GUN, RIFLE AND TORPEDO RANGES REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 220.01

GUN, RIFLE AND TORPEDO RANGES

REGULATIONS

9th October, 1931

GOVERNMENT NOTICE 379 of 1931, as amended by Government

Notices 271 of 1932, 539 of 1933, 263 of 1937, 95 of 1939, 110 of 1940 and

21 of 1954.

The title of these Regulations is Gun, Rifle and Torpedo

Ranges Regulations.

In these Regulations the word "master" means any person

who has the command or the care or the custody of a vessel, and the

word "vessel" means any ship or boat, or any sea-going craft.

Red flags will be hoisted on St. George’s Tower and

Madliena Tower fifteen minutes before musketry practice begins

from Pembroke Ranges, and will be lowered as soon as practice has

ceased.

Whenever and so long as a red flag is hoisted on either of

the towers mentioned in regulation 3, no one shall fish within the

portion of sea which is within the danger area.

The danger area is bounded as follows

(a) On the East by a line drawn in the direction North fifty

three degrees East (N53°E) from the "C" Block,

Married Soldiers’ Quarters, St. George’s Barracks.

(b) On the West by a line drawn due North from a point

one hundred and eighty-three metres West of Madliena

Tower.

(c) On the South by the coast line between the East and

West boundaries as above described.

(d) On the North by a line between the East and West

boundaries recognised from the sea by keeping Nadur

Church, Gozo, in line with Ras ta’ l-Imnieri, Comino.

The bearings given are true.

The East and West boundary lines can be recognized from

the sea by the following leading marks -

(a) In the line of the Eastern boundary a red circle three

point six five metres in diameter fixed on the fore-

shore to the East, St. George’s Tower, and a red square

three point six five metres by three point six five

metres, fixed on the roof of "C" Block, Married

Soldiers’ Quarters, St. George’s Barracks, at a distance

of about two hundred and seventy-four point thirty-

two metres behind the said work erected on the

foreshore.

(b) In the line of the Western boundary a red circle three

point six five metres in diameter fixed on the foreshore

about one hundred and sixty-four point five metres

South-West of Madliena Tower, and a red square, three

point six five metres by three point six five metres,

ninety-one point four metres further inland.

Vessels are forbidden to pass inside the above danger area

while the red flags are hoisted on the said towers, unless absolutely

obliged to do so by stress of weather.

The burden of proving this necessity will lie on the master

of the vessel.

Red flags will be hoisted on the G]allis Tower and the

Torri Qalet Marku fifteen minutes before machine gun practice

begins from the G]allis Rocks Range and will be lowered as soon

as practice has ceased.

Whenever and so long as a red flag is hoisted on either of

the towers mentioned in the preceding regulation no one shall fish

within the portion of the sea which is within the danger area.

The danger area is bounded as follows

(a) On the East by a line drawn in a direction North

sixty-seven degrees East (N67ºE) from Torri Qalet

Marku.

(b) On the West by a line drawn in a direction North

twenty-two degrees East (N22°E) from G]allis Tower.

(c) On the South by the coast line between West and East

boundaries.

(d) On the North by a line between the East and West

boundaries recognized from the sea by keeping Nadur

Church (Gozo) in line with Ras ta’ l-Imnieri, Comino.

The bearings given are true.

Vessels are forbidden to pass inside the above danger area

while the red flags are hoisted on the said towers, unless absolutely

obliged to do so by stress of weather.

The burden of proving this necessity will lie on the master

of the vessel.

A red flag will be hoisted on the Naval Rifle range at Wied

G]ammieq fifteen minutes before musketry practice begins from

Wied G]ammieq Range, and will be lowered as soon as practice

has ceased.

Whenever and so long as a red flag is hoisted on the range

mentioned in the preceding regulation, no one shall fish within the

area marked by two buoys as follows -

Position - (a) 11.8 cables 075° from St.Elmo Breakwater Light

(b) 8.2 cables 067.5° from St.Elmo Breakwater

Light.

