Expelled Maltese ship certified safe by Spain a month ago

A Maltese flagged ship which Spain has ordered out of its waters was certified as safe by the Spanish authorities themselves just one month ago, Transport Minister Censu Galea told parliament yesterday.

The 15-year-old tanker Moskolwski was expelled from Spanish territorial waters on Saturday as Spain launched a new get-tough policy following the sinking off its coast of the tanker Prestige, which, like the Moskolwski, was single hulled. The Moskolwski had been on its way to Gibraltar carrying the same kind of oil as the Prestige.

Mr Galea said the Moskolwski was last inspected at Santa Cruz, Tenerife on October 30 and the Spanish authorities themselves had certified it safe by not detaining it.

The minister said another Maltese tanker, the 26-year-old Byzantio, which was the target of protests by Greenpeace activists last week had actually been inspected just a few days previously by Det Norske Veritas, one of the most respected certification companies in the world, and given the best certification possible.

Speaking during the debate on the financial estimates of the Malta Maritime Authority, Mr Galea said it was inevitable that shipping accidents occurred sometimes, but the Maltese shipping register took its international obligations very seriously and insisted that all those who came in contact with the Maltese flag did so too.

Indeed, detentions of Maltese flagged ships had this year dropped to their lowest ever at 7.8 per cent this year, a figure which was lower than the average of all shipping registers and a far cry from 24 per cent in 1995. The MMA, however, wanted to reduce that rate to zero if possible.

Mr Galea said nearly all double hulled ships were built after 1992 and it was therefore inevitable that there were single hulled ships registered under all flags. Their registration did not violate any international convention.

Just over year ago the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) decided that single hulled tankers would be phased out by 2015, but flag states were allowed the possibility of asking for a concession to permit some ships to operate under certain conditions beyond that date.

Malta, as a responsible flag state, was among the first to declare that it would not allow any single hulled tankers on its register after 2015 and would therefore not request this concession.

Dr Galea recalled how three years ago a Maltese flagged ship, the Erika, broke in half and sank off France. In that moment of difficulty the Maltese flag also showed its sense of responsibility by proposing changes to local and international law, while protecting its image. Indeed, the Maltese Merchant Shipping Act was now among the most modern in the world, imposing tough conditions on the Maltese register itself. It was for that reason that tonnage under the Maltese flag had declined slightly as some registrations were not renewed and some new ones were refused, Mr Galea said.

Opposition transport spokesman Joe Debono Grech agreed with the minister. He said war was being waged on the Malta Maritime Authority on a number of fronts because foreigners were envious of its seriousness and success. Malta had been unjustly blamed for the sinking of the Erika when what had happened was clearly the result of the stubbornness of the ship owners and charterers. Some were even somehow trying to connect the sinking of the Prestige with Malta even though the ship was not registered here.

As the minister had said, international law allowed the registration of single hulled tankers and such tankers existed in all registers. The Maltese register was undertaking its responsibilities seriously, and every Maltese should rise to its defence whenever it was unjustly criticised.

Earlier in his speech, the minister said it was not true that works on Cirkewwa harbour had fallen back by four years, as Opposition leader Alfred Sant said on Monday. The permits for the work were issued just 30 months ago and the project had hardly been conceived four years ago. Substantial work had been done since, including extensive land reclamation, the building of a new pier and an extension of the present one. Foundations had been laid for a terminal building in Mgarr and permits had been issued for the terminal in Cirkewwa, with building work due to commence early next year. The project was on time and much of the work on the Lm13 million project was due for completion late next year.

Mr Debono Grech said the Cirkewwa project was not started earlier by the Labour government because of all kind of hurdles raised by the monster that was the Planning Authority. That the permits took so long to be issued for such an urgent development was shameful of the authority. There had also been difficulties over dredging contracts.

The Labour MP asked what would happen to port workers if Malta were to join the EU. Would ship agents take over responsibility for cargo handling and decide whether or not to engage port workers to service their ships? Port workers should continue to enjoy the monopoly they had, as did other sectors.

Labour MP Jose Herrera observed that the maritime authority made a financial loss of Lm488,000 in the year up to September following a surplus of Lm2.4 million last year.

Referring to the various directorates, Dr Herrera observed that following a decline in ship registration last year, there had been a small, insignificant increase in the number of ships under the Maltese flag this year, although tonnage had still declined. Did this result justify the increased outlay on promotion?

Turning to the Yachting Directorate, he insisted that the marinas run by the MMA should be given a facelift and upgraded. He could not understand how this sector was being increasingly promoted when all available berths were full and there was a waiting list of over 300 yachts.

What had happened to plans for a new yacht marina in Gozo? Did the Cirkewwa harbour development plans include provision for yacht berths there?

Dr Herrera warned that EU membership could have a negative impact on the Maltese shipping register. The Maltese register had grown to be the fifth largest in the world simply because Malta could offer advantages over other countries. But if Malta joined the EU, it would have to align itself with EU commercial law.

Malta would thus lose the advantage it had of not requiring ship owners to disclose their assets. It was because of this advantage that several Greek owners were transferring ownership to companies in Malta.

Ship owners sought what was practical over what was bureaucratic and it was therefore likely that ship ownership would be transferred elsewhere outside the EU if Malta joined the bloc. Even though the registration of those ships might still remain in Malta, the departure of those Maltese registered companies would still be a loss.

Labour MP Noel Farrugia criticised the government for not having provided more facilities for super yachts. The yachting industry had grown by leaps and bounds since the September 11 events, yet in Malta, the Cottonera marina planned under the Labour government had still to see the light of day.

Winding up, Mr Galea said he had not seen the plans which it was claimed, the Labour government had to build a yacht marina in Gozo.

Referring to EU membership, Mr Galea said that in the accession talks, Malta adopted a tough stand in the interests of its flag. Following the accession of Malta and Cyprus and along with the Greek register, the EU would end up grouping 70 per cent of world shipping under its flag.

Mr Galea said it was true that yachting activity had risen in the Mediterranean, but in seeking to provide more facilities, Malta also needed to protect its environment. Xemxija was one of the sites identified by the MMA and MEPA as having the potential to be developed as a yacht marina. All should work together for more facilities to be developed.

Turning to the port workers, Mr Galea said talks on the transport sector closed a year ago and it had been guaranteed that the port workers would not lose their job. But the workers and the unions needed to recognise the need for change in harbour operations their own interest and that of Malta in general. Indeed the unions now acknowledged the need for change which would ultimately lead to better conditions for the workers.

Mr Galea said 402 cruise liners called at Malta last year, 100 more than the previous year, bringing 355,000 tourists. Much progress had been made in this sector, but much remained to be done to attract more ships and passengers. Indeed, in future, cruise liners could also be attracted to anchor off Gozo or Cirkewwa.

The estimates were approved after a division.