Category: Business

OHSA – A New Law on Safety & Security at the Workplace

The Occupational Health & Safety Authority (OHSA) has recently issued a leaflet to outline the basic tenets of the new law. In case you missed it or are not in Malta, here are the key points.

Every worker counts and every worker can contribute to the safety and security of the place they work in. The main objectives of the new law are the following:

  1. Protecting mental and physical health of workers across all sectors
  2. Implementing stronger measures and mechanisms
  3. Fostering a prevention culture among workers and employers alike

Key responsibilities:

  1. Responsibilities of the OHSA
    • Allocating more resources to operate effectively
    • Enhancing skills and competences of its own workforce
    • Introducing new legal measures for rapid intervention in high-risk situations
    • Modernising operational procedures for more effective oversight
    • Health & Safety Responsible Officer – when neccessary to receive reports and investigate, ensuring access for workers to continuous support at the workplace
    • Conducting life consultations nationwide to ensure sectoral improvements.
  2. Employer Liability
    • Risk and hazard identification
    • Assesment of impact of risks on workers’ health
    • Implementing necessary mesures to elimitate or control risks to workers’ health
    • Provide appropriate training and information to workers, based on their role
    • Ensuring competent supervision
  3. Employees’ Responsibilities
    • Cooperate with employer & team
    • Proper use of equipment supplied
    • Reporting of hazards
    • Engaging in continuous training
    • Adopting correct behaviour that does not endanger the team and themselves.

The OHSA offers a helpline – 158 – for more information or any difficulties.

If you are an employer seeking to draft your policies and procedures from this perspective and require assistance, contact us for a consultation. We can provide assistance with preparing your handbooks, policies and procedures, or provide a review based on the size of your operation and workforce.

The Business Behind the Journey: Travelling on Business

Why Travel Still Matters in Superyacht and Aircraft Advisory

At Asteria Advisory, travelling on business is more than a requirement. It’s a core part of how we deliver value to our clients. Whether attending yacht and aircraft shows, international expos, or industry summits, showing up in person remains a powerful tool for business growth. Here are my thoughts on the business behind the journey.

Staying Present in a Global Industry

My work revolves around two fast-paced, high-trust sectors: yachting and aviation. These industries thrive on relationships. While digital tools help us stay connected, there’s no substitute for face-to-face engagement. That’s why events like the Monaco Yacht Show or EBACE are more than just calendar items — they are vital touchpoints for business development.

Beyond the Booths

These events demand long days. Early morning panels often lead to back-to-back meetings, followed by networking dinners and receptions that run late into the evening. It’s tiring, yes — but it’s also where the real work happens.

Over coffee, cocktails, or casual conversations, ideas are exchanged. Trust is built. Opportunities are uncovered. Often, it’s not in the scheduled meeting but in the unscripted moments that collaborations begin.

Asteria on the Move

Since founding Asteria Advisory, I’ve continued this tradition of active presence — now as a solo practitioner. These trips are not just part of my routine. They are an intentional strategy to stay informed, build partnerships, and offer hands-on support to clients navigating ship registration, aircraft certification, and cross-border legal structures.

Travelling on business has great advantages – both personally and professionally.

Travel keeps Asteria connected — and it’s through these global interactions that we continue building bridges, one conversation at a time..

Here’s to more and more – networking, networking, networking.

Malta’s Maritime Industry: A Strategic Hub for Ships & Yachts

Introduction:

With a proud maritime heritage and strategic position at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has steadily evolved into a strategic hub for ships and yachts. Malta is a leading jurisdiction for maritime investment and ship and yacht registration.

Known for its robust legal and regulatory framework, Malta’s maritime industry offers significant opportunities for international investors. This applies to local and international stakeholders alike, for both ships and yachts.

A Growing Force in Global Yachting and Shipping

Malta continues to enhance its reputation as a reliable and forward-looking maritime flag state. During the Superyacht Symposium that took place in July 2021, Transport Minister Dr. Aaron Farrugia launched the development of a National Superyacht Strategy. This initiative gives a clear signal that Malta intends to further elevate its standing in the global maritime industry.

Update – November 2023: the initiative was published by government and can be downloaded here.

Industry professionals called for improvements including infrastructure and marina services, corporate and legal frameworks supporting ownership. These efforts aim to position Malta as a top-tier jurisdiction for yacht registration and support services. The strategy covers everything – from hard-standing facilities to high-quality professional advisory.

