St George's Bay — Birzebbuga Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Anchorage in St George's Bay (Birzebbuga) on the south side of Marsaxlokk Bay in 4–10m over clean sand. Good holding. Protected from N through NE by the bay orientation. Exposed to S and SE. The Birzebbuga industrial waterfront is nearby — avoid the industrial area to the west where Freeport infrastructure extends. The bay itself has a sandy beach and is used by local boats. Freeport commercial traffic on west side of Marsaxlokk Bay — monitor VHF Ch 16.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at St George's Bay — Birzebbuga is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.

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 4–10m. 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 (50m chain at 10m 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, Spade, Delta.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at St George's Bay — Birzebbuga 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 90m radius before going below. 90m radius in 5–8m clean sand. Good holding. Freeport commercial area to the west — maintain clearance. Exposed to S and SE: leave in Xlokk forecast. Sandy beach for swimming.

May–October. Good in NW/N/W conditions. Avoid in SE/S blow. Less visited than main Marsaxlokk Bay — quieter option.

Navigation Hazards

• Freeport commercial shipping — maintain wide clearance from container terminal area; large vessels have priority
• SE and S (Xlokk) exposure — leave if southerly 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 wide clearance from Freeport commercial shipping area to the west. Monitor VHF Ch 16 for commercial traffic. SE/S exposure: leave in Xlokk forecast.

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

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Birzebbuga town (0.5nm)
• Restaurant: Restaurants and cafés in Birzebbuga town (0.5nm). Ghar Dalam museum nearby. Basic provisions in Birzebbuga.
• Provisions: Available

Skipper's Tips

1. Visit Ghar Dalam cave (1nm inland) — one of Malta's most important prehistoric sites; bones of pygmy elephants and hippos found here
2. Sandy beach for swimming — less crowded than north Malta beaches
3. Keep well clear of Freeport container terminal on western side of Marsaxlokk Bay