Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503179
3 NEWS 6.7.2023 Demand for berthing spaces, marinas far exceeds supply FROM PAGE 1 e 10 marinas, with their berthing capacity, are the follow- ing: Creek Developments Plc - 742 Mgarr Harbour Marina - 282 Marina di Valletta - 281 Grand Harbour Marina - 260 Manoel Island Marina - 200 Roland Marina - 147 Kalkara Marina - 131 Portomaso Marina - 130 Gzira Gardens Marina - 126 Laguna Marina - 123 In 2021, 1,196 new boats were registered, bringing the total up by 5.5% over the previous year: the sharpest increase in the past decade. is includes a 9% increase in the number of boats which can navigate outside Maltese waters, whose number increased from 5,053 in 2020 to 5,515 in 2021. e number of boats restricted to Maltese waters which are reg- istered in the small ships register, also went up by 734 over 2020 figures. In another indication of the growth in conspicuous con- sumption amongst the rich, very large boats over 24m increased from just 196 in 2012, to 582 in 2021 (197%). During the COVID pandem- ic, the number of these boats increased from 554 in 2020 to 639 in 2021, a 15% increase in a single year. en, boats of over 36m increased from 28 in 2012 to 96 in 2021, a staggering 243% increase. e increase in the number of pleasure boats also suggests that as Maltese beaches become ever more crowded, those who can afford a boat are securing their own 'quiet spot' in the sea and their passage to nearby holiday destinations like Sicily and Italy. But even this phenomenon is aggravating environmental problems, such as contributing to over-crowding in beauty spots like Comino and triggering a de- mand for more berthing spaces and yacht marinas in Maltese bays. James Debono contributed to this article NOTICE ON CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 Extension of Call XIV Deadline With reference to the Announcement of Call XIV under the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 issued by the Managing Authority within the Ministry responsible for European Fuds in Malta on 28 th May 2023, it should be noted that the Managing Authority is extending the deadline for the submission of project proposals under Priority Axis 3 – Enhancing Malta's competitiveness through investment in SMEs and Priority Axis 4 - Shifting towards a low-carbon economy. The deadline shall now be Monday 24 th July 2023 at noon. Further information on the notice in caption may be obtained from https://fondi.eu/. The Managing Authority can be contacted by email on fondi.eu@gov.mt.