Located right in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands, consisting of three main islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino, boast jaw dropping gems when it comes to harbours and marinas for any type of yacht. Yachting.mt, Malta’s freshest yacht broker and charter service, highlights some of Malta’s most outstanding marinas.
Roland Marina
Early in the 60’s Roland Darmanin Kissaun saw the opportunity to build an industry when a few yachts started to visit Malta and base themselves here. It is safe to say that Roland was one of the very first Maltese to get involved in the local Yachting Industry and over the years, either through his personal efforts or through his leadership of the Yacht Traders Association, worked hard in the interest of the industry to see Malta become one of the most successful Yachting Hubs in the middle of the Mediterranean.
In 1989, together with other local Yacht Agents, he lobbied with the Maltese Government and the London International Boat-Show Organisers and successfully secured the main sponsorship of the London International Boat Show, where the centre feature was Malta. At the same time, he successfully organized three successive local, internationally recognized Boat-Shows in Vittoriosa. Roland was also a mainstay behind the organisation of notorious sailing events like the Malta-Pozzallo Windsurf Race (1983-1994) and the Malta-Tunisia Yacht Race held in the 90’s. He was always ready to support and assist any sailing oriented activity organized by any individual or group.
His legacy, the Roland Marina, situated in the Ta’ Xbiex creek within the sheltered Marsamxetto harbour, has won the Best Private Marina & Pontoon Award 2017. The marina is located in the main yachting service centre of Malta, where yachtsmen can find yacht chandleries, stores, supermarkets, bars, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses, yacht yard, yacht service companies, medical and dental clinics, banks and also within walking distance from Malta’s prestigious shopping centre, Sliema.
Roland’s Marina is part of S&D Yachts and named in fond memory of Roland Darmanin Kissaun, the founder of S&D Yachts – established since 1976 to offer professional services to yachtsmen by yachtsmen with its head office located within 100M of the marina.
Gardens Yacht Marina
Gardens yacht Marina is Malta’s latest and newest yacht Marina with considerable works underway to be fully completed in 2023. Malta’s first ever yacht marina located in Ta’ Xbiex was originally built in 1962 by British and Maltese engineers. Its safe location, deep inside Lazaretto creek in Marxamxetto Harbour, was the obvious location for a yacht marina.
The yacht Marina soon became synonymous within the Mediterranean as a safe haven and prime yachting destination which has served many famous local and foreign yachtsmen over the years, setting the stage for the area surrounding the marina as Malta’s main yachting centre.
After over 60 years the Marina was due a much-needed refurbishment, which is being undertaken by the new owners who will be managing the mammoth task of renovating and transforming the marina into a first-class, state-of-the-art yacht marina.
The project is already underway to include some 126 berths, the construction of a new quay to cater for superyachts up to 50 mts, a series of top of the range pontoons with utility services to match. The project will see the creation of a new club house with a Marina reception, new facilities and showers, a cafe to complement the project, a promenade linking the Sliema Ferries to the Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, reorganisation of the parking area and the rehabilitation of the adjacent gardens into a family park.
“We look forward to implementing this project with the end goal to be a top quality Marina in the center of town,” said the Gardens Yacht Marina team to Yachting.mt.
Gozo Marina
The first thing in sight upon arrival in Gozo is the Mġarr Harbour. A scene so picturesque and serene that it has been and still is captured by photographers from all around the globe and by many people who approach the island by boat.
Ferry transfer services to Malta started operating in 1241, whilst fishing was already established. The area around Mġarr harbour was developed over the following centuries, but there was little development of the harbour itself until 1841, when a breakwater was constructed to provide more shelter to the port.
This breakwater was re-constructed several times up to 1906. By the end of 2008 a larger breakwater was constructed and the area of the port was expanded to 121,400 square metres, including the opening of the terminal.
To this day, Mġarr harbour is still considered a fishing base and acts as a shelter for all types of vessels in the winter season. The modernised yacht marina, which has around 300 yacht berths, was upgraded in 2010 to berth yachts up to 45 meters in length and with a maximum draft of 6 meters. The Mġarr Marina is run by Harbour Management Ltd part of Melita Marine Group, which offers a fully comprehensive range of yachting services in Malta and Gozo.
