10 September 2026 – Malta
Who is this relevant for?
This regulatory update is particularly relevant to owners, managers, operators, Masters and owners’ representatives of Malta-flagged Commercial Yacht Code (CYC) certified Short Range and Extended Short Range commercial yachts below 500 GT. It is also relevant to Appointed Government Surveyors, Recognised Organisations and other stakeholders involved in the certification, manning and survey of these yachts.
Revised approach to Assistant Engineer requirements
The Malta Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued Yachting Notice 18 – Assistant Engineers Onboard Short Range and Extended Short Range Commercial Yachts < 500 GT, introducing a revised, risk-based approach to Assistant Engineer manning requirements for qualifying commercial yachts.
The new framework takes effect from 15 September 2026 and aims to provide a more flexible approach to safe manning arrangements while maintaining appropriate safeguards for safe yacht operation, machinery maintenance and continued regulatory compliance.
Transport Malta states that the review follows engagement with the yachting industry and takes into account a number of operational and technical considerations, including the existing Commercial Yacht Code provisions allowing dispensations for Assistant Engineers, the amount of time yachts may safely spend at berth, the prevalence of modern unmanned machinery spaces and the propulsion redundancy commonly found on modern motor and sailing yachts.
The Directorate has also considered industry-wide challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified Assistant Engineers, the increasing technical complexity of modern propulsion systems and the widespread use of shore-based technical maintenance contracts with engine manufacturers and specialist service providers.
When will an Assistant Engineer be required?
Under the new policy, an Assistant Engineer will only be required on a qualifying yacht where the yacht:
Operates with continuously manned machinery spaces (24/7); or
Does not have an active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract; or
Meets both of the above conditions.
Consequently, an Assistant Engineer will not be required where the machinery spaces are not continuously manned and the yacht maintains an active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract.
For the purposes of the Notice, “Unmanned Machinery Spaces” means machinery spaces containing the main propulsion engines which are not continuously manned on a 24/7 basis. This definition applies regardless of whether the yacht has formally been assigned a Unattended Machinery Space (UMS) notation by a Classification Society.
What qualifies as an Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract?
An active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract may be maintained with:
- The engine manufacturer;
- A service company authorised by the engine manufacturer or an official dealer;
- The yacht builder; or
- Where the engine manufacturer or yacht builder is no longer active, a recognised marine engineering company or independent specialist with demonstrated competence in maintaining the specific engine type.
The definition also covers active engine warranty contracts where servicing, technical support and operational interventions are provided directly by the engine manufacturer, an authorised dealer, the yacht builder or an appropriately qualified service provider.
Which vessels fall within the revised policy?
The revised policy applies specifically to:
Short Range Commercial Yachts < 500 GT and
Extended Short Range Commercial Yachts < 500 GT
which are certified under the Commercial Yacht Code.
The Notice confirms that the policy does not apply to:
- Unrestricted Navigation Yachts;
- Commercial Yachts of 500 GT or more;
- Commercial Yachts below 24 metres;
- Passenger Yachts; or
- Other vessel types or tonnage categories outside the stated scope.
Existing Minimum Safe Manning Certificates
From 15 September 2026, newly issued Minimum Safe Manning (MSM) Certificates will automatically reflect the revised framework.
Existing CYC-certified commercial yachts that already hold an MSM Certificate may apply for a revised certificate if they wish to benefit from the new arrangements. Applications are to be submitted by the yacht’s Local Representative to the Merchant Shipping Directorate (Registry Office), either in person or by email.
Applications must be accompanied by:
- A formal declaration signed by the Master, Registered Owner or Manager confirming that the machinery spaces are not continuously manned on a 24/7 basis and that an active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract is maintained onboard; and
- A copy of the active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract, including any applicable active engine warranty contracts.
Once the revised MSM Certificate has been issued and placed onboard, the original MSM Certificate must be surrendered and returned to the Merchant Shipping Directorate.
Continued responsibility for compliance
The revised framework does not remove the responsibility of the yacht’s Master, Registered Owner or Manager to ensure that the applicable safe manning conditions remain satisfied.
Newly issued or revised MSM Certificates will include a mandatory condition confirming that an Assistant Engineer is required where the qualifying yacht operates with 24/7 manned machinery spaces, lacks an active Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract, or both.
The Master, Registered Owner and Manager retain ultimate responsibility for maintaining compliance with this condition at all times. The Notice specifically provides that failure to continuously satisfy the mandatory condition may result in the yacht being detained until full compliance is re-established.
Compliance will also be verified by Appointed Government Surveyors (AGSs) and Recognised Organisation (RO) surveyors during periodical surveys. The yacht’s unmanned machinery space status is to be reflected in the applicable Survey Guidelines in accordance with the Notice and the Commercial Yacht Code.
Practical implications for yacht owners and managers
The revised approach provides eligible Malta-flagged commercial yacht operators with greater flexibility in managing crew requirements where modern unmanned machinery spaces are in operation and appropriate shore-based technical support is available.
For qualifying yachts, owners and managers may therefore wish to review their existing Minimum Safe Manning Certificate, machinery space arrangements and Engine Shore-Based Maintenance Contract to determine whether the yacht may benefit from the revised requirements.
Importantly, any reduction or revision to the onboard crew complement does not take effect automatically. The revised arrangement only becomes effective once a revised MSM Certificate has been issued and placed onboard the yacht.
Yachting Notice 18 was issued by the Merchant Shipping Directorate on 10 September 2026.
Vassallo Associates can assist yacht owners, managers and operators with Malta Flag regulatory, technical and compliance requirements, including yacht registration, safe manning and superyacht survey matters.