Malta’s ship registry recorded growth both in the total tonnage of commercial ships registered and in yacht registration over the previous year, Transport Malta announced this week.
Malta's Ship Registry recorded growth both in the total tonnage of commercial ships registered and in yacht registration over the previous year, Transport Malta announced this week.
Indeed Transport Malta reported strong improvement and record figures in Malta’s ship register for 2013 marking an increase of 13.6% (or six million gross tonnes) in ship registrations and 18.1% rise in registration of yachts of over 24 metres in length. These positive numbers position the Malta Ship Register as the largest merchant flag in the European Union, with Malta's ship registry being seventh worldwide. December 2013 presented figures such as registered tonnage of ships registered under the Merchant Shipping Act exceeding the 50 million gross tons for the first time ever, totalling 51.8 million gross tons. Also interesting to note that of the end of December 2013, the superyacht fleet flying the Maltese cross worldwide was 398. The Maltese flag also claimed positive results for Malta in terms of port State control performance during the last year.
"The past year was a record year for the Malta Ship Register. We achieved solid growth, improved the technical performance of the registered fleet and further consolidated Malta's position as a European leader in this maritime sector," TM executive chairman James Piscopo said.
Transport Malta were positive that the figures strengthen the drive for investment in the Maritime sector and continue to develop Maritime Malta as an international centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.
