Shore-to-Ship

• Last Updated: 15 Mar, 2024 |

Infrastructure Malta has completed a transformative project that introduces shore-to-ship electricity systems for cruise liners visiting Malta. This initiative promises to slash 90% of air pollution in the Grand Harbour.

The investment, facilitated by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, seeks to provide onshore power supply along specific quays within the TEN-T CORE Port of the Grand Harbour that accommodate cruise liner vessels. The later require substantial energy while berthed and then to use their auxiliary engines which in turn burn marine gas oil with 0.1% sulphur in order to meet their energy requirements. In doing so, the vessels generate harmful emissions into the air as well as noise.

The use of Onshore Power Supply will result in significant reduction in air pollutions and greenhouse gases emissions. The importance of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is accentuated by the fact that the Grand Harbour is located within close proximity to highly-densely populated residential and business areas. The investment seeks to contribute towards EU and national climate change objectives in line with commitments to reduce the carbon footprint of land-based port activities and the decarbonisation of shipping activities. 

The project has invested in the provision of high voltage shore connection mainly for the cruise liners. The works included the electrical works required for the provision of the necessary system and the onshore power supply equipment along quays on the outer region of the Grand Harbour, namely the quays at Pinto Wharf, Deep Water Quay and Boiler Wharf. 

A total of 17 connection points have been installed along the above mentioned quays and cruise liners which are Onshore Power Supply enabled can now hook up to the land side electrical system for the provision of its energy supply requirements whilst berthed in the port.

The Onshore Power Supply for the Southern Region of the Grand Harbour Project

• 06 May, 2024 |

The proposed investment focuses on climate mitigation and environmental enhancement. Marine vessels such as Ro Ro and cargo vessels require energy whilst berthed throughout operations. The vessels retain their auxiliary engines switched on whilst they are within the Grand Harbour TEN-T Core Port of Malta and burn marine gas oil with 0.1% sulphur in order to meet their energy requirements. Thus, these vessels generate emissions such as CO2, NOx, SO2 and particulates, into the air. Furthermore, the vessels also generate a level of noise emissions. 

The Onshore Power Supply for the Southern Region of the Grand Harbour Project seeks to invest in the electrification of quays along the Southern Region of the Grand Harbour to provide electrical power to the berthed and/or docked vessels. More specifically the project focuses on the provision of on shore power supply within the area of the new cargo terminal at Ras Hanzir which is currently being constructed (this is a separate project) as well as the cargo quays along Laboratory Wharf and Magazine Wharf, two quays within Palumbo Shipyards and quays within the Mediterranean Maritime Hub.

The main components of the envisaged investment are the civil works namely the necessary trenching works,  the purchase of the cables and laying of said cables, the construction of the frequency converter stations, provision of the onshore power supply system from the frequency convertor stations to the connection boxes and the actual OPS equipment including the connection points and the cable management system for the respective quay.

The utilisation of OPS is expected to result in significant air emission reductions which, together with some reduction in noise emissions, is highly important due to the fact that the Grand Harbour is located in close proximity to high-densely populated residential areas as well as business and tourism localities. Thus, the project will contribute towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

The project consists of a total investment of €44.6m with Infrastructure Malta already securing funds through the JUST Transition Facility. Furthermore, Infrastructure Malta is seeking to secure additional funding.

Infrastructure Malta welcomes the berthing of the first cruise liner at Pinto Quays

• 26 Apr, 2024 |

Infrastructure Malta welcomes the berthing of the first cruise liner along the first 200m stretch of quay at the newly constructed Pinto Quays 4 & 5, marking a significant milestone in Malta’s maritime infrastructure development. This is a part of a transformative €25 million investment aimed at extending both quays and reconstructing and realigning Lascaris Wharf, forming a new continuous berth along these areas.

The construction of the quays new platforms and seawall incorporate the installation of large precast concrete structures coupled with piles below sea-level and the construction of the deck above. The quays were extended by 15 metres to facilitate the berthing of larger ships without the use of spacer barges. This work was conducted by professional divers at an average depth of 20 metres. Last month, workers completed casting the quays surface. Works are earmarked to continue at a constant pace.

