FAQs

Malta Freeport Terminals is now a private company. In 1998, Malta Freeport undertook a corporate restructuring programme as part of its strategy to consolidate its eminence internationally. The organisational changes which were completed in 2001 have significantly improved the efficiency of its operations. Malta Freeport Corporation Limited now solely fulfills the role of landlord and authority over the Freeport zone. Malta Freeport Terminals Limited was established in 2001 as the single operating company of both Container Terminals and the warehousing facilities. This structure provided a clear distinction between the authority and the operator.

Malta Freeport Terminals was privatised in 2004. Following its privatisation the Freeport now has a strong shareholding structure composed of Terminal Link, the leading container terminal operator; Yildirim Group, one of the leading global diversified industrial groups in Turkey; as well as the strong presence of CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest shipping line; and China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited, the largest terminal operator in China. This solid shareholding mix strongly supports the Company’s investment initiatives to further boost the Freeport’s market position and competitiveness as a leading hub in the Mediterranean region. Since being privatised Malta Freeport Terminals has invested over Euro 300 million in its facilities and is presently undertaking other investment programmes to further increase the capacity to over 4 million TEUs.

Since Malta Freeport was privatised in 20004, Malta Freeport Corporation Limited is now the sole administrative, regulatory and licensing Authority of the Freeport. Malta Freeport Corporation Limited aims to regulate the affairs of companies licensed to operate within the Freeport with a view of fostering the economic growth and industrial development of Malta. Furthermore, the company is responsible for the security of the Freeport within the parameters contemplated in the Malta Freeports Act (Chapter 334 of the Laws of Malta), whilst collaborating with all involved stakeholders in achieving its aims. Malta Freeport’s operations are regulated by Malta Freeports Act (Chapter 334 of the Laws of Malta).

Over 96% of Malta Freeport’s container traffic is transhipment business. Indeed, Malta Freeport focuses on the hub concept whereby cargo is discharged from large mother vessels and relayed to regional ports by regular feeder vessels. This concept offers a multitude of benefits, including fewer mainline port calls, reduced voyage times through minimal diversions, and shorter transit times by switching east and west bounds at the Freeport. As a result, this would enable them to concentrate on profitable voyage legs. Being strategically located on the main trade routes in the Mediterranean vessels can call at Malta Freeport with a minimal deviation of just six nautical miles between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. Shipping lines calling at Malta Freeport are able to serve both east and west Mediterranean markets with a single main line call. Although Malta Freeport Terminals is a transhipment terminal, it is also the main port in Malta providing the local entrepreneurs with regular network connections with over 100 ports worldwide, around 50 of which are in the Mediterranean region.

Presently Malta Freeport Terminals has connections with over 110 Ports worldwide, 55 of which are in the Mediterranean region. Kindly refer to Ports Served for the list of ports calling at Malta Freeport Terminals.

For the list of shipping agents representing the shipping lines calling at Malta Freeport Terminals, kindly refer to Connectivity Section in the site – Shipping Agents.

You are kindly advised to refer to the List of Services operating from Malta Freeport Terminals – Schedule of Services in the Connectivity section in the site to identity which shipping services call at the required ports. You are then requested to refer to the list of Ship Agents in the same section to be able to contact the particular agent depending on the shipping lines operating the requested service.
If the requested port is not served directly from Malta Freeport Terminals, you can still contact the shipping agents of the shipping lines calling at Malta Freeport as they might be in a position to reach the requested ports by transhipping through another port.

For this information kindly contact the shipping companies that offer a service to the destination in question. Hence, you are kindly advised to refer to the Schedule of Services operating from Malta Freeport Terminals under the Connectivity section in the site to identity which shipping lines call at the requested port. You are then requested to refer to the List of Ship Agents to be able to contact the particular ship agent depending on the shipping lines operating the requested service.

On-line payment for full domestic container transactions is possible via Bank of Valletta BOV 24×7 Internet Banking platform. Companies can pay for the following charges, namely:

Imports: All Imports Full (containerised cargo) including IMOs, Reefers, OOG, and Storage.

Exports: Normal Exports Full (containerised cargo).

Once payment is affected, clients have to present the transaction receipt generated by BOV’s Internet Banking service. This BOV Internet Banking System is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Note: Should you have any queries regarding Internet Banking, you are kindly requested to contact the BOV Customer Service Centre on (+356) 2131 2020 from 08.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs or on e-mail: customercare@bov.com.

Clients can re-print receipt for import and export payments affected via BOV online sytem from the MFT Community Portal. After paying via BOV 24×7 you will require the release code for Imports to be able to extract the receipt on-line. The presentation of the on-line receipt at MFT Delivery Gate is mandatory.

Malta Freeport Terminals has developed and introduced a digital-based alternative to the use of the paper documents required to release outgoing Import Full containers. The new process enables local shipping agents to operate remotely in a secure and stable environment. To take advantage of the paperless process, agents need to obtain a ‘Release and Authorisation Code’ for Import Full Containers, which will enable a consignee to pay MFT charges via the online payment BOV 24*7 or at the MFT Cash Office. If payment is affected via BOV 24*7, the code must be presented by the haulier/client at the MFT Delivery Gate together with BOV receipt. If payment is affected at the MFT Cash Office, the code should be presented at the counter. The haulier/client is required to present the code and MFT Cash Office receipt at the Gate.