International Interest at the Monaco Yacht Show

Malta’s presence at the Monaco Yacht Show drew substantial attention, with the Transport Malta stand buzzing with activity. Visitors from around the globe showed a strong interest in the advantages of the Malta. They included yacht brokers, charterers, and industry professionals looking at both commercial and private yachts.

The Malta Business Registry was also present in Monaco. This move emphasised the close integration of commercial ship operations and maritime corporate services under the Maltese system.

Over the last decade, promotion of Malta’s maritime industry has become even more important as a government priority.

Building a National Superyacht Strategy

In a follow-up meeting hosted at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, key stakeholders shared recommendations for shaping Malta’s National Superyacht Strategy. Topics included: modernising Transport Malta’s online platforms, banking access and developing a private yacht code.

The attendees’ suggestions will all form part of a national White Paper. The government will publish these proposals once the proposals are properly considered.

These collaborative initiatives will play a pivotal role in reinforcing Malta’s legal and regulatory environment for shipping and yachting — ensuring long-term competitiveness and regulatory clarity for investors, operators, and clients.

Malta on the European Stage

Further bolstering Malta’s profile, recent proposals by a Maltese MEP on maritime transport were adopted by the European Parliament. This achievement underscores Malta’s active role in shaping maritime policy at the European level. It also reaffirms Malta’s ability to punch above its weight in a sector that continues to expand in both scale and complexity.

Conclusion: A Flag of Confidence

From ship registration to yachting advisory, from compliance management to infrastructure investment, Malta offers a powerful combination of expertise, international credibility, and commercial flexibility. With its EU membership, central Mediterranean location, and strong maritime tradition, Malta continues to position itself as a preferred jurisdiction for marine and shipping operations.

At Asteria Advisory, we support local and international clients with tailored legal and corporate services across the shipping and yachting sectors. Whether you’re setting up under the Malta flag, registering a vessel, or exploring new opportunities in maritime operations, we’re here to help.

👉 Get in touch to discuss how we can support your maritime venture or regulatory needs.
📩 Contact Us
📄 Download our latest factsheets on Ship & Yacht Registration in Malta from our Library.

Sanctioned Russian Oligarch wins right to use yacht on the French Riviera

A sanctioned Russian oligarch has won the right to use his yacht on the French Riviera. Rather, he has successfully challenged French customs due to a number of errors made in the procedure when they boarded the yacht.

Originally published in 2022, this article discusses the legal complexities around asset control and EU sanctions. As of 2025, such cases remain highly relevant in the evolving landscape of international law and yacht management.

The EU sanctions apply across EU member states. French customs authorities are reported to have failed to follow the correct procedures. The court ordered the release of the yacht.

Read the article here.

A superyacht lies at anchor. Image taken from stock - (C) Shutterstock
A superyacht – image from stock.

Legal professionals from different parts of the world have argued that individuals facing such sanctions should succeed in these challenges. Assets are being seized without due process of law. Further, these seizures are taking effect without following any proper court process.

Clearly, there could be a deprivation of the right to one’s own property, without the proper court case to establish whether anyone has committed a crime.

These actions, merely on the basis that an individual has links to (in this case) the Russian government, appear to constitute a right about turn from the fundamental human right to property. This is arguable. The use of wealth to continue to back up the atrocities of war remains worrying. Sanctions of this type might be the only way to stop this practice.

Asteria Advisory’s services include ship & yacht registration, and management & representatation for yachts. We also provide legal support on a more general basis.

MBR Publishes Regulatory Amendments

Act LX of 2021 introduces various amendments to the Companies Act, to take into account the EU’s Digitalisation Directive (which deals with electronic filings).

Additional duties are imposed on the Registrar of Companies and certain additional requirements are put into place for companies. Additional forms needed to be drawn up. The rules also provide for the appointment of directors and disqualification criteria.

A person applying to be appointed as director of a company is required to sign the Memorandum of the company or to submit a declaration in writing to show explicit consent to be appointed director and to declare whether they are aware of any circumstances that could lead to his or her disqualification, both under Maltese law and under any of the laws of other EU Member States.

Therefore, Form K has now been revamped. It includes a second part which a director uses to signify his or her consent to the appointment. Form K(1) is used for that declaration to be made when a director is being appointed for newly-formed companies.

These forms shall be accepted as of the 01 February 2022.

More on this link: Legislative amendments introduced by Act LX of 2021 – Malta Business Registry (mbr.mt)