A ship master who was suspended on full pay in September after he blew the whistle on alleged serious safety flaws on board Gozo Channel ferries is still away from work as an inquiry into his allegations continues.
Captain Mario Grech was told not to report for work a day after he filed a judicial protest alleging serious safety shortcomings.
Should his suspension continue for years, he could lose his masters' licence, which is renewed every five years and requires proof of "continuous service in the industry" and "continuous sea service".
Among other things, Capt. Grech complained about the lack of life-saving equipment and the presence of the potentially-deadly Legionella bacteria in the water supply of three ferries. He also said that a boatswain had been employed on the strength of forged documents, a claim that has already led to an arraignment with another expected to follow.
The captain was first going to be suspended without pay but the Finance Minister intervened and it was decided that he would be paid while on suspension. However, four months on, he remains suspended and the first sitting of a civil case he initiated against his suspension was held at the Gozo court yesterday.
During the hearing, Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Grech admitted that Capt. Grech was receiving his basic pay, without any of the allowances paid to other workers.
The company insisted, through its lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona, on its justification for suspending Capt. Grech pending the outcome of an inquiry into his claims.
At this point, presiding Magistrate Anthony Ellul queried the company's position saying: "So if the inquiry takes five years, will he stay home all this time?" Dr Borg Cardona said Gozo Channel had "absolutely no say in the inquiry".
The inquiry had been launched on the insistence of Finance Minister Tonio Fenech a day after Capt. Grech made his allegations.
Mr Fenech also ordered the company to suspend any disciplinary action against Capt. Grech but he was removed from the roster.
His lawyer, Kevin Mompalao, argued yesterday that, according to international regulations, shipping companies could not take sanctions against anyone exposing flaws related to a ship's safety.
But Dr Borg Cardona rebutted this, saying no disciplinary proceedings had been taken against Capt. Grech "whose name was just removed from the roster". He also contested the use of the word suspension, on the basis of the fact that he was still being paid but Magistrate Ellul shot down this argument insisting that "if he is at home, he is suspended. He is not going to work being productive".