Palumbo shipyards will be applying for an environmental permit to carry out grit blasting on vessels after the planning authority stopped the company from using the surface treatment method last week.

Palumbo started working on formulating the application soon after a meeting with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority held yesterday at 2 p.m., a spokesman for the Italian company said.

Last week Mepa issued a stop notice ordering Palumbo, the operator of the Cottonera shipyards, to stop the grit blasting after numerous complaints from residents and yacht owners that the area was being polluted.

Grit blasting consists of copper particles blasted onto ships to remove paint and rust, leaving a smooth and clean surface. Although it is not illegal in itself, the method can be called into question if its residue pollutes the environment or creates a health hazard, especially if the tiny specs of paint, rust and metal become airborne.

The stop notice takes 15 days to come into force since the party involved is given a time-window to appeal Mepa’s decision.

A Palumbo spokesman said the company will be appealing as it is insisting the operation is a vital part of its business.

A meeting was yesterday held between Mepa and Palumbo to try and come up with a solution.

In a statement issued after the meeting, a Mepa spokesman said: “Palumbo agreed to submit an application for an environmental permit, which would establish a legally binding framework for the environmental performance of the shipyards.”

The application will concern the methods of surface treatment used by Palumbo and control measures for each method.

The application will be followed up by technical discussions and any permit conditions stipulating environmental standards of performance would be subject to a public consultation process.

Palumbo also committed itself to identifying measures that will result in immediate improvements, which need to be approved by Mepa.

A Palumbo spokesman explained that the company used various types of blasting methods including grit, sand and hydro blasting. Deciding which method to use depended on the vessel and the type of paint since not all blasting methods were effective on all types of vessels.

The ship owners also played an important role in deciding what method to use as some requested grit blasting.

The spokesman said the unpredictable nature of the work made it difficult to calculate how often this method was used.

“We’ve already done more than the ex-Malta Shipyards had done in previous years when it comes to environmental precautions,” the spokesman said.

He said the company had put an “extensive enclosure” around the vessel and installed a sprinkler system to control the debris.

The company insists the numerous safety enhancements it has introduced minimise any inconvenience and make the activity safe and in line with accepted practices in Europe.

A former shipyard manager, who asked not to be named, said grit blasting was being phased out mainly for health and safety reasons as it was hazardous to workers.

Before Palumbo took over, the shipyards had already invested in some equipment for hydro blasting, he said, adding that the ideal blasting method for Malta was hydro blasting using a sand-like material called garnet.

The capital cost of hydro blasting was considerably higher than using grit, however, operating costs were similar. Grit blasting was harmful to people and the environment, though it provided a marginally better finish, he added.

The mayors of the three cities urged Mepa to consider the health of residents before issuing the permit.

Senglea mayor Joseph Casha and Vittoriosa mayor John Boxall said the authorities had to keep citizens in mind.

Cospicua major Joseph Scerri said the town was most affected but he would not oppose Mepa’s decision so long as he was provided with a guarantee that any health hazards and noise pollution were controlled.

In a statement issued yesterday, Alternattiva Demokratika urged Palumbo to desist from using grit blasting due to the harm done to people’s health and the environment.

AD criticised comments made by Palumbo CEO in the media – saying the company would have to leave Malta if it was not allowed to use grit blasting – saying this was “unacceptable and tantamount to blackmail”.

The Palumbo spokesman said this was not a matter of blackmail.

He said according to the contract, Palumbo signed up to operate a shipyard that included ship repair, and had to be able to carry out the necessary activities.

If this was not allowed it would have no alternative but to safeguard its business.

This did not constitute a threat, he insisted.

The Italian company took over the shipyards in June and is expected to invest about €300 million into the facilities, including €23.5 million to be spent in the first five years of operation.

Parliament approved the transfer of the facility to Palumbo on a 30-year lease.

The company will pay the government €90 million over the span of the lease.

Last month, the company was also chosen as the preferred bidder for the super yacht facility at Cospicua.

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