The construction, operation or use of any artificial island, installation, structure or device on the continental shelf of Malta (including the internal waters and territorial waters) requires a licence in terms of Regulation 7 of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02). In the case of such activities on the continental shelf of Malta, applications can only be made following a call that will be published in the Government Gazette.
Applications for activities within the internal waters and territorial waters shall consist of the following documents:
(i) An
application letter requesting a licence from the Government of Malta in terms
of the Regulation 7 (2) of the Continental Shelf Regulations (S.L. 535.02) to
construct, operate and use of any artificial island, installation, structure or
device on the continental shelf of Malta. The letter needs to be on an official
company letterhead, duly signed and stamped by an authorised officer and shall
be submitted by the owner/operator of such artificial island, installation,
structure or device;
(ii) Background
information on the project;
(iii) Background information on the owner/operator of the proposed artificial island, installation, structure or device and on the contractor responsible for
operations as the case may be. In case the artificial island, installation,
structure or device is owned/operated by a consortium or joint venture, details
on the consortium members are required;
(iv) Copies
of the annual reports and balance sheets for the three years immediately
preceding the application of the owner/operator of the proposed artificial
island, installation, structure or device and of the consortium or joint
venture partners if applicable;
(v) A
map in GIS format (shapefile or similar on WGS 84 datum) showing the location
and any proposed buffer zones surrounding the proposed artificial island,
installation, structure or device and falling within the continental shelf of
Malta. A GIS shapefile of the continental shelf of Malta is available upon
request by contacting us on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt;
(vi) Indicative
dates of the planned operations;
(vii) A
detailed description of any data planned to be acquired alongside the
operations;
(viii) Technical specifications of the vessel and other technical
equipment that will be utilised in the operations;
(ix) Information
concerning the qualifications of the key personnel to be employed for the
operations;
(x) Indication
of other permits requested from other entities of the Government of Malta in
connection with the planned operations;
(xi) Any
other information requested by the Continental Shelf Department for the purpose
of processing the application.
Each application
shall be submitted to the Director General, Continental Shelf Department on dgcs.csmalta@gov.mt at least six (6)
months before the proposed date of commencement of operations.
The
application shall consist of the documents listed in the template. Any charges
or fees are to be agreed between the Government and the applicant on a
case-by-case basis.
The licence
will contain include conditions that ensure that the construction, operation
and use of the artificial island, installation, structure or device do not
interfere with the exploration and exploitation of natural resources on the
continental shelf.
It is the
responsibility of the applicant to seek the necessary authorisations from other
entities in Malta.