Malta Maritime Hub Plans Moving Forward

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday February 18, 2014

The government of Malta is moving forward with plans to redevelop a former shipyard into a maritime hub offering bunkering facilities and other services, the Malta Independent reports.

The site, a 175,000 cubic meter parcel at Marsa, would host refuelling, ship repairs, maritime insurance offices, and shipbuilding, Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona told Parliament Monday.

The government has received 45 expressions of interest from parties that would like to help develop parts or all of the hub, the Times of Malta reports.

Cardona said the next step in the project is issuing a request for proposals, which will call for interested companies to present financial plans.

Goh Jin Hian, executive director of Singapore-based bunker supplier IAG-Pacific Group (IAG), which is working with a Maltese firm on a new venture in the country, recently said that Malta's location and economy put it in a good position for increased maritime activity.