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A Senior Master of Gozo Channel insisted in Court today that he stood by claims he made in a judicial protest against the company last year.

Captain Mario Grech, testifying in court in Gozo, said that after he filed his judicial protest on September 24, he had expected some form of company reaction, but he never expected to be suspended from the job.

He said that although he was still receiving his basic pay, he was not receiving various allowances, which were equivalent to a third of his pay.

The court is hearing a judicial application by Capt Grech contesting the company's decision to suspend him.

He had been asked not to report for work after claiming major safety flaws involving life-saving equipment, emergency training, lack of qualifications of the boatswain and the presence of the potentially-deadly Legionella bacteria in the water supply of three ferries.

Capt Grech said captains with the ferry line were breaching international marine safety measures.

The vessels were not equipped with harnesses to secure heavy vehicles in the hold and captains were not making sure safety drills were carried out by all crew.

He said that his suspension from work had not only impacted on his income, but it was also causing him psychological pressure, as he was being treated like he had done something wrong.

Earlier in today's sitting Capt Fitz Farrugia, the former Gozo Channel CEO, said that on September 25 he had, along with the company chairman, handed Capt Grech a letter suspending him from his work.

Capt Farrugia said he understood that the chairman had discussed the matter of Capt Grech's suspension with officials from the Ministry of Finance.

Capt Farrugia said he had no problems with Capt Grech and they had a professional relationship. He was aware of the claims made by Capt Grech as he had previously e-mailed him and they had discussed them. Some of the issues had existed for some time but needed time to be resolved, Capt Farrugia said. However there were other issues about which Capt Grech was not correct.

Capt Farrugia said that he himself resigned from Gozo Channel in September but his resignation was unrelated to this case.