INDEPENDENT WATER CONSULTANCY · MARINE WATER MANAGEMENT · CREW EDUCATION
VORENICO / FLAG STATE WATER COMPLIANCE

Malta · Potable Water & Yachts

Distinct requirements under the current Malta CYC 2025: UV or equivalent purification, annual tank bacteria testing and 2 L emergency reserve/person.

HOW THE MEMBER REGISTER WORKS

Four steps to a review-ready vessel dossier

Choose only your vessel's registered flag. The crew records what can be demonstrated; Vorenico assesses the relevant evidence and identifies outstanding actions.

  1. 01
    Describe the vessel

    Vessel name, commercial or private status, length, GT, year and applicable certificate/code.

  2. 02
    Choose a status

    Evidence supplied, action needed, not checked yet, or not applicable with a clear reason.

  3. 03
    Reference proof

    Enter a logbook page, inspection date, laboratory report ID, maintenance record or corrective action. This field is text only; documents are shared separately.

  4. 04
    Save and export

    Save your draft, export the CSV and share that register and source documents with Vorenico for review.

Example: Weekly water inspection → Evidence supplied → “Inspection 26 Oct 2026; deck logbook p.84; responsible engineer: Chief Engineer”.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · REVIEWED 28 OCTOBER 2026

Transport Malta / Merchant Shipping Directorate water compliance

The Malta Commercial Yacht Code (CYC) 2025 has applied since 1 July 2025 for commercial yachts with a load-line length of at least 24 m and up to 12 passengers, with transitional rules. Smaller commercial yachts generally fall under the sCYC 2024. The current code explicitly requires UV or equivalent potable-water purification, annual bacterial testing of potable tanks by a recognised laboratory, and an emergency reserve of at least 2 litres per person.

Not a certificate

This evidence register is a member self-assessment tool; a recorded Vorenico technical review is not a statutory flag-state clearance.

Classification matters

Duty: binding if relevant regulation applies. Conditional: only under stated code and circumstances. Best practice: prudent engineering control, not an independent statutory limit. Review: confirm with the administration or applicable code before claiming compliance.

02 / Source-indexed evidence register

16 controls. A member-uploaded status is not verified, and N/A needs a reason.

MT01

Determine Malta CYC versus sCYC scope

Applicability

Review

Determine applicable code: commercial yachts >=24 m CYC 2025; smaller commercial yachts normally sCYC 2024. Verify private yacht and other conditions.

When in scope: Commercial, private, ≥24 m, <24 m, GT and certificates

Evidence requested: Registry certificate, length, tonnage, commercial certificate

MALNEWS · CYC 2025 applicability ↗

MT02

Verify transition to CYC 2025

Yacht Code

Conditional

Existing CYC 2020 yachts transition by first renewal after 31 December 2025, with recognised Administration decisions for possible phased arrangements.

When in scope: Previously CYC 2020 certified yachts

Evidence requested: Renewal survey, previous code certificate, dispensation

CYC25 · Foreword §§1.2–1.4 ↗

MT03

Adequate free drinking water onboard

Crew welfare

Duty

Supply adequate fresh drinking water without charge, piped to convenient accommodation positions.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under the applicable CYC 2025 sections

Evidence requested: Crew facilities walkthrough and capacity evaluation

CYC25 · §13.1.12.1 / §13.3.8.2 / §13.4.15.1 ↗

MT04

Use UV purifier or equivalent potable-water treatment

Treatment

Duty

Drinking water must be treated through UV or equivalent purification. Document installed system and how equivalence is accepted/verified.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under CYC 2025

Evidence requested: UV details, treatment validation, service/alarm checks

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 / §13.3.8.4 / §13.4.15.3 ↗

MT05

Annual bacteriological testing of drinking-water tanks

Sampling

Duty

Potable tanks are to be tested for bacteria annually by a recognised laboratory; preserve reports onboard.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under CYC 2025

