Delimara Point Anchorage Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Anchorage in the lee of Delimara Point on the east coast in 4–12m over sand and rock. Fair holding — rocky outcrops mixed with sand; locate a sand patch carefully. The Delimara lighthouse stands at the point. The Delimara power station occupies the headland — maintain clearance from water intake infrastructure south of the point. Protected from N through NE. Open to SE and S. A useful staging stop when rounding the SE corner of Malta.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Delimara Point Anchorage is primarily sand and rock with variable holding that requires extra attention.

1. Monitor VHF Ch 16 for Malta Radio — Marsaxlokk Bay has active Freeport commercial shipping. Large container vessels have priority and operate at all hours from the east side of the bay.
2. Anchor in 4–12m. Malta's tidal range is negligible (<30cm) — no tidal depth correction needed. Wind-driven sea level variation up to 0.5m possible in strong winds.
3. Deploy at least 5:1 scope (60m chain at 12m depth). Verify the bottom is sand or mud — check for Posidonia seagrass (EU protected) before dropping the anchor.
4. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Delimara Point Anchorage are best in settled conditions — the anchorage is exposed to S and SE and E winds. The primary overnight hazard in Marsaxlokk is the Xlokk (Scirocco) SE wind: when it blows, the entire bay faces directly into the swell — seek shelter in Grand Harbour immediately at any strong SE forecast.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 95m radius before going below. 95m radius in 5–9m mixed sand/rock. Fair holding — locate sand patch with echo sounder or visually. Power station infrastructure south of the point — maintain clearance. Trip line recommended on rocky bottom.

Daylight transit stop May–October. Not for overnight in SE or southerly conditions. Useful when passage planning around the SE corner of Malta.

Navigation Hazards

• Power station infrastructure — maintain clearance from water intake on south side of headland
• Rocky substrate — trip line recommended
• S and SE exposure — leave if southerly or Xlokk develops

Rules & Regulations

• EU member (not Schengen): No customs formalities for EU boats arriving from EU ports. Non-EU boats: Grand Harbour (Valletta) is the official 24/7 customs clearance point for Malta. EES biometric recording required for non-EU crew since October 2025.
• Posidonia: EU protected throughout Maltese waters — anchor only in sand or mud patches. Fines apply. Use mooring buoys where provided.
• Freeport shipping: Commercial container shipping traffic on the east side of Marsaxlokk Bay — maintain a minimum 0.5nm clearance. Monitor VHF Ch 16 for commercial vessel announcements.
• Anchoring fee: Free
• Restrictions: Maintain clearance from Delimara power station infrastructure and water intake. Trip line recommended on rocky bottom. SE and S exposure — transit/fair weather use.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Marsaxlokk village (3nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Marsaxlokk village (3nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Marsaxlokk village (3nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Transit stop when rounding the southeast corner of Malta — good for a lunch break
2. The Delimara lighthouse is a notable landmark and navigation reference