Solicitor for Maritime Law in Sliema

I’m involved in the operation of a vessel registered under the Malta flag, and I want to understand, in general terms, what legal process would apply if this vessel were ever involved in a collision with another ship at sea. Would Maltese law automatically apply, or does it depend on where the collision actually happens?

I’m planning to start a business in Malta offering commercial boat trips for tourists, taking paying passengers out on excursions. I want to understand what licences or certifications are actually required before I can legally operate this kind of commercial passenger service.

I contracted with a shipyard in Malta to carry out repairs on my vessel, but the work has been significantly delayed beyond the agreed timeline, causing me real financial loss from the vessel being out of commercial service longer than planned. What are my options for addressing this delay with the shipyard?

I operate a vessel that occasionally calls at Maltese ports, and I want to understand the potential legal liability I could face if my vessel were involved in any kind of pollution incident, whether accidental or otherwise, while in Maltese waters.

I’m considering an arrangement where I would charter a vessel on a bareboat basis, and I’ve heard this might involve a specific type of registration process in Malta that’s different from a standard, full ship registration. Can you explain what this actually means and how it differs?

I’ve heard about ships sometimes being ‘arrested’ in port over unpaid debts or disputes, and I want to understand what this actually means in a legal sense for a Malta-flagged vessel, and what circumstances could lead to this happening.

I work as crew on a vessel operated by a shipping company based in Malta, and there have been concerning signs the company might be facing serious financial difficulty, potentially heading toward insolvency. I’m worried about what would happen to my unpaid wages if the company actually goes bankrupt.

I’m not an EU citizen and I’m interested in registering my yacht under the Malta flag given its international reputation. I want to understand whether my nationality would actually prevent me from doing this, or whether Malta’s ship registry is genuinely open to non-EU owners as well.