Feasibility study to be carried out

The Malta Shipyards yesterday agreed to find a suitable engineering firm to complete a feasibility study on the proposal by entrepreneur Joseph Cala to build the hull of an undersea resort ship at the yard, Mr Cala told The Times yesterday.

Mr Cala met the shipyard's chief executive officer Chris Bell after a meeting was arranged by the General Workers' Union, and they agreed that the engineering firm would have to be approved and paid for by the Cala Corporation.

Once the study was complete, Mr Cala would submit the finished design to Mr Bell, after which an estimate of the construction cost, and a schedule of works, would be presented to the Cala Corporation.

If the price was acceptable to Mr Cala, the corporation and the shipyard would sign the contract that would include a progressive payment schedule.

However, in a statement last night, the shipyards said that during the meeting in the presence of Cala Corporation yesterday, it had reiterated its position as sent to Mr Cala on April 2.

No commitment has been made for the lease of the Marsa Shipyard, nor a commitment to build the proposed vessels for Cala Corp.

The shipyards' position is for Cala Corp. to commission and pay for the feasibility study that was recommended to Mr Cala by Malta Shipyards on March 2.

This feasibility study is necessary as currently the Marsa facility does not meet the construction requirements for the proposed vessels.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said the feasibility study would be carried out by an engineering company that will be identified by June 7.

He said the union saw a big possibility for Malta Shipyards to build the hulls for 10 ships over at least 20 years in what has been quoted as being a Lm20 billion project.