Upon completion of the project, this new 350-metre berth along Pinto Quays 4 & 5 and Lascaris Wharf will introduce much needed and more adequate berthing space in the Grand Harbour. The new continuous quay area will extend over an area of 5,200 square metres. Infrastructure Malta’s architects planned the new quay using improved, safer designs to facilitate the berthing of vessels up to 320 metres long and up to a draft of circa 10 metres. The new quay will incorporate a number of cope beams to accommodate the installation of new mooring bollards and fenders, preventing damage to vessels and berthing structures.

Through this investment co-financed by the European Union’s Cohesion Fund, the newly constructed quays not only enhance the operational efficiency of the Grand Harbour but also provides local maritime authorities with increased flexibility and availability in the allocation of berthing facilities, while providing the necessary infrastructure for cruise liners to berth without the need for barges. By addressing the requirements of the cruise liner industry, this project complements the Government’s ongoing efforts in the regeneration of the area around the Grand Harbour.

Infrastructure Malta restored and reinforced the Marfa breakwater

• 28 Mar, 2024 |

With an investment of approximately €2.1 million, Infrastructure Malta restored and reinforced the Marfa breakwater in Mellieħa.

This iconic breakwater holds a historical significance dating back several decades. It once served as the primary docking point for ferries connecting Malta and Gozo before the construction of the Ċirkewwa port in the mid-seventies. Today, it remains a popular location among fishing enthusiasts. Additionally, it continues to facilitate the operations of fishing vessels and passenger boats, including those offering transportation services between Malta and Kemmuna.

Over the years, this breakwater has endured extensive damage from the elements and storms. The deterioration was not solely visible but was also confirmed through a comprehensive underwater survey conducted by Infrastructure Malta. Large sections of the breakwater's structure had eroded or completely collapsed.

To address this pressing issue, the agency has embarked on an ambitious reconstruction project. The endeavor encompasses substantial repairs to the underwater foundations and the complete reconstruction of the breakwater structure, extending above the water's surface. This includes the reconstruction of the 85-meter-long and 9-meter-wide deck, the seawall for wave protection. Furthermore, the project encompasses the installation of lighting infrastructure and other security measures to increase safety and surveillance around the breakwater.

The project was co-financed by the European Fund for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

New Sliema ferry landing facilities

• 22 Mar, 2024 |

Infrastructure Malta has completed new facilities for sea passengers on the Sliema waterfront. This facility is designed to offer passengers shelter while waiting, a small room dedicated to issuing tickets for the journey, as well as other amenities for increased safety and accessibility.

The agency's contractors have completed the complex quay structure, which extends almost three stories underwater, supported by concrete piles drilled even deeper into the seabed. The quay will have mechanized gangways for passengers to embark and disembark the ferries, eliminating the need for ferries to be moored to the quay before beginning the boarding or disembarking process. This will also facilitate simultaneous boarding, thereby making the service more efficient. The new facility in Sliema can accommodate sea ferries of up to 40 meters in length.

This project was completed following Infrastructure Malta's work on a similar project in Bormla. As the usage of this sea service increases, Infrastructure Malta is working on new infrastructure to extend this public transport mode beyond the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour, towards St. Paul's Bay with the reconstruction of a new quay in Buġibba.

This new facility is part of a €5 million project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, aimed at safer infrastructure for passengers using this alternative public transport mode between Bormla, Sliema, and Valletta.

Progress on the Extension of Two Quays at the Grand Harbour

• 14 Feb, 2024 |

The work on extending two quays at the Grand Harbour is progressing well. Upon completion, Pinto 4/5 and Lascaris will merge into a single quay, measuring approximately 350 meters in length.

The Infrastructure Malta project, undertaken with an investment of around €25 million and European co-financing from the Cohesion Fund, aims to provide infrastructure that enables cruise liners to dock without the need for barges.

Situated behind the Customs area towards the Valletta Waterfront, the quays are being extended by 15 meters. This extension will permit large ships to berth directly at the quay, eliminating the current necessity for barges to facilitate passenger disembarkation and boarding.

This intricate project involves professional divers who are overseeing the installation of large precast concrete structures. These will form the foundation of another significant piece of infrastructure. The work is conducted at an average depth of twenty meters, where the new concrete structures will integrate with the existing ones.

By addressing the requirements of the cruise liner industry, this project complements the Government's ongoing efforts in the regeneration of the area around the Grand Harbour.

Infrastructure Malta installed the pedestrian bridge at the Fort St Angelo site

• 26 Jan, 2024 |

Infrastructure Malta is progressing to a new phase in the Fort St Angelo bridge project, located in Birgu. This phase includes the installation of the first of two new bridges, starting with a pedestrian bridge.

