MP raises safety issue over seaplane operations

The House of Representatives yesterday started debating a Bill to amend the Port Workers Ordinance following the port reform agreement reached between the Malta Maritime Authority and the Malta Dockers' Union.

The debate was opened by Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea who explained the agreement reached on June 30. (The agreement was announced at a press conference and a subsequent statement in Parliament).

Mr Galea said this agreement was an important element of the port reform process aimed at raising efficiency in the management of the harbours.

He said reactions to the agreement had been almost unanimously positive and most viewed it as a strong basis for radical change in the way the ports operated.

The port workers had realised this was an opportunity for them to make progress.

This agreement modernised work practices. It regulated the number of port workers and the eligibility for persons to work as port workers. At the same time, costs for port users were being brought down.

Port workers would continue to work as one body but the agreement laid down that the workers could reach service agreements with the various port operators according to their requirements.

Inheritance rights enjoyed by about half of the port workers who could transfer their licence to their children would continue to be enjoyed but other workers could also be recruited according to need. The first call for interested persons to follow a course to become port workers would be issued in the coming weeks.

The agreement also covered issues such as dispute resolution, disciplinary action, insurance cover and fees. Generally, cargo handling fees would be reduced by 20 per cent. This should be translated into savings for consumers.

Mr Galea said payment to auxiliary and prospective port workers was not regulated by the agreement but would be related to the volume of work. However the indications were that throughput would continue to rise. Merchandise shipped through the Mediterranean was expected to increase by 50 per cent between now and 2020.

Mr Galea said workers would no longer continue to receive part of their income through the contingency fund since its management was being changed and more professional rules on the administration of this fund were being drawn up in line with MFSA regulations.

The minister said this agreement would lead to a culture change at the ports. This agreement would be a tool to benefit port workers first and foremost but also Malta as a whole.

Labour MP Joe Mizzi insisted that port reform should not just mean an agreement with port workers. Malta needed to make more efficient use of all the ports it had. There was also a crying need for investment in Grand Harbour.

Mr Mizzi said he would not criticise the agreement, once the workers had backed it. He pointed out, however, that the rights of former port workers, who had contributed to the ports and the contingency fund, were not given much consideration.

Mr Mizzi said the agreement indicated savings but it did not seem that everyone would be contributing to these savings. How were importers to contribute, for example? Would consumers really benefit from these savings?

The Labour MP said that except for the development of cruise liner facilities, development in Grand Harbour had fallen behind.

Some quays could not be used because of half-sunken vessels which had been there for years. Other quays were badly in need of repairs.

Furthermore, Mr Mizzi said, the use of the most important quays at Grand Harbour was now controlled by private entities. The MMA no longer had any control on berthing. This did not augur well for efficiency.

Mr Mizzi said that while the limited space around the harbours needed to be used efficiently, the way the new MMA offices had been built meant that an important site had been lost for harbour operations.

The Labour MP also complained that Viset was not concentrating solely on maritime activities but was also holding entertainment events, with loud blaring music disturbing residents around the harbour. The law needed to be respected in this regard.

Mr Mizzi also referred to planned seaplane operations from Grand Harbour and asked if a risk assessment had been conducted.

Would the aircraft operate day and night? What danger did it pose to residents? Had consideration been taken with regards to the noise it caused?

Mr Mizzi criticised delays, cost over-runs and changes in the plans of the Gozo ferry terminals. He also hit out at the way the MMA was managing yacht marinas, saying some yachts and small vessels were making port without anyone knowing. Security left much to be desired.

Incident preparedness was not being given enough importance and pollution dispersant chemicals had expired.

The government had still not explained how ships which were more than 25 years old were again finding their way into the shipping register after the owners went to particular agents.

Amid interruptions and calls for order, Mr Mizzi said the government had still not explained how some yachts were granted berths in preference to others. How had hundreds of people been allowed to abusively receive a mariner's licence for years before he raised the alarm?

The government, he insisted, should appoint a House committee to investigate the MMA.