Much has been planned for the use of the old naval workshops and stores at the Dock No. 1 in Cospicua.

Part of the project is earmarked for cultural activities and hopefully a museum or two. What could be better than to convert one of the large buildings into an engineering museum?

We’re lucky enough that, although the former Malta Dockyard has closed down, much of the old equipment and machinery remain stored on site. Many such items are unique and quite a few date back to before World War II, even if they’re broken down or scrapped in some corner. The pumps and machinery that used to fill or empty Dock No. 1 should still be there, if not totally rusted away!

We’re even luckier that there are dedicated people, some former students of HM Dockyard School and others MDD tradesmen, who have dedicated their lives to saving such artefacts and, after restoring them, they’ve built private collections that compete with anything existing overseas. Many of these fine machines were saved from scrapyards or found rusting away in some field or garage and paid for from their own pockets.

A good example of the capabilities of such fine men are some of the former Cold War, underground flour mills, which they brought back to life.

Such a museum will be precisely located where the industrial revolution first came to Malta through British naval influence. It can serve as a centre of education to all who are interested to learn about our industrial heritage, a major attraction for both locals and visitors and a source of sustainability. Given an incentive and supplemented by some younger blood, these specialists are an excellent source for a wealth from which future generations will benefit and enjoy. Above all, it will serve as a monument to the Maltese who ever worked there since when the first bacino was built.