2017 July August Marina World

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENTS
Marina di Valletta soft opened in June and
has attracted a lot of interest from potential
berth holders.
Valletta marina
is new focus in city
regeneration
Azimut-owned company Marina di Varazze Srl, Azimut-Benetti broker and
charter company Esprit Yachting, and Maltese entrepreneurs Arrigo Group
(hotels), Joinwell and Tal-Maghtab Construction have joined forces to
form Marina Valletta Ltd and launch a luxurious new marina facility on the
historically rich island of Malta. Marina di Valletta, like the best modern
developments, regenerates the waterfront. Donatella Zucca reports
Due to the multi-national influence
of the Knights of Malta, who ruled
the island from the mid 1500s
for the next 250 years, Malta has
many historic centres with different
cultural and artistic characteristics.
It is a richness that makes it one of
the most fascinating islands in the
Mediterranean, and renovation and
reclamation work in places such as
Marsamxett are accelerating in the
build up to 2018 when Valletta will be
the European Capital of Culture.
Malta is visited by over half a million
cruise ship passengers every year and
by the wealthy owners of superyachts
and their plentiful crews. The Maltese
flag is advantageous for high-end
yachts whether staying permanently or
passing through on the many routes
to other parts of the Mediterranean.
According to Minister Konrad Mizzi,
the yachting industry has enormous
potential and, in recent years, the
Grand Harbour Marina continues to
dominate the superyacht berthing
sector in Malta.
Maltese Ship Registry has seen a
marked increase of 14%.
There are currently eight marinas
offering berthing to visitors, and at
least six of these are set to benefit
from the ongoing renewal plans for
the capital, the Valletta Peninsula and
all surrounding waterfront. Laguna
Marina, overlooking Grand Harbour at
the heart of Valletta’s seafront, is well
equipped with floating pontoons and
CCTV security and offers berths for
motorboats of 17m (56ft) and above
with maximum 2m (6.5ft) draft. Centre
stage in Cottonera is Grand Harbour
Marina – an icon in the Maltese
‘marinascape’ – and in Kalkara Bay,
the small, private Kalkara Marina.
In Marsamxett Harbour and Valletta
Sliema, visitors can find Msida and
Ta’Xibiex Marina with 720 berths for
vessels up to 20m (66ft) and Manoel
Yacht Marina in Gzira, which can
accommodate boats of up to 80m
(262ft) and offers appropriate water/
energy and waste collection services.
These facilities are now augmented
by newly opened Marina di Valletta
in Sa Maison. Nestled close to the
majestic city walls between La Pietá
and Floriana in a World Heritage site,
the marina has been designed to make
its own aesthetic contribution to the
‘Valletta City Gate’ urban regeneration;
a project that includes access to the
centre of Valletta, the new parliament
buildings, a restoration of the opera
house, a new city gate and restoration
of the sixteenth century walls.
When complete, Marina di Valletta
will offer over 270 berths for vessels
of 10 to 28m (33 to 92ft) and have
additional space for superyachts up to
50m (164ft). Marina di Valletta Ltd has
invested €7.45 million in the project and
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