Support measures to the Maltese Shipping Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Transport Malta has published Merchant Shipping Notices 158 and 160 which provide for support and precautionary measures against COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the shipping industry. In view of this, the Directorate has enacted the following measures:

Deferral of payment of Tonnage Tax

In an effort to support shipping companies, owners, managers and operators of Maltese merchant ships and to enable them to address the difficulties encountered due to the wide spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Directorate has resolved to defer the due payment date of the relevant Registration Fees and the Annual Tonnage Tax of merchant ships  (Merchant Shipping Act – First Schedule), of which the anniversary date falls on or after 1 April 2020, by a period of three months from the anniversary.

To this effect, requests to issue renewal Certificates of Registry are still to be made to the Registrar as provided in article 19(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act, accompanied by a request for the deferral of payment of the relevant registration fees and annual tonnage tax, where applicable.

Extension of sea service beyond the seafarer employment agreement period

Shipowners, Managers and Operators encountering difficulties in repatriating seafarers following the expiration of the term established in the Seafarer’s Employment Agreement in terms of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Rules, may, on a case-by-case basis request to extend the validity of the Agreement for a maximum period of three months, which period may be extended for further periods upon application, should the situation remain unchanged. Arrangements for repatriation should be made at the earliest opportunity.

Any extended period would require an addendum to the Seafarer Employment Agreement under the same terms and conditions as the underlying agreement.

Extension of the validity of seafarer certificates beyond their expiry date

Seafarers, in possession of a Certificate of Competency (CoC) issued by an Administration other than Malta and who are in possession of a Flag State Endorsement issued under the Merchant Shipping Act and in terms of the STCW Convention, which may expire during an extended period on board, may extend the validity of their Flag State Endorsement.

Extension of statutory certificates, surveys, audits and inspections

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, attendance of statutory surveys has become increasingly difficult. Furthermore, several shipyards cannot accommodate ships, for both booked and planned supervisions requiring dry docking. In view of these exceptional circumstances, in cases where surveyors, auditors and/or inspectors are not able to undertake scheduled surveys, audit and inspections due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, this Directorate will consider requests for extension/postponement under force majeure or unforeseen exceptional circumstances, on a case by case basis.