Malta Yachting

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August 22 11:46 2012 by The Editor Print This Article

Malta's popularity as a yachting destination is reflected in the continuous extension of its yacht marinas.  Malta is a host of a number of large marinas, where hundreds of yacht owners find the weather, the strategic position, the safe environment and the facilities ideal to allocate their yachts in Malta. Through the provision of other berths, Malta is destined to become one of the largest super yacht marinas in the world.

As an Island nation nestled in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, it comes as no surprise that Malta has a very active maritime sector. In point of fact it is considered as a leading maritime centre offering an array of services and facilities to the maritime industry. In the past years, Malta has also grown into one of the most prestigious and highly reputable super yachts homeports in the world. Apart from Malta’s strategic position, the constant financial viability offered to berth owners has contributed to making Malta such a prime jurisdiction for super yachts registration.

Malta: Largest Yacht Registry in Europe

Despite the island’s relatively small size, Malta is the largest maritime registry in Europe and the 6th largest in the world. Particularly, it is one of the largest registries in Europe for pleasure yachts and super-yachts. Malta’s success in the maritime industry is due to the possibility of fiscal planning and VAT payment minimization in the context of yachts and super-yachts used for pleasure purposes. In relation to yachts used for pleasure in specifically in the European Union (EU), Malta offers a favourable regime for Value Added Tax (VAT) minimisation, potentially down to 5.4%, through a leasing set-up.

Malta, a yachting destination

Thanks to its strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean as well as being the most southern country in the EU, combined with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours; Malta becomes a natural choice for yachtsmen from all around the world. 

Some of the prominent marinas in Malta are:  Portomaso Marina located in St. Julians, Ta' Xbiex Marina (which is the largest marina on the island), Camper & Nicholson's Grand Harbour Marina in Birgu, Kalkara marina, Msida Marina, Manoel Island Marina, Gozo marina, Sandy Marina in Ta' Xbiex and the Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) marina. 

The agreement which binds berth owners is structured in the form of a contract of sale, not a mere long-term of lease, this conferring full ownership for the duration of the contract, normally 25 years. Such benefits for berth owners have made Malta an attractive and ever-growing hub for super yachts.