The nautical risk assessment, carried out by Maritime Research Institute of the Netherlands (Marin), forms part of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permitting process and has been given to all the regulatory bodies, namely, Transport Malta, the Environment and Resources Authority, the Planning Authority, the Civil Protection Department and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, for their evaluation.

The studies have been completed, thus concluding all the Marin studies that were to be provided to the regulatory bodies for their consideration. Transport Malta is not carrying out any studies but evaluating these studies together with the other regulatory bodies.

With reference to the claim by the Times of Malta that “Transport Malta is refusing to hand over a copy to this newspaper”, kindly note, once again, Transport Malta’s only role is to evaluate these studies together with the other regulatory bodies, thus, it has no ownership of the said studies.