Medserv plc, the logistical support base operator for the Mediterranean oil and gas industry, expects its Misurata base to be operational by next month, Libya general manager Godfrey Attard told The Times Business.
The Gaddafi forces were approaching in tanks and I could sense the fear in my colleague’s voice
Back at Medserv’s Malta base at the Freeport after finally being able to travel to Misurata for the first time since February, Mr Attard said the company had been deeply concerned about its employees, directors and clients since the war broke out but all appear to be safe. Medserv, he added, was “lucky” to have suffered only superficial damage to its base at the port during the crisis. As the dust settles and people get back to work at the port, Medserv is preparing to repair the damage and kickstart its operations.
“We do not expect to get back to normal very soon, but we expect to be operational very soon,” Mr Attard, who joined Medserv six years ago, said. “The damage is not so severe. Our partners are the Freezone operators and they will help. Once we return to Libya, it will probably take about a month to get the base up and running again. We expect that by the end of October, we will be operational.”
Established in 2007, Medserv Misurata FZC is a joint venture between Medserv plc and the Misurata Free Zone Authority. It operates round-the-clock, and boasts a client portfolio which includes Eni NA, Amerada Hess, Petrobas, Gazprom, and Nippon.
The return to some normality has positively affected the Malta base which reverted to a five-day week on Monday with a full complement of staff, after four months of operating a four-day week.
In a company announcement on the Malta Stock Exchange last Friday, Medserv said it was “experiencing renewed demand for its services following a more optimistic outlook expressed by its customers”.
It has been a challenging few months at Medserv.
In late February, chairman Anthony Diacono had said Medserv had always prepared for such a scenario in Libya and plans were just put into action. Medserv was among the first Maltese companies to evacuate its staff from Libya.
Mr Attard recalls being in his Tripoli office at the time and was due to return to Malta a week before the ‘Day of Anger’. He decided to remain in Malta, hoping the situation would settle down. It did not.
Two members of a five-strong Maltese team attached to Misurata were at the base at the time. One departed as scheduled on February 19. The other was due to return to Malta two weeks later but when trouble broke out in Misurata the next day, he drove to Tripoli and spent 13 hours in an increasingly chaotic airport.
“As soon as the conflict broke out in Misurata, it was evident it was going to be very harsh. Unlike other towns and cities, the Misurata community responded to the offensive immediately.
“We were extremely concerned about our personnel, directors, contractors, client representatives who are mostly Misurata locals. For the first few weeks, we kept in contact with them by telephone until March 16.
“That day, I was on the phone with a member of staff and the Gaddafi forces were approaching in tanks. I remember my colleague describing the ground shaking and the window panes shattering. It was a terrible moment. I could sense the fear in his voice. It was as if he was speaking to me for the last time. Luckily, all personnel are safe now.”
Mr Attard said telephone communication with the base was cut off until September 2. In the meantime, irregular contact was made by satellite phone and over Skype, and the locals were able to communicate their needs. Medserv provided them with aid and communication systems through the Malta-based Igo-Aid Foundation’s weekly shipment. The company also warehoused containers full of supplies for charities at no charge.
Medserv did its utmost to keep contact with its extended Libyan family of around 50 people in Misurata, including directors, employees, client representatives, and sub-contractors.
Mr Attard pointed out the locals’ foremost priority was protecting the port, safeguarding the infrastructure, and controlling the comings and goings at sea. The attacks on the port began towards the end of April. Medserv’s base was hit by three or four Grad missiles, while hundreds flew over the port into the sea.
Water tanks were hit and will have to be replaced, and although splinters struck the base’s silos little damage was caused.
“One of the Grad missiles which hit the warehouse detonated on penetrating the roof so the damage is not serious,” Mr Attard explained. “One missile hit the mud plants, but only three or four were damaged. The splinters went right through a one-inch steel silo. We had some break-ins at the office, but nothing major. At this time, the base was not operating at all but the employees did everything they could to protect it, the offices, and the material we are storing for clients. They liaised with the port authorities so that they were able to access the base. We are very thankful.”
Mr Attard was the first of Medserv’s Maltese personnel to return this month, after a 20-hour voyage with UN de-miners who helped carry out a pre-assessment of the base to check for unexploded devices.
We have been very busy these past two days and the pressure of work is back on
He described looking out to the base while still at sea as “very emotional”. On land, new celebratory tunes blared in the party atmosphere.
Mr Attard said it was important to meet the directors to assure them that Medserv was keen to restart operations. The freezone opened for business on the Sunday, a day after he arrived, as port personnel resumed work following instructions by the NTC.
The situation in Misurata improves by the day in an upbeat mood. The locals believe their new freedom was worth the sacrifices of the past months. Relatively few people – around 1,200 – perished, although there are close to 7,000 people injured to varying degrees.
Misurata’s young people are now looked upon quite differently by the older generation, according to Mr Attard.
“One of my client representatives said that he used to think that the young people were useless, with their hair gel and their underwear waist bands showing over their jeans. Now he says he would ship over a container of gel to thank them. Their impressive courage has been appreciated very much by the older generation, who supported them by taking food to the front line or cleaning up and helping however they could.”
The determination of the people of Misurata was evident from the outset as 10,000 citizens stood up to just 500 police officers. But Mr Attard said they spoke of “terrible suffering”, going for days and weeks without water and electricity – and sleep. They feared that they would be caught off guard and killed if they dared fall asleep, especially in some areas which were more dangerous than others because of the missile range. Inevitably, everyone took the risk at some point and got some rest.
After briefing the Malta team on the situation in Libya, Mr Attard said there is relief at the Freeport office.
“We have been very busy these past two days and the pressure of work is back on,” he said. “There is a sense of urgency now to get the gas pumped again to Italy as soon as possible, before the winter. Libya also needs the revenues to start flowing again so that people can return to normal life.
“There is demand for our services now, especially in Malta because it is considered a safe haven, especially being part of the EU. The enquiries are flowing into Malta and we would be expecting enquiries at the same rate from Misurata. We are seeing things taking place tangibly. The restarting of the production offshore platforms is a priority and it is happening.”
On Monday evening, a hotel barge berthed at the Freeport, ready to accommodate personnel headed for the platforms in the next few days. Among the personnel will be Medserv workers and some Italians.
Mr Attard believes Medserv will continue to work with the same faces in Misurata as before but who will now have a different mindset. With the port authority as Medserv’s partner and with Misurata seemingly not having to remove people from their posts, Mr Attard is confident the company will resume operations with the same partners as soon as possible.
Mr Attard will return to Libya next week, and expects to find a much improved situation in Tripoli where people still seem a little uncomfortable.
“The war is still on,” he added. “People are still not at work because there are many on the front line or engaged in support. But clients are expecting us and people were happy to see us return. We will be flexible to change according to the circumstances and the demand for our services onshore or offshore or in different cities in Libya. At the moment, there is a surge of work through Malta and there is a lot of interest from the international community. The outlook is positive.”