Skipper charged with violating port rules

The captain of a small tanker was yesterday charged with entering the Grand Harbour without having first notified the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) giving rise to a situation which, the prosecution said, "may have resulted in a very serious collision".

The 70-year-old captain of mv Bouncer, Harold Valman, pleaded not guilty to entering harbour illegally on Wednesday at about 3 p.m.

Port regulations lay down that the operator, agent or master of a vessel is to notify the MMA in writing about the scheduled arrival. The prosecution is claiming that no one notified the authority about the Bouncer's arrival.

Lawyer Franco Vassallo, representing the authority, told the court Mr Valman was being charged with a very serious offence. Had a cruise liner been passing by at the time the Bouncer entered port, there could have been a "very serious collision", he said.

Speaking from the dock, Mr Valman, holder of a British passport, told Magistrate Michael Mallia he had spent five weeks at sea to come to Malta so the tanker could be converted into a private vessel.

He said his agent, who he defined as a "total waste of time", had failed to inform the port authorities about his arrival, adding that he was now bearing the brunt of his agent's mistake.

Magistrate Mallia told Mr Valman to consult his lawyer so that any such matters could be addressed before the court hearing the compilation of evidence against him.

Mr Valman was remanded in police custody at this stage after the presiding magistrate heard the prosecution expressing fears he may abscond.

The vessel is under the control of the authority. Lawyer Beppe Fenech Adami represented Mr Valman as legal aid. Police Inspector Alfred Mallia prosecuted with the assistance of lawyers Franco Vassallo and Joseph Camilleri from the MMA.