The United States has officially recognised Malta for reciprocal cruising privileges, Sustainable Mobility Minister Chris Bonett has announced, describing it as a significant milestone for Malta’s maritime sector and Maltese-American relations.

This, he said, will allow eligible Maltese flagged private yachts to apply for U.S. cruising licences and benefit from simplified procedures and exemptions from certain fees.

The licences would allow Maltese-flagged pleasure yachts to travel between specified American ports without having to complete the usual formal vessel entrance and clearance procedures at every single port, he said. Less administrative headaches means it will also be cheaper to sail with the Malta flag, he added.

What was achieved, he said, goes beyond the practical and economic benefits. “It is a big political statement that sets the Malta flag apart, that shows to the world the quality of the flag and our country,” he said.

The minister said that the country had been working on this goal for 20 years, noting that it was not an easy or fast process.

Regarding the maritime sector in Malta, the Minister said that today Malta offers a competitive and internationally recognised maritime register operating within the legal and regulatory framework of the European Union. “Yacht owners choose Malta because of our competitive registration costs, our established legal framework, our flexible registration arrangements and the professional services available to support them.”

“They choose Malta because our maritime administration understands the needs of an international industry where efficiency, certainty and reliability are essential.”

He said that the Malta flag has established itself as a recognised name in the global maritime industry. These advantages, he said, were developed over decades.

He highlighted the increased competitiveness within the sector, and stressed that the country must continue to ask itself: “what more can we offer to those who choose Malta”.

Selecting a flag is not just about deciding where to register a yacht, he said, “it is also about what that flag can offer its owners throughout the vessel’s lifetime and wherever it may sail.”

Here, he noted that this latest announcement, with the US Government formally recognising Malta as a country whose pleasure vessels may qualify for special cruising privileges in American waters, is another advantage to having the Maltese flag.

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