MSD NOTICES CLARIFICATION

The Merchant Shipping Directorate is responsible for the registration of ships under the Malta flag and all matters related to Merchant Shipping. It will henceforth use its MSD Notices from time to time as the main method of communicating any matter that it wishes to bring to the attention of the public. 

Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure a wide distribution of these Notices and these will be circulated, to Maltese Embassies and Consulates, the Malta Shipowner Association, as well as classification societies. It is the responsibility of every shipowner to bring the Notices to the timely attention of all masters and officers engaged on his Maltese ship, and to the managers and operators of these vessels, and to ensure compliance therewith. 

All current Notices are to be retained permanently on board all Maltese merchant ships and made easily accessible to masters and officers. In order to assist owners and masters in this matter, a suitable loose-leaf binder containing all current Notices will be made available to existing Maltese ships and to any merchant ship on its entry into Register. Further copies can be obtained from the Merchant Shipping Directorate upon payment of the appropriate fee. 

The ready availability and proper maintenance of the binder and its contents are a subject for inspection in the 'Publications' section of the 'Ship Safety Inspection Report'.