operation, regulation and promotion of the port
s of the Mediterranean archipelago
nation of Malta
. Operation of the principal cargo port, Malta Freeport
, is done in conjunction with Malta Freeport Terminals, a company established in 1988. Malta's smaller ports provide service to pleasure craft
and yacht marinas, ferry services, the fishing industry
and local trade. The MMA's Ports Directorate is the port authority
for all ports in Malta. The Malta International Ship Register is a department of the MMA.
As from 2010 the MMA no longer exists as a separate entity but forms part of Transport Malta, a governmental institution which encompasses transport control of the islands over sea, land and air.
s, Malta Island
, Gozo Island and Comino Island. The nation has a rich maritime heritage, and principal ports include:
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
that is responsible for the governance, operation, regulation and promotion of the port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s of the Mediterranean archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
nation of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Operation of the principal cargo port, Malta Freeport
Malta Freeport
Malta Freeport, also called Marsaxlokk Port and Marsaxlokk Harbour, is an international port on the island of Malta. It is the 10th busiest container port in Europe and 43rd in the world with a trade volume of 2.3 million TEU's in 2008...
, is done in conjunction with Malta Freeport Terminals, a company established in 1988. Malta's smaller ports provide service to pleasure craft
Pleasure craft
A pleasure craft is a boat used for personal, family, and sometimes sportsmanlike recreation. Typically such watercraft are motorized and are used for holidays, for example on a river, lake, canal or waterway. Pleasure craft are normally kept at a marina...
and yacht marinas, ferry services, the fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
and local trade. The MMA's Ports Directorate is the port authority
Port authority
In Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
for all ports in Malta. The Malta International Ship Register is a department of the MMA.
As from 2010 the MMA no longer exists as a separate entity but forms part of Transport Malta, a governmental institution which encompasses transport control of the islands over sea, land and air.
Major ports
The Maltese archipelago has three main islandIsland
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s, Malta Island
Malta Island
Malta Island is the largest of the three major islands that constitute the Maltese archipelago and Republic of Malta. Malta is in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea directly south of Italy and north of Libya. The area is 246 km² . The capital is Valletta, largest city is Qormi and the largest...
, Gozo Island and Comino Island. The nation has a rich maritime heritage, and principal ports include:
- Malta FreeportMalta FreeportMalta Freeport, also called Marsaxlokk Port and Marsaxlokk Harbour, is an international port on the island of Malta. It is the 10th busiest container port in Europe and 43rd in the world with a trade volume of 2.3 million TEU's in 2008...
at Marsaxlokk Harbour is the nation's principal cargo portCargoCargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
. - Grand HarbourGrand HarbourGrand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
at VallettaVallettaValletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
is a cargo port that has been in operation since the times of the Roman EmpireRoman EmpireThe Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. - Marsamxett HarbourMarsamxett HarbourMarsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
has pleasure boat marinaMarinaA marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
s.
See also
- Government of MaltaGovernment of MaltaThe Government of Malta is the executive branch of Malta. It is made up of the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Secretaries. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Malta, with the President making his or her decision based on the situation within the Maltese parliament. The Prime...
- Port authorityPort authorityIn Canada and the United States a port authority is a governmental or quasi-governmental public authority for a special-purpose district usually formed by a legislative body to operate ports and other transportation infrastructure.Port authorities are usually governed by boards or...
- Port operatorPort operatorA port operator is port authority or company that contracts with the port authority to move cargo through a port at a contracted minimum level of productivity...
- Transport in Malta