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Chris Bonett, visited the project site. Accompanying him were Infrastructure Malta’s CEO Ivan Falzon and other officials from the entity.

Personnel from the entity explained that current focus is on installing a pedestrian bridge, designed for accessibility. This bridge is intended to provide a safe, separate walking path away from vehicular traffic. Following the completion of the pedestrian bridge, work on the vehicular bridge will begin, with the installation expected in the upcoming months.

As per drawings available at the National Archive, it is estimated that the existing bridge was built in the early 1900s. It was made of steel and later encased in concrete. Over time, the bridge has deteriorated due to heavy use, leading to structural weaknesses.

Recent assessments highlighted these deficiencies, necessitating temporary support measures. However, these were not a long-term solution, leading to the decision for a full replacement to ensure safety and continued use. Acknowledging the historical significance of the project site, Infrastructure Malta engaged with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage from the project's initiation, ensuring their consultation to establish the project objectives and detailed design, and oversight as the work progresses.

The High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) for the TEN-T Core Grand Harbour Port, Malta

• 01 Dec, 2023 |

Infrastructure Malta has completed a transformative project that introduces shore-to-ship electricity systems for cruise liners visiting Malta. This initiative promises to slash 90% of air pollution in the Grand Harbour.

The investment, facilitated by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, seeks to provide onshore power supply along specific quays within the TEN-T CORE Port of the Grand Harbour that accommodate cruise liner vessels. The later require substantial energy while berthed and then to use their auxiliary engines which in turn burn marine gas oil with 0.1% sulphur in order to meet their energy requirements. In doing so, the vessels generate harmful emissions into the air as well as noise.

The use of Onshore Power Supply will result in significant reduction in air pollutions and greenhouse gases emissions. The importance of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is accentuated by the fact that the Grand Harbour is located within close proximity to highly-densely populated residential and business areas. The investment seeks to contribute towards EU and national climate change objectives in line with commitments to reduce the carbon footprint of land-based port activities and the decarbonisation of shipping activities. 

The project has invested in the provision of high voltage shore connection mainly for the cruise liners. The works included the electrical works required for the provision of the necessary system and the onshore power supply equipment along quays on the outer region of the Grand Harbour, namely the quays at Pinto Wharf, Deep Water Quay and Boiler Wharf. 

A total of 17 connection points have been installed along the above mentioned quays and cruise liners which are Onshore Power Supply enabled can now hook up to the land side electrical system for the provision of its energy supply requirements whilst berthed in the port.

The Shore-to-Ship project advances to trial phase on cruise liners

• 22 Nov, 2023 |

The Shore-to-Ship project is currently in a pivotal testing stage, characterised by trials conducted on cruise liners. This notable advancement seeks to enable the cessation of ship engines upon arrival at the Grand Harbour, leading to a smooth transition to electric power. 

This was announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia, and the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Chris Bonett, during a visit to the shore-to-ship project at the Grand Harbour. 

This phase follows the continuous progress of the infrastructural project throughout the year, positioning the Grand Harbour at the forefront of European innovation by introducing a shore-based electricity system for passenger ships, port wide. Infrastructure Malta has successfully implemented this system at all five primary passenger cruise quays: three at Xatt ta’ Pinto in Floriana, one at l-Għassar tal-Għeneb (Deep Water Quay) at Marsa, and the other one at Boiler Wharf, Senglea.

Upon completion, this initiative will enable ships to disengage their gas or heavy fuel oil engines, connecting instead to the onshore electricity supply. This connection serves to operate the necessary machinery for the provision of services while the cruise linersare stationed in the port.

This environmental investment will be cutting 90% of air pollution by cruise liners at the Grand Harbour. Through this investment, Infrastructure Malta will provide cleaner air for the 17,000 families residing around the Grand Harbour area.

A 2015 European study estimates that each passenger ship spending eight hours docked in the port emits 1.2 tonnes of nitrogen oxide. To put this into perspective, it is equivalent to the emissions from 300,000 cars driving from Ċirkewwa to Marsaxlokk simultaneously. Additionally, these ships release 30 kilograms of particulate matter emissions (fine dust in the air), mirroring the emissions from 180,000 vehicles traveling the entire length of Malta from top to bottom.

Infrastructure Malta CEO Ivan Falzon was present for this visit. The project is co-financed by the EU's Connecting Europe Facility.

