Grand Harbour Marina

Grand Harbour Marina is one of the Mediterranean's best-known superyacht marinas, set on the Vittoriosa waterfront inside Malta's historic Grand Harbour. From its berths you look across the water to Valletta, with medieval fortifications on both sides. It is managed in association with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, the marina arm of one of the oldest names in yachting, and it takes visiting boats and long-term residents all year round.

This page is for yacht owners, captains, crew and charter agents who are planning a stay in Malta, and for investors and professionals who want to understand the business behind the marina. The marina is listed in our directory of marina services in Malta. Local sightseeing around the marina is covered in our Vittoriosa guide and the wider Three Cities guide.

Berths and what comes with them

The marina offers more than 250 berths for yachts from 10 metres upward, plus 26 berths for superyachts. Every berth has water, electricity and Wi-Fi. Berthing is available throughout the year, whether you are stopping for a few nights, wintering in Malta or using the island as a home port. Malta sits in the middle of the Mediterranean, which suits cruising, a home port or a winter stopover.

Berths are let for periods from one day to one year. Superyacht owners can also buy long-term berth licences, typically for 25 years, with payment made at the start of the agreement and an annual service charge on top. Electricity and water are charged on use. The marina does not publish berthing fees, since the price depends on the length of your boat and the length of your stay, so the best first step is to send the details to the marina.

The marina's customers fall into three groups: Maltese citizens and residents who keep yachts here, foreign owners with an annual berth or a visiting stay, and visiting foreign superyachts. Berthing therefore serves both local and international owners, from a single day to a full year.

Your enquiry will be easier to answer if you include the details the marina's own berth request form asks for: the arrival and departure dates, your current home port, the type of yacht (motor yacht, sailing yacht, multihull or other), its length, beam, draught and displacement, and the power supply you need. You should also say whether you are enquiring as an owner, captain or agent.

Services, fuel and concierge

Fuel is supplied by truck, with diesel and unleaded available. Contractors based at the marina handle electrical, mechanical and paint work, so routine upkeep and small repairs can be arranged without leaving the harbour.

A concierge team handles requests such as restaurant reservations, private tours and yacht provisioning. Other ancillary services mentioned include parking and storage.

Because many yachts arrive from or head to the UK, you may also want to plan the people side of a trip. Guests flying in can check flights to Malta from the UK, and our Malta weather guide shows what sailing conditions and temperatures to expect month by month.

Facilities, security and the waterfront

A clubhouse gives captains and crew a place to meet. The waterfront has restaurants and cocktail bars with a range of international cuisines, from pizza and cocktails overlooking the harbour to fillet steak and fine dining, as well as cafes and relaxed outdoor tables.

Security is provided around the clock by a trained team, with restricted access and surveillance. The marina is close to Malta International Airport, which helps with crew changes and owners' flights.

The marina's own team includes a General Manager, Gordon Vassallo. Berthing masters, security and accounting staff are among its employees. If you want guests to stay ashore, the options are covered in our guides to hotels in Valletta and where to stay in Malta.

The Grand Harbour setting

The Grand Harbour has been a trading harbour since the Phoenicians settled on Malta in the 8th century BC and recognised the advantages of its deep, natural water. The marina sits in the part known as Dockyard Creek, and the setting gives it views of Valletta and across the harbour, with an unusual backdrop of medieval fortifications.

The marina offers an emphasis on personal service, whether you are stopping for a few nights or settling in for the long term, and the combination of contemporary amenities with Malta's maritime history gives it a distinctive atmosphere. Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage city, is close, and from the marina you can reach museums, galleries and old fortifications as well as bars and cafes. Start with the Valletta city guide and the Knights of Malta history guide. Away from the quay the island offers sailing, diving, water sports, hiking, cycling and visits to historic temples, and our things to do in Malta page gathers ideas for crew days off. In summer there are events near the marina, including live music and internationally recognised sailing regattas.

The company behind the marina

Grand Harbour Marina p.l.c. was registered in Malta on 31 August 2000 and in 2001 acquired the rights to develop and operate the marina at Dockyard Creek for the remaining 97 years of a 99-year sub-emphyteusis, a long lease. The company became a public limited company ahead of a 2007 initial public offering, and in March 2007 its shares were admitted to the Official List of the Malta Stock Exchange.

Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Limited, a closed-ended investment company registered in Guernsey, holds the majority of the shares. In 2017 the company redeemed an earlier bond early and issued a new unsecured bond for €15 million at 4.5 per cent, redeemable at par on 23 August 2027. The company also owns 45 per cent of IC Cesme Marina in Turkey. Investor information, including company structure and the board of directors, is published for shareholders, and queries about listed equity or debt are handled separately from berth enquiries. For an overview of the sector, see our financial services in Malta guide.

Camper & Nicholsons Marinas and its consultancy

Camper & Nicholsons is widely recognised as one of the world's oldest and most prestigious yachting names, with origins in boat building at Gosport in the south of England in 1782. Camper & Nicholsons Marinas has specialised in marina management, investment and waterfront development for 50 years and has served clients in more than 25 countries. Its network includes Grand Harbour Marina in Malta, Port Louis Marina in Grenada and IC Cesme Marina in Turkey, and it offers consultancy covering feasibility, design, construction, commissioning, management and marketing for other marinas.

The group has offices in London, at St James's Street, and in Hong Kong. Berth bookings for Malta are handled through the marina's own request form, while the group's investor pages cover company objectives, corporate governance, shareholders, financial reports and regulatory news. Its consultancy team includes a Technical Director, an engineer with over 12 years in the superyacht marina sector, and a consultant with more than three decades in marina operations.

Booking a berth and getting in touch

The marina's address is The Capitanerie, Captain of the Galleys Palace, Vittoriosa Wharf, Birgu, and its VHF channel is 13. Berth requests, business questions and investor queries each have their own route on the group's website, so tell us which applies to you.

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, say whether you are an owner, captain or agent, and include your boat's dimensions and dates. We will pass your message to the marina team.