Port worker awarded over Lm9,000 in damages

A judge yesterday ordered Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd to pay over Lm9,000 in damages to a port worker who was injured while at work in December 2001.

Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia delivered this judgment in the case of Renato Spiteri against the Freeport and against Focal Maritime Services Co. Ltd (FMC).

The court found that FMC was not to blame for Mr Spiteri's injuries.

The court heard that on December 15, 2001, Mr Spiteri was working at the port lashing containers on the vessel Adria Bianca. When the work was almost completed, the vessel's crew felt that more lashing was required. Mr Spiteri and his companions went to carry out the job but when they approached the vessel Mr Spiteri fell over a piece of metal on the quay and broke his shoulder.

It resulted that the metal was not visible due to insufficient lighting from the vessel. Mr Spiteri was wearing a safety helmet and safety shoes and gloves at the time.

In this case, the court noted that the foreman licensed with the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) had not boarded the vessel before the port workers, who included Mr Spiteri. The foreman was supposed to indicate to the port workers where to carry out their work from and what they were supposed to do.

At the time the accident occurred, the foreman was not present and no records were forthcoming from the Freeport to indicate who was present. Consequently, Mr Spiteri's version of events had to be believed.

The court thus ordered Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd to pay Mr Spiteri Lm9,335 in damages.