Malta to be better protected against oil pollution

The Malta Maritime Authority has launched a €1 million project to bolster protection of the sea and Maltese shoreline against possible oil and chemical pollution.

The project will identify improvements that need to be made in resources, strategies, personnel and training in order to respond to oil and chemical spills more effectively.

The MMA collaborates closely with the Civil Protection Department which is the entity responsible to take the lead in case of any disaster whether natural or man-made.

The authority said training programmes and drills will improve readiness for speedy and effective response. Recommendations will be made for the National Contingency Plan to be revised and upgraded.

Experts involved in the project are consulting the stakeholders involved in areas such as tourism, fisheries, ports and harbours, bunkering and fuel distribution, environmental protection, electricity and water supply. In a second phase of the project, which will extend into the middle of next year, new equipment and materials will be purchased to augment spill combat inventories.

This project is being carried out with the assistance of industry experts Alpha Briggs Mediterranean Ltd, which has been awarded the consultancy contract. It is 80 per cent funded by the EEA Financial Mechanism (European Economic Area comprising Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland). The MMA is funding the remaining 20 per cent.