Evidence requested: Dated recognised lab reports for each potable tank / representative plan

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 / §13.3.8.5 / §13.4.15.4 ↗

MT06

Keep water laboratory results onboard

Records

Duty

Relevant laboratory bacteriology results must be kept onboard.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under CYC 2025

Evidence requested: Digital/paper certificates and sample traceability

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 ↗

MT07

Carry emergency water reserve of 2 L per person

Emergency

Duty

Separate emergency drinking-water reserve of at least 2 litres per person onboard, tanks or bottles as permitted.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under CYC 2025

Evidence requested: Persons count x 2 L, actual inventory, expiry checks

CYC25 · §13.1.12.3 / §13.3.8.3 / §13.4.15.2 ↗

MT08

Maintain hygienic freshwater system

Storage

Duty

Freshwater system must be clean to protect against contamination.

When in scope: Commercial yachts under CYC 2025

Evidence requested: Tank, distribution, cleaning, maintenance and hygienic inspection records

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 ↗

MT09

Hot and cold water in wash spaces

Distribution

Duty

Hot and cold fresh water available at wash spaces, with sound hygienic arrangements.

When in scope: Sections applicable to yacht accommodation

Evidence requested: Wash-space walkthrough, temperatures and fittings

CYC25 · §13.3.8.1 ↗

MT10

Carry out documented weekly master inspections

Inspections

Conditional

Check weekly inspections of food/drinking-water supplies and handling/storage spaces; determine applicable subsection and documentation requirements.

When in scope: Code chapters where §13.3.19 or §13.4.21 applies

Evidence requested: Weekly inspection logs, corrective actions and signatures

CYC25 · §§13.3.19, 13.4.21 ↗

MT11

Use dedicated hygienic bunkering equipment

Bunkering

Best practice

Risk-based source acceptance, clean dedicated hoses and safe connection / backflow arrangements; not separately asserted as mandated numeric limit.

When in scope: Where shore water is taken aboard

Evidence requested: Bunker log, shore water assurance, hose records

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 (system hygiene) ↗

MT12

Verify UV or equivalent system performance

Treatment

Best practice

Maintain monitoring, lamp service and alarms; check proper flow and design validation, especially where treated water is distributed or stored.

When in scope: Where UV or alternative treatment is installed

Evidence requested: UV manufacturer, dose, alarm, maintenance and water-quality trends

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 ↗

MT13

Confirm treatment acceptance of alternatives

Administration

Review

Assess the treatment as an equivalent purification system and obtain flag/class confirmation when not clearly covered.

When in scope: If no UV or proposed equivalent treatment system

Evidence requested: Alternative technology validation and Administration letters

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 (equivalent) ↗

MT14

Risk-based watermaker source and product control

Watermaking

Best practice

Check intake pollution risk, product conductivity, off-spec diversion, materials and post-treatment.

When in scope: When onboard RO feeds freshwater tanks

Evidence requested: RO log, alarm and diversion tests, water quality

CYC25 · §13.1.12.2 (hygienic system) ↗

MT15

Check sCYC water requirements separately

Yacht Code

Review

Do not automatically apply CYC 2025 paragraphs to an sCYC yacht; review current sCYC and survey approval.

When in scope: Commercial yachts <24 m

Evidence requested: sCYC certificate, code provisions and surveys

SCYCPAGE · sCYC 2024 scope ↗

MT16

Retain plans, logs and Vorenico review evidence

Administration

Review

Compile system diagrams, treatment verification, yearly lab results and emergency reserve proof; expert review does not constitute Malta flag approval.

When in scope: Vessel-specific Water Safety Plan under applicable code

Evidence requested: P&ID, annual reports, supply, action register and accepted approvals

CYC25 · §13 Water services ↗

Editorial review: 28 October 2026. Flag State requirements are specific to the vessel, operating status, certificate, build date and accepted alternatives. Re-check the published code and flag/RO correspondence before claiming statutory compliance.
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