Merchant Shipping Notice 171
Notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators, Managers, Masters,
Designers, Builders, Owners’ Representatives and Recognised Organisations
It is widely recognised that when considering the operational pattern and risk profile of commercial yachts, the requirements for commercial passenger ships are in some instances disproportionately onerous and impracticable in terms of design and operations. Moreover, as large commercial yachts grow in size, the 12 passenger limitation has become more and more perceptible and the Merchant Shipping Directorate, spurred on by encouragement from the industry, have developed equivalent arrangements in the form of a Passenger Yacht Code (PYC).
The Malta Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) has been drawn up in consultation with various industry stakeholders including yacht designers, yacht builders, yacht managers, yacht builders’ associations, repair yards, specialised service providers and manufacturers and Appointed Surveyors and Recognised Organisations, as a wider representation of the industry.
To this effect, the Directorate wishes to announce the entry into force of the Passenger Yacht Code, on 25 May 2021.
A Passenger Yacht, registered under the Malta Flag, shall meet SOLAS and other applicable Conventions’ requirements. In lieu of certain disproportionally onerous Conventions’ requirements, the Passenger Yacht may meet the requirements of the PYC which includes a number of dedicated equivalencies.
This Code is specifically designed and intended for Passenger Yachts, which carry more than 12 passengers up to 36 passengers, which carry not more than 200 persons, which do not carry cargo and which are engaged on international voyages.
The PYC Code and Synopsis may be downloaded from the following links:
https://www.transport.gov.mt/Passenger-Yacht-Code-PYC.pdf-f6340
https://www.transport.gov.mt/Passenger-Yacht-Code-PYC-Synopsis.pdf-f6339
Further information is available on the Transport Malta website http://www.transport.gov.mt.
Merchant Shipping Directorate
24 May 2021