Kindly refer to the MFT Manual for Import Full Releases Management for further information.

Malta Freeport Termnals key benefits include:
– Strategic location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean having a minimal diversion distance of just six nautical miles between Gibraltar and the Suez
– Reliable and Experienced Shareholders providing a solid foundation for growth
– State-of-the-art Transhipment Facilities
All 3 mainline quays are dredged to -17m LAT
– The capability of operating vessels with a capacity of 23,000 TEUs and over simultaneously on both Terminal Two North Quay and on Terminal One North Quay
– Guaranteed Window Systems
– Top-notch Terminal Operating System — Navis N4 Version 3.7 .17 boosting the efficiency of Port Operations
– Highly skilled, professional and flexible personnel
– Health & Safety and Environmental Management Systems that conform and are certified to international standards – ISO 45001 and ISO 14001
– Substantial common feeder networks to tap new markets
– Competitive port call expenses package
– A total current annual capacity of 3.8 million TEUs to be further increased to over 4 million Us in the coming years

For information about the handling of cargo at Malta Freeport Terminals please refer to Connectivity Section in the site – Traffic Flow.

Since its privatisation in 2004, Malta Freeport Terminals has embarked on a heavy investment programme in its facilities totalling over €300 million. The Freeport now offers total operational deep water quays of 2,463 metres a total area for container storage of 771,000 square metres, a total of 15,297 container ground slots and 1,658 reefer points. All the mainline berths at Malta Freeport Terminals were dredged to a water depth of 17 metres enabling the Terminals to be able to accommodate any containership presently afloat on both Container Terminals.

Malta Freeport Terminals is presently equipped with twenty Quayside Cranes, eleven Cranes on Terminal Two and nine Cranes on Terminal One. Twelve of these Cranes are ZPMC Quayside Cranes and the largest four cranes have an outreach of 72 metres, a lifting height under spreader of 54 metres and capable of handling twin-lift spreaders. Malta Freeport Terminals has ample capacity to handle the world’s largest vessels with a capacity in excess of 20,000 TEUs on both Container Terminals.

Malta Freeport has also invested heavily in its yard equipment to complement its quayside equipment. The yard cranes serving both Terminals now include 60 Rubber-Tyred Gantries (RTGs) having a capacity of 50 tonnes.

Malta Freeport Terminals’ distripark facilities represent an important link in the transhipment chain as they support logistic providers in their efforts to achieve better quality and more efficient regional distribution depot. The Freeport’s round-the-clock industrial storage operations are supported by highly developed customised infrastructure as well as extensive transport networks which link Malta Freeport to 110 ports worldwide on a regular basis. Since the warehousing facilities lie only six kilometres from the Island’s international airport, Malta Freeport opens up excellent opportunities for sea and air links stretching world-wide, another reason why Malta Freeport can justifiably claim to be a strategic choice for transhipment. For a company to carry out business within the freeport zone, it has to be licensed by the Malta Freeport Authority and its operations will have to complement the Freeport’s activities. Substantially all goods imported by a licenced company are exempt from customs duty, with goods transferred out of the Freeport into the ‘EU’ subject to duty. Additionally, in terms of the Business Promotion Act (BPA), Freeport licenced companies are BPA qualifying companies and are eligible to two main incentives, namely reduced rates of tax and investment tax credits. Through the utilisation of these facilities, clients can engage in an extensive range of handling operations including cargo consolidation, break-bulk, storage, re-packing, re-labelling and onward shipping. In addition, Malta Freeport also offers assembly and processing possibilities and, in some instances, goods finished or partly finished in Malta may qualify for a certificate of origin from the Freeport Authority, provided that certain criteria are met. Each warehouse covers an area of 2,400 square metres, of which 1,000 square metres is covered area. Presently Malta Freeport Terminals’ warehousing facilities are all leased.
For further information on Malta Freeport Terminals’ Distripark Facilities, kindly contact Malta Freeport Terminals’ Marketing Department on email: marketing@maltafreeport.com.mt.

Information about the history of Malta Freeport Terminals can be found in the ‘About Us’ Section in the site under Key Milestones.

For any available vacancies with Malta Freeport Terminals reference is to be made to the Vacancies Section in the site. Persons wishing to have a career with Malta Freeport Terminals are requested to send their C.V. to the Human Resources Department on e-mail: hr@maltafreeport.com.mt.

You are kindly requested to contact the Marketing Department of Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd. on (+356) 2225 1206 between Monday and Friday or on e-mail: marketing@maltafreeport.com.mt. Kindly note that guided tours are only organised for groups and not on a one-to-one basis.

Malta Freeport Terminals has a Corporate Social Responsibility Fund and supports institution and individuals located within the locality of Birzebbuga where the Port is located. Kindly contact the Marketing Department on email: marketing@maltafreeport.com.mt for futher information.

Malta Freeport Terminals strives to update the information represented within this website as often as possible or whenever new items of information are released by the Company from time-to-time.