Msida and Ta' Xbiex Marina

The Msida and Ta' Xbiex Marina is one of the busiest yacht harbours on Malta. Operated by Creek Developments plc, it has 720 berths and can handle pleasure yachts of up to 22 metres. The location is central, and the marina is sheltered from the prevailing north-westerly winds, protected from other wind directions by its natural position and screened from a north-easterly swell by a breakwater.

For UK yacht owners, visiting skippers and anyone thinking of keeping a boat in Malta, this is a practical base close to the capital. It appears on VisitMalta.co.uk among our marina services in Malta, where you can compare harbours around the island.

Berths and boat sizes

The marina is laid out mainly for mid-sized yachts. Most berths suit boats between 11 and 14 metres, with large numbers for 12 and 13 metres, and smaller groups take boats of 9 and 10 metres and of 15, 16 and 17 metres. There are nine berths for yachts of up to 18 metres and three for the largest, up to 22 metres.

Berths are let on annual contracts, known as berthing licence agreements, or on a temporary basis. A boat on a temporary berth has no assigned space and may be moved at short notice, particularly in summer, when temporary boats may be shifted to Pietà Quay or asked to leave if space runs out, and temporary berths are invoiced monthly. Owners planning to change to a larger boat are advised to write to the berthing master before committing, because the marina guarantees the same berth only for a boat of the same size or smaller.

Visiting by yacht

Visiting boats are welcome. Twelve guest berths sit on the breakwater at the harbour entrance, with further pontoon berths allocated as space allows. On approach, ask the marina office for clearance and directions on VHF channel 13, and marina assistants will guide you to your berth and help with ropes. Booking ahead means you are met on arrival and can have mail, provisioning and bunkering arranged in advance.

First-time visitors need a passport or ID card, up-to-date insurance and the yacht's registration. Boats owned by a company need its memorandum and articles of association, and charter boats need the leasing agreement. Boats arriving from Schengen countries may go straight to their berth, while those coming from elsewhere must report to the customs and immigration office straight away. The marina also notes that boats with cats or dogs aboard may be allowed alongside once the pets have been inspected, provided they meet the Pet Passport Scheme.

Services on and around the marina

The services page lists bunkering, caretaker services, repairs and maintenance, a surveyor, insurance, a boat yard and towing, yacht charters, diving, laundry and sewage pump-out. Supermarkets, taxis, car hire, hotel booking and concert and theatre tickets can also be arranged. Rope care is part of the berth: damaged or missing ropes should be reported to the office, and a rope that only needs rinsing but is changed at the owner's request is charged at €75.

Nearby you will find 73 Marine, a yacht broker, and Adventure Cruises Malta, a boat charter business, both listed on VisitMalta.co.uk. For a day ashore, the Valletta guide and our list of things to do in Malta are good starting points, and the Malta weather guide helps you time a passage.

Getting there and getting started

Travelling out to join a boat? Our guide to flights from the UK to Malta shows the routes, and where to stay in Malta helps crews and guests choose an area. If you are thinking of basing a boat here for good, the Malta relocation guide covers life on the island.

The marina does not publish contact details on this page. Please send your boat's length, beam, the dates you need and any services you want through the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form, and we will pass your message to the marina.