Yacht owners stationed in the Manoel Island marina have been scrambling to find a new berthing spot for their boat, with 107 vessels set to be forced out ahead of MIDI’s development in the area.

Speaking to Lovin Malta, MIDI explained that the yacht owners were informed well ahead of time over the closure.

The current agreements for yacht owners expire on 31st December 2019, and MIDI will not issue any new ones from January 2020.

The existing infrastructure is set to be decommissioned in preparation for the development works at Manoel Island, which includes a new marina that is protected by a breakwater.

The issue primarily lies with Malta already having huge problems when it comes to berthing, with boat owners often subject to massive costs due to a limited supply. In fact, sources have said that long waiting lists have begun to form across Malta’s marinas because of the decision.

Sources who spoke to the newsroom were concerned they were being forced out of their berthing spot despite paying hefty fees for a number of years, leaving them high and dry and without any options.

It remains to be seen how the situation will remedy itself, but questions have to be asked whether the ever-increasing fleet of private vessels (as anyone looking out at the sea on a Sunday can attest) is at all sustainable in the country the size of Malta.

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