Maritime authority investigates blacklisting

The Malta Maritime Authority has launched an investigation after a Maltese-registered ship was blacklisted by the Spanish authorities for allegedly causing pollution off the Galician coast, director general Lino Vassallo said yesterday.

"Obviously, we are at a very preliminary stage and we are still trying to identify the ship which is allegedly involved in this case. We have taken the reports seriously and have taken immediate steps to follow it up," he said.

According to Lloyd's List, Spain has blacklisted four ships: a Panamanian-flagged product tanker and a bulk carrier, a Maltese-flagged car carrier and a Georgian-flagged general cargo ship.

They now face detention and large fines if they make a stop in Spain.

They allegedly flushed their tanks and caused pollution off the Galician coast in the aftermath of last November's Prestige tanker disaster, which ravaged the area with oil slicks.

Spanish maritime authorities claim they have photographic and video evidence of the ships making illegal discharges of oily waste.