No Plans for Marina Development in Sally Port: Sign Clarification

• 28 Oct, 2023 |

PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects confirms that there will be no development of a marina in Sally Port. 

That which was presented by Transport Malta three years ago referred to the reorganisation of the existing berths, and in any case, has nothing to do with the signs that were installed only for the health and safety of people, and no other reason. 

Therefore, the Ministry clarifies that there is no connection between the signs installed by Infrastructure Malta in the Sally Port area to any proposed marina extension, as there is no such plan in this regard, and so there is no cause for speculation. 

In Birgu, the restoration of the quays in the Sally Port area, including the creation of a new promenade along the Cottonera shoreline, has been successfully completed for public enjoyment. 

These quays, spanning approximately 600 meters or the length of six football pitches, are situated in the Sally Port or "it-Toqba" area, beneath the Birgu bastions along the Kalkara shore. Many parts of the quay structures had crumbled and suffered major storm damage over the years. Some had reached a perilous state, posing significant risks to public safety.

Following these works, Infrastructure Malta commissioned a post-construction stage health and safety risk assessment, and it was only for this reason that signs were put up with specific warnings. 

The agency is committed to continuing to strengthen the maritime infrastructure as it has done in recent years including an investment of €5 million in the Sally Port area, which will benefit the public. 

Infrastructure Malta reconstructed the damaged sections and, employing a team of skilled divers, undertook the repair of submerged quay structures without necessitating their complete removal.

The regeneration of these quays was done in collaboration with the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation.​

STQARRIJA MILL-MINISTERU GĦAT-TRASPORT, L-INFRASTRUTTURA U L-PROĠETTI KAPITALI

Il-Ministeru għat-Trasport, l-Infrastruttura u l-Proġetti Kapitali jikkonferma li mhu se tiġi żviluppata ebda marina f’Sally Port.

Dak li kien ġie preżentat minn Transport Malta tliet snin ilu kien jaħseb biss għal riorganizzazzjoni tal-irmiġġi eżistenti fil-Kalkara, u ma kellu xejn x'jaqsam mat-tabelli li twaħħlu u li saru biss għall-fini tas-sigurtà ta' saħħet in-nies u għall-ebda għan ieħor.

Għalhekk, il-Ministeru jikkonferma li m’hemm ebda konnessjoni bejn it-tabelli mwaħħla minn Infrastructure Malta fiż-żona ta’ Sally Port, u dak li ngħad dwar xi marina ġdida, hekk kif m’hemmx u mhux se jkun hemm ebda pjan f’dan is-sens, u għalhekk ma hemm ebda lok għal spekulazzjonijiet.

Fil-Birgu tlestew ix-xogħlijiet li taw ħajja ġdida lill-mollijiet fl-inħawi ta’ Sally Port, bi promenade ġdid li se jkompli jestendi l-passaġġi pedonali max-xtut tal-Kottonera. Dan biex jitgawdew mill-pubbliku.

Dawn il-mollijiet, b’tul ta’ madwar sitt grawnds tal-futbol (600 metru) jinsabu fiż-żona magħrufa bħala Sally Port jew “It-Toqba”, taħt is-swar tal-Birgu u mal-ġenb tax-xatt tal-Kalkara. Ħafna partijiet mill-istrutturi tal-mollijiet kienu tfarrku u ġarrbu ħsarat kbar bil-maltemp matul is-snin. Uħud spiċċaw f’riskju li jċedu, b’periklu kbir għall-pubbliku.

Wara li sar dan ix-xogħol, Infrastructure Malta kkummissjonat post-construction stage health and safety risk assessment u kien għalhekk biss li twaħħlu tabelli b’ċerti twissijiet biex jiġu evitati korrimenti.

L-aġenzija hija kommessa li tkompli ssaħħaħ l-infrastruttura marittima bħalma għamlet fl-aħħar snin fosthom b’investiment ta’ €5 miljun fl-inħawi ta’ Sally Port u dan biex jitgawda mill-pubbliku.

Infrastructure Malta bniet mill-ġdid il-partijiet li tkissru, filwaqt li permezz ta’ tim t’għaddasa, irranġat partijiet oħra mill-istrutturi tal-moll taħt l-ilma.

It-tisbiħ ta’ dawn il-mollijiet saru b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Korporazzjoni għar-Riġenerazzjoni tal-Port il-Kbir.