Grit blasting at the Palumbo shipyard

In reference to Stefan Buontempo’s letter on Palumbo Shipyard Ltd and the use of grit blasting (Private Vs Public Interest In Grit Blasting, January 28), I wish to make the following points.

The former Malta Shipyard Ltd continued to use grit blasting until the last months before it was privatised. In fact, last year the vessels Ta’ Pinu (January 2010), Malita (February 2010) and M/T Challenger (March 2010) were grit blasted. For the latter in particular, the grit blasting activity lasted for one month and all the structural features of the vessel were blasted.

It is not true that before the Drydocks were privatised there was an agreement with third persons on the use of grit blasting.

There are three methods of blasting – grit, hydro and slurry (a mixture of sand and water). As has been the case in the past, it is the vessel’s particular paint specification that dictates. This is what used to happen before the Drydocks were privatised and it is what is happening today.

Now that Palumbo Shipyard Ltd is running the docks, whenever grit blasting is used, mitigating measures are set in place before initiating operation and this is totally different from the previous approach. Before, no mitigation measures were applied. Beyond the introduction of these measures, Palumbo is committed to continue to research other measures and methods in a process of continuous improvement.

Most importantly, at present Palumbo Shipyard Ltd is in the process of obtaining an environmental permit from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, a permit which controls all activities carried out in the yard. Before it was privatised, the Drydocks did not have such a permit.

Palumbo Shipyard Ltd has always abided by all Maltese established legislation since its commencement of operations last year, including health, safety and environment. The company will continue to do so.