Counter protests over berthing facilities

The Malta Maritime Authority and Cassar Ship Repair Ltd have filed two counter protests in the First Hall of the Civil Court rebutting allegations made against them last month by three companies - Salv Bezzina & Sons Ltd, Bezzina Ship Repair Ltd and Bezzina Maritime Services Ltd.

The three companies had claimed that although they leased two quays in Marsa, other companies, including Cassar Ship Repair, were allowed to berth ships alongside.

In yesterday's counter-protest, Cassar Ltd denied it had ever made use of any facilities leased by the three companies and added it had only used facilities conceded to it by the competent authorities.

Cassar Ltd added that it had a barge at Church Wharf, Marsa, adjacent to Enemalta Corporation's property, alongside which vessels providing services to the corporation berthed. Furthermore, it claimed that the three companies enjoyed berthing facilities that led to an imbalance in the harbour industry.

On its part, the MMA denied the allegations made by the three companies. It claimed it was aware that the companies had filed complaints against Cassar Ltd but, upon investigation, it resulted that vessels had been berthed with the consent of the three companies while other vessels were outside the area conceded to the said companies.

Cassar Ltd had made use of part of Church Wharf to unload supplies of sulphuric acid for the power station but this facility, MMA said, had been part of the conditions imposed upon the three companies when they were leased the berthing facilities.

The MMA declared it had always acted to control any breaches of the harbour legislation and it drew the attention of the three companies to the fact that they were in contravention of their lease agreement because they were using space that had not been leased to them.

Dr Victor Borg Grech was counsel to Cassar Ltd and Dr Franco Vassallo was counsel to MMA.