Agreement with pilots expected to cut port delays

Maritime pilots, the government and the Malta Maritime Authority are expected to sign an agreement next week assigning more responsibility to the pilots, Communications Minister Censu Galea told The Times yesterday.

The agreement is another step in port reform.

Mr Galea was contacted following complaints by shipping industry sources about delays in the ports due to a shortage of pilot boats. There are only two such boats available, one at the Freeport and one at Grand Harbour, and this was causing costly delays to ship agents.

So far, the mooring men were responsible for the pilot boats, which are used to ferry pilots to board ships so that they can make port. The boats were often developing faults and it has now been agreed both with the pilots and the mooring men that the pilots will be responsible for the boats while the mooring men will handle the berthing of ships, Mr Galea said.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin last week ordered a strike at Grand Harbour in protest over the delay in the signing of the agreement, talks about which were concluded several weeks ago.

Because the pilot launches were being used in two harbours, pilots sometimes have to cruise from Grand Harbour to Marsaxlokk to board a launch to take them out to a ship wanting to berth in Grand Harbour, resulting in a lot of time being wasted. With the agreement, pilots will be expected to provide boats and maintain them.

After talks were concluded with the Malta Maritime Authority, the agreement has to be approved at a political level.

The agreement was now at the Office of the Prime Minister but the green light is expected shortly, the minister said.