Out with the old

GaleaL

Apr 28th 2009, 09:23

Reinhard Azzopardi, DVella
How do you know that the local Shipyards did not have the capacity and the know-how to build them?
And is there not always a time to learn something new?
If you have never worked in the Shipyards you cannot understand he abilities of their ex-workers.

DVella

Apr 27th 2009, 15:24

@Louis Gatt - For a start Malta's shipyards happen to have disposed of most of their trained personnel and have nowhere like the resources to undertake such a task, moreover, even on their best day, they did not have the training, know-how, equipment and technology necessary to build anything like these advanced craft. These are not ships, nor are they yachts, the technology involved is more similar to that in the aircraft industry. Would you commission a chef from an ordinary restaurant to run a 5 michelin star establishment?? I think not unless you want to look pretty silly! Australia is right up at the cutting edge in the design and construction of these specialised vessels and that is why even countries with a maritime heritage even longer than ours (such as the UK) are ordering these types of craft from there. It is encouraging to see that Virtu are going for the best . . . . in another age, we would have had to settle for some old second-hand junk thrown out by someone else!!

Reinhard Azzopardi

Apr 27th 2009, 11:53

@Louis Gatt
With all due respect Mr. Gatt, high speed craft are totally different to the vessels built by the local shipyards. They use different techniques, materials, technology and I really do not believe that the local shipyards are geared up to build these types of vessels. I'm not belittling the local shipyards in any manner. I am just saying that they specialise in other fields of shipbuilding, that's all.

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

Apr 27th 2009, 10:18

PROSIT. Hasra li ma ssemmiex Toni Bajada, biex nenfasizzaw il-kontribut determinanti Malti fl-Assedju l-Kbir u nehilsu minn dis-servilita kolonjali fuq l-erbghin sena li sirna ndipendenti. M'ghandix dubju li ser ikun hawn li jistaqsi: "X'jahbat dan Toni Bajada?". Xhieda tal-punt li qed naghmel.

Louis Gatt

Apr 27th 2009, 09:52

Seeing the BOV helping local enterprise is a nice thing, but I do hope the Bank gives equal opportunities to everyone. I have nothing against Australian Shipyards, but what about our Shipyards. They did build lots of ships in the past, including the Gozo Ferry ships which are doing a very good job. It would certainly help our balance of payments too! What about getting a quotation from Malta?