Description -

(a) and (b) conical buoys, painted red, and

surmounted by a staff and globe in each case.

Vessels are forbidden to pass inside the above mentioned

buoys whilst the red flag is hoisted on the Naval Rifle Range at

Wied G]ammieq, unless absolutely obliged to do so by stress of

weather; in which case the second paragraph of regulation 7 shall

apply.

A red flag will be hoisted on the Naval Rifle Range at

G]ajn Tuffie]a fifteen minutes before musketry practice begins

from G]ajn Tuffie]a Range, and will be lowered as soon as the said

practice has ceased.

Whenever, and so long as a red flag is hoisted by the range

mentioned in the preceding regulation, no one shall fish within the

area marked by two buoys as follows -

Position - (a) 10.9 cables 286° from Torri ta’ G]ajn Tuffie]a

(b) 10.9 cables 244° from Torri ta’ G]ajn Tuffie]a.

Description - ( a ) and ( b ) conical buoys, painted red and

surmounted by a staff and globe in each case.

Vessels are forbidden to pass inside the above mentioned

buoys whilst the red flag is hoisted on the Naval Range at G]ajn

Tuffie]a, unless absolutely obliged to do so by stress of weather, in

which case the second paragraph of regulation 7 shall apply.

No boat or other craft shall at any time enter Kalafrana Bay

within a line drawn from the head of the Breakwater to the Torpedo

Pier Head.

Whenever and so long as targets are placed in position, and

red flags are hoisted on same and on the pier end at Kalafrana,

Marsaxlokk Bay, as well as on Tas-Sil[ Naval Semaphore Station,

no boats or other craft shall be allowed to enter, cross, anchor, or

loiter in the area of the said range, which is marked by two cage

buoys at its eastern extremity and one buoy close to and North of

the Torpedo Pier and by two beacons brought in a line surmounted

by St. Andrew’s cross to mark north limit of the danger zone 9 and

two other beacons also brought in a line surmounted by two

horizontal stripes to mark south limit of danger zone.

These beacons are situated on shore to the west of the

Torpedo Pier.

A blue pennant over a red flag shall be hoisted at the

defence work from which the practice is to take place on the

afternoon previous to such practice and at dawn on the day on

which practice is to take place. The said signal will also be hoisted

on the launch detailed for range duty, when leaving the harbour

with targets, whenever gun practice is to take place from any of the

defence works, and in the direction of any of the areas hereunder

mentioned.

The sea practice areas shall be positioned relative to the

Malta approach lane for aircraft and have a base line extending

GUN, RIFLE AND TORPEDO RANGES

through the centre of this lane in a 138° to 318° direction from

Mosta Church dome.

Inner areas

(a) The inner areas (lettered A. B, C, D and E) shall be

contained by five lines joining the following

positions -

(i)

36º17’N. 14º 23’ E.

(ii)

35º 54.5’ N. 13º52’ E.

(iii)

35º31.5’ N. 14º51’ E.

(iv)

35º43.5’N. 14º38’ E.

(v)

35º52.2’ N. 14º50.2’ E.

(b) The area on the North East side of the Baseline shall

be divided into three rectangular areas A, B and C.

Area A shall be the North West area and Area C shall

be the area containing the Hurd Bank. The two lines

dividing these areas shall be drawn 048º from the

following two positions -

(i)

the tower on the South West corner of the Island

of Comino;

(ii)

St. Elmo Point Light.

(c) The area to the South West of the Baseline shall be

divided into two areas D and E by a line drawn 228º

from Ras ir-Raheb. Area D shall lie to the South East

and Area E shall lie to the North East of this line.

Outer Areas

(d) Area F shall extend in a North West direction from

Area E between the Baseline and a line drawn 295.5º

from 35º54.5’ N. 13º52’ E.

(e) Area G shall be a 90º sector between the Baseline and

Area A with the North West side of Area A produced

on a bearing of 048º from the North corner.

(f)

Area H shall extend North East from Area A between

two lines drawn 048º from positions 36º17’ N., 14º23’

E., and 36º 08.9’ N., 14º 31.8’ E.

