Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1512001
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 NOVEMBER 2023 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI THUNDERY and windy weather is expected to reach Malta from Wednesday until Friday evening, Malta International Airport's Meteor- ological Office has said. As per the latest weather models, some iso- lated showers are also expected on Saturday until the afternoon. From then onwards, the possibility of some isolated light showers still remains. While the wind strength from Wednesday until late Friday evening is expected to vary from Force 2 to Force 5 - bar the wind gusts in inclement weather/thunderstorms – the West-Northwest wind is expected to increase significantly reaching the peak on Saturday. However, the wind is expected to die down overnight between Saturday and Sunday. The MET Office told MaltaToday predic- tions may change until the end of the week. October marked an unprecedented period of dry and warm weather in Malta, becom- ing the driest month on record with a mere 0.2mm of precipitation, significantly below the monthly norm of 77.6mm. This dry spell was coupled with unseason- ably high temperatures, as a stagnant area of high pressure settled over the Mediterranean. Wind and thunder expected to hit Maltese islands A satellite image taken at 3.35pm on Tuesday (Source: Malta International Airport) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Marinas have been a contro- versial topic in recent years for a number of Maltese sea- side communities. Widespread protests against a marina in Marsaskala took place in 2021, leading Prime Minister Robert Abela to scrap plans for the marina on the eve of 2022's election. Meanwhile, last October, ac- tivists appealed to the infra- structure ministry to withdraw plans for a yacht marina be- tween Birgu and Kalkara. Government's strategic vision Spearheaded by the trans- port ministry, government's strategic vision seeks to create a sustainable ecosystem, posi- tioning Malta as the preferred destination for the superyacht sector. Addressing a press confer- ence, minister Aaron Farrugia highlighted the overarching vision of making Malta the ju- risdiction of choice for the su- peryacht industry by fostering sustainable growth, supported by reliable infrastructure, qual- ity services, and a skilled work- force. The superyacht industry has seen the number of registered superyachts exceeding 24 me- ters growing from just over 100 in 2007 to over 1,100 in August 2023. The strategic vision was de- veloped through a consulta- tion process involving industry stakeholders, initiated in Octo- ber 2022. The ministry will uti- lise this document as the basis for a national superyacht sec- tor plan, working with industry experts. Economist Stephanie Fabri, who chaired the steering com- mittee, said, "This is unques- tionably a positive step towards realising Malta's economic vi- sion." Farrugia insisted that Malta's status as a top superyacht ju- risdiction will be cemented and that the policy paper will act as a guide for improving the in- dustry's competitiveness. The superyacht industry's dedica- tion to excellence, high-caliber employment, and sustainable expansion is consistent with Malta's overarching economic agenda. 'Unquestionably a positive step towards realising Malta's economic vision' Transport minister Aaron Farrugia and Dr Stephanie Fabri, who chaired the steering committee, extolled the need for more marinas