The Authority for Transport in Malta is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified commercial operators for the provision of transport services to Blue Lagoon, Comino, for the year 2025.
This EOI shall apply to any commercial vessel engaged in the carriage of passengers, including those operating under a valid Commercial Vessels Operator Licence (CVOL) or valid Water Sports Operator Licence (WSOL).
The purpose of this EOI is to determine the interest from the private sector and gather information to support the Authority in formulating a regulatory framework governing these operations. The submission of an EOI does not confer any automatic right to operate. It allows the Authority to evaluate potential licensing requirements and the necessary regulatory conditions. Only operators who submit an EOI within the stipulated timeframe will be considered for inclusion in the regulatory framework, and those who fail to do so will not be eligible to operate commercial transport services to Blue Lagoon during the specified period.

1. Scope of Services
   Operators expressing interest shall provide commercial passenger transport services to Blue Lagoon during the specified period. The services must be conducted in a manner that ensures safety, environmental sustainability, and efficient passenger flow.
2. Submission Requirements
   Interested commercial operators must provide the following details in their submission:
   3.1 Operator Information
   o Name of the operator or company;
   o Company registration number;
   o Contact details (address, phone number, email address);
   o Relevant experience in maritime passenger transport services;
   o Commercial Vessels Operator Licence (CVOL) or Water Sports Operator Licence (WSOL)
   issued by the Authority
   3.2 Fleet and Operational Capacity

Transport Malta is the Authority for Transport in Malta set up by ACT XV of 2009

Operators must submit the following information regarding their fleet:
o Number of vessels intended for operation;
o Respective registration Official Name / IMO Number or Registration Number (as applicable)
of each vessel;
o Passenger capacity of each specific vessel;
3.3 Proposed Operational Plan
Each submission must outline the intended operations, including:
o Number of trips planned per day;
o Proposed schedule and frequency of operations;
o Designated embarkation and disembarkation points;
o Description of Operations;
o Planned duration at berth in the case where vessels operations are not limited to
embarking/disembarking operations.

4. Regulatory Considerations
   The Authority reserves the right to:
   o Introduce a specific licensing framework to regulate commercial passenger transport services to Blue Lagoon;
   o Impose conditions and restrictions to ensure the orderly operation of services, environmental protection, and passenger safety and security;
   o Determine the maximum number of operators and/or trips permitted as part of its regulatory mandate;
   o Conduct compliance assessments before issuing any necessary permits or authorisations.
   Operators submitting an EOI acknowledge that any potential future operations shall be subject to licensing and compliance with conditions determined by the Authority and as amended from time to time subject to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
5. Submission Process and Deadline
   Interested operators must submit their Expression of Interest along with the required documentation by no later than Friday 21 March 2025.
   Submissions will be accepted from Wednesday 26 February 2025 and must be completed via an online Form that will be available by that date on TM Website. All submissions must be complete and accurate. The Authority reserves the right to request additional information or clarifications where necessary.
6. Evaluation and Next Steps
   The Authority will review all received EOIs and may engage in discussions with selected operators to assess operational feasibility. The submission of an EOI does not guarantee any rights or approvals to operate services.
   For further information or queries, interested operators may contact the Authority on comino.tm@transport.gov.mt from Wednesday 26 February 2025.