(g) Area J shall extend North East from Area B between

Area H and a line drawn 048º from St. Elmo Point

Light.

(h) Area K shall extend North East from Area C between

Area J and a line drawn 048º from 35º 52.2’ N., 14º

50.2’ E.

(i)

Area L shall be a 90º sector between the Baseline and

the South East limit of Areas C and K.

(j)

Area M shall extend South from Area D between Area

L and a line drawn 228º from Ras ir-Raheb.

(k) Area N shall extend South West from Areas E and F

between Area M and a line drawn 295.5º from 35º

}mistax il-minuta qabel ma tibda’ l-e\er`itazzjoni, u waqt

li ssir l-e\er`itazzjoni fid-direzzjon ta’ xi wa]da mill-arei fuq

imsemmija, tittellg]a bandiera ]amra fuq il-post fejn g]andha ssir

l-e\er`itazzjoni.

Kull meta u sakemm ikun hemm imtellg]a bandiera ]amra

fuq il-batteriji msemmija fir-regolament ta’ qabel dan, ]add ma

g]andu jistad f’dik l-area fejn g]andha ssir l-e\er`itazzjoni, u l-

bastimenti ma g]andhomx ig]addu [ewwa l-imsemmija area,

kemm-il darba ma jkollhomx ta’ bil-fors jg]addu minn [o fiha

min]abba l-maltemp; f’dan il-ka\, it-tieni paragrafu tar-regolament

7 ikun japplika

Kull min jinqabad jistad bi ksur tad-disposizzjonijiet tar-

regolamenti 4, 9, 13, 16 u 21, u l-kaptan ta’ xi bastiment li jkun ]ati

ta’ ksur ta’ dawn ir-Regolamenti, jkun su[[ett g]all-pro`eduri

skond l-Att dwar il-Forzi Armati, u jkun su[[ett g]all-pieni

provvduti skond dak l-Att, u l-bastiment ikun su[[ett li ji[i

rmonkat barra mill-area ta’ projbizzjoni b’lane` tal-Gvern li jkunu

posizzjonati fil-vi`in g]al dan il-g]an.

Dawn ir-Regolamenti ma jg]oddux g]al bastimenti

barranin, meta dawn jkunu ’l barra mil-limiti ta’ l-ib]ra territorjali

ta’ dawn il-G\ejjer.

Jekk l-a[ir ta’ bastiment barrani ’l barra mill-ib]ra

territorjali jfixkel l-e\er`itazzjonijiet ta’ l-artillerija, allura l-

isparar g]andu jieqaf u l-bastiment ji[i mitlub jitlaq mi\-\ona ta’ l-

isparar.

35’ N., 10.1’E.

The said areas apply in the case of gun practice by the

Armed Forces’ ships of war.

The danger limit extends to twelve thousand eight hundred

and one point six metres from the firing point.

20. Fifteen minutes before practice begins, and whilst practice

is taking place in the direction of any of the areas hereinbefore

specified, a red flat shall be hoisted at the work from which

practice is to take place.

21. Whenever, and so long as a red flag is hoisted at any of the

works referred to in the preceding regulation, no one shall fish

within the area over which the practice is to take place, and vessels

are forbidden to pass within the said area unless absolutely obliged

to do so by stress of weather; in which case the second paragraph of

regulation 7 shall apply.

22. Any person who shall be found fishing in contravention of

the provisions of regulations 4, 9, 13, 16 and 21 and the master of

any vessel who shall infringe these Regulations, shall be liable to

be proceeded under the Armed Forces Act, and shall be liable to the

punishments laid down under the said Act, and the vessel shall be

liable to be towed out of the prohibited area by Government

launches stationed in the vicinity for the purpose.

23. These Regulations shall not apply to foreign vessels, when

outside the limits of the territorial waters of these Islands.

Should the action of a foreign vessel when outside territorial

waters interfere with artillery practice, then firing should cease and

the vessel asked to move clear of the range.