Ship declared safe after toxic wastes report

Ash samples taken from the Norwegian ship MV Kronviken, currently at Malta Drydocks, do not contain toxic elements, laboratory tests commissioned by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority show.

The tests were taken after Greenpeace claimed it might be carrying harmful toxic substances.

MEPA said the findings showed that the elemental composition of the sample material and its physical aspect strongly suggested that the material was derived from incinerated ship waste. Toxic elements were not found in the waste.

The samples were taken during two inspections aboard the ship by MEPA environment inspectors last week.

Samples of the waste were sealed in the presence of the ship captain and sent for analysis, Environment Protection Director Ray Piscopo said.

The results of the tests, carried out by Prof. Alfred Vella, head of the University's Chemistry Department, showed that the ash came from domestic waste incinerated aboard the ship.

The waste did not pose a hazard to workers servicing the ship or handling the waste, MEPA said.

Malta Drydocks and the General Workers' Union said in a joint statement that as a result of the Kronviken rumours, a small group of workers had refused to carry out their normal duties on board the vessel yesterday morning. They returned to their duties when the safety of the ship was confirmed.

The MDD said that upon arrival in Malta last week, the vessel was fully inspected by the drydocks' resident chemist, an independent port chemist and MEPA.

The tests did not reveal any toxic or hazardous materials.

MDD and the GWU said that the vessel's owners fully cooperated with the authorities in allowing full access to the vessel so that the relevant inspections could take place.