The Nationalist Party has pledged it would re-establish the Malta Maritime Authority and appoint a dedicated minister for the sector if elected into government.
During a pre-budget meeting with the Malta Maritime Forum, opposition leader Alex Borg reiterated the maritime sector “can continue to grow and be further strengthened”, adding it is “one of the principal niches” of the economy.
Borg said a Nationalist government will appoint a minister dedicated specifically to the maritime sector and will re-establish the Malta Maritime Authority as distinct from Transport Malta.
“This authority would be focused, specialised, and will serve as a one-stop-shop for everything maritime, in its entirety,” Borg said.
Transport Malta officially absorbed the Malta Maritime Authority in 2010 taking over its responsibility and integrating them into a single authority overseeing land, sea, and air transport.
The opposition leader stressed there should be more investment in careers within the maritime sector and agreed on the need for maritime education and training starting from the secondary level “so that young students can being careers in the sector from an early stage”.
He also discussed the need for digitalization and decarbonization of the sector so that Malta is prepared for future challenges, adding that Malta should not simply maintain European standards but should be promoted as a maritime hub and to strengthen the Maltese flag even further.