The local maritime industry has a new champion with Alex Borg: Ann Fenech facilitates this

Dec 5, 2025

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The maritime lobby in Malta has found a strong advocate in the new Opposition Leader Alex Borg. Ann Fenech, who is Malta’s most popular lawyer in the maritime industry, is facilitating this relationship – she was the previous President of the Executive Council of the Nationalist Party. She is one of the founders of the Malta Maritime Forum and currently the President of the Comité Maritime International.

In a meeting held with the Malta Maritime Forum, the Nationalist Party applauded its work which has currently commissioned a study on the local maritime sector. On the proposed EU Emission Trading System Directive, the Opposition Leader called for its suspension after the International Maritime Organisation postponed its planned Net-Zero Framework. The IMO’s framework was meant to work in parallel with the EU’s directive but the plan was scuttled after the US withdrew its participation from the agreement. The Maltese government supported the implementation of the EU directive. The Opposition Leader also said that he will support the blocking of the implementation of the EU directive.

Shadow Minister for Maritime Affairs Ivan Castillo said that the local maritime sector has a shortage of skilled workers and the Nationalist Party supports the further international projects to address this situation. He also said that Malta needs more investment in bunkering and research and development in the sector.

Members from the Malta Maritime Forum present to the meeting included Chairman Godwin Xerri, Vice Chairman Alex Montebello, Chief Executive Kevin J. Borg, and all board members, including Ann Fenech.