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Council Regulation (EU) 2023/2878 of December 18, 2023, amending Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014 resulted in the adoption of the 12th package of sanctions against Russia, with the aim of imposing additional import and export bans combating sanctions circumvention and closing loopholes.

This package of sanctions affects a wide array of areas and industries, ranging from Russian-origin diamond imports to the oil price cap mechanism. In particular to shipping, the regulation introduced article 3q...

https://mmf.org.mt/sanctions-in-shipping-navigating-the-12th-package-of-sanctions-against-russia/

The Malta Maritime Forum welcomed the surge in users of ferry services over the month of February.  As reported in the media, the shift was mainly due to the service becoming free of charge for holders of the Tal-Linja card.  This measure, therefore, proved a great success in that it managed to shift a further 42,000 people from the road to the water raising the total custom to almost 110,000 commuters who are now travelling across our ports via the sea as opposed to driving around the ports by...

https://mmf.org.mt/a-win-win-shift-to-waterborne-traffic/

Valletta Cruise Port, operators of the Valletta Waterfront have recently finalised the restoration of the historic Forni Stores.

The buildings referred to as Forni Stores consist of two separate blocks varying in size and proportion. The block closer to Pinto Stores is known as Forni 1 and was built in 1720, with the façade divided into two bays. The other block known as Forni 2 is composed of 3 bays and is older having been constructed in 1626. Although Forni Stores must have been originally...

https://mmf.org.mt/valletta-waterfronts-forni-buildings-rejuvenated/

For the second consecutive year, Valletta has been chosen by Spanish-speaking cruisers as the Best Port of Call Global, an honour awarded during Premios Cruceroadicto 2023 held during FITUR Madrid 2024 last week. Mark Cauchi Garzia, Deputy GM of Valletta Cruise Port Plc represented the company during the event.

These awards are the result of an international cruise satisfaction survey taken by the growing community of Spanish-speaking cruise travellers, who had the opportunity to voice their...

https://mmf.org.mt/valletta-cruise-port-awarded-as-best-port-of-call-global/

As a partner of the Malta Maritime Forum since its inception, Bank of Valletta’s relationship with the shipping industry has been vital for the operation of international trade and commerce, which is so important for Malta due to its insularity”. This was stated by Kenneth Farrugia, CEO at Bank of Valletta during the recently held Malta Maritime Forum progress meeting.

“At BOV we recognise the long tradition of maritime services in Malta and seek to play our part by using our expertise to assist...

https://mmf.org.mt/bov-supporting-climate-alignment-in-the-shipping-industry/

The Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) has gone on record on numerous occasions with its views on the introduction of the EU Directive on the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) as applied to Shipping and its negative implications for Malta.

The MMF’s calls for a postponement in the implementation were serious and responsible.  They were made with the highest degree of respect for the European Institutions and their commendable objectives behind the Directive.  Nevertheless, the MMF firmly believes that the...

https://mmf.org.mt/the-european-emission-trading-system-and-the-implications-for-malta/

The Malta Maritime Forum proudly congratulates Dr Ann Fenech, on her inclusion, once again, amongst the Lloyds List Shipping Industry’s most influential people.

Typically, in its 2023 Edition Fourteen, The Lloyds List One Hundred People includes owners of the world’s largest fleets, box port operators, technology leaders, maritime lawyers, ship managers and shipbrokers amongst others.

This is yet another remarkable achievement by the Forum’s active Board Member and co-founder in a long list of...

https://mmf.org.mt/mmf-proudly-congratulates-dr-ann-fenech-on-her-inclusion-in-lloyds-list-one-hundred-people-the-shipping-industrys-most-influential-people/

Malta Freeport Terminals performed a staggering 14,600 moves on the CMA CGM mega containership Palais Royal in a record-breaking feat for the facility.

The LNG-powered, 400-metre-long vessel – capable of carrying 23,000 TEU containers – sailed into Malta Freeport on December 6 and is currently en route to Marseilles – the headquarters of CMA CGM Group, the third largest shipping line in the world and also one of Malta Freeport’s shareholders.

Freeport CEO Alex Montebello said: “I am immensely...

https://mmf.org.mt/malta-freeport-achieves-record-number-of-moves-on-mega-vessel/

If big shipping lines move to non-EU ports as a result of an environmental tax that will be introduced by the European Union next year “it will be close to impossible” to bring them back, maritime law expert Ann Fenech told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Expressing her disappointment that the European Commission is biding its time with regard to the effect that such a tax will have on the industry, Fenech said that in international shipping there is no such thing as “wait and see”.

In shipping,...

https://mmf.org.mt/if-shipping-lines-move-to-non-eu-ports-it-will-be-close-to-impossible-to-bring-them-back/

The Maritime Industry is fully committed to decarbonization and environmental protection because the Industry itself is a victim of grave, climate change consequences.  Rising sea and air temperatures, shifting sea levels and the frequency of extreme marine events are devastating to the operations of the Industry.

The Industry fully supports the principles and objectives behind the European Green Deal and the consequent Fit for 55 Package, including the “Fuel EU maritime” Regulation. ...

https://mmf.org.mt/urgent-implementation-rethink-required-to-ensure-achievement-of-the-commendable-objectives-of-eu-ets-shipping/