Malta Shipyards has made arrangements for a dock to be dedicated to super yachts, shipyards chairman John Cassar White said yesterday.

Speaking during a visit to the 'yard by Labour leader Alfred Sant, who asked about the shipyard's proposals for the regeneration of Grand Harbour, Mr Cassar White said this was of utmost importance because the zone could be the centre of the country's economic activity.

Work on super yachts had become an important element and this could create a new economic activity in Grand Harbour, the chairman said.

Other work the shipyard was interested in was related to the needs of seacraft berthing at the Vittoriosa marina.

At the same time the 'yard was working on joint venture initiatives with multinational companies that wanted to consider the island as a service depot.

The facilities offered by Malta Shipyards were still the best in the Mediterranean, Mr Cassar White said.

Malta Shipyards, the chairman said, was also working to strengthen the results it was achieving at its facility on Manoel Island where a profit was being registered. The aim was for this success to be repeated in other sectors of the shipyards.

Mr Cassar White also spoke on Malta Shipyards' commitment to leave the least possible impact on the environment and the residents in the neighbourhood.

He expressed his wish that the development of Dock 1 would include a Shipyards' Museum that would be a tourist attraction.

Malta Shipyards annually sponsored a number of Lorenzo Gafa students giving them work experience and encouraging them to take on an apprentice scheme at the 'yard.

Mr Cassar White expressed his concern that the shipyard was finding it difficult to find young workers to regenerate the work force.

The 'yard had a future if it kept renewing itself because the nature of its work was constantly changing.

On his part, Dr Sant said the Labour Party wanted to come up with a development plan for Grand Harbour for the next 30 years.

The party wanted to build on the potential of the port, taking into account the economic and demographic changes that took place in the past years.

The MLP believed there should be a balance between the industrial, touristic and social development of Grand Harbour.

At the same time, means of marine communications linking the main areas of the port had to be developed.

It was in this context that the Labour Party was, for the past weeks, going through a consultation process meeting Grand Harbour communities and organisations operating from the port.

MPs Helena Dalli and Charles Buhagiar were present for the meeting.