Senior shipmaster Mario Grech has preferred not to comment on the findings of an independent inquiry that dismissed his claims of safety flaws aboard Gozo Channel ferries.

Capt. Grech is still suspended on full pay after he made his allegations last September, which included a lack of life-saving equipment and safety drills and the presence of the Legionella bacteria in the ferries' water supply.

The decision on whether to put Capt. Grech back on the roster would be taken by the company, a Finance Ministry spokesman said yesterday. "It is now Gozo Channel's responsibility to take note of this report and its conclusions and to decide on any follow-up required," he said.

The report of the inquiring board, which had been appointed by the Finance Ministry following Capt. Grech's allegations, was tabled in Parliament on Monday.

The company said in a statement its own board would examine the case "in light of the unfounded allegations" made at a particularly sensitive time commercially and take the appropriate steps.

A spokesman said the company would implement the inquiry's recommendations and pointed out that it had already done so on a number of suggestions.

Gozo Channel was "profoundly satisfied" that it had been vindicated by an independent board and added that it was not surprised at its conclusions. However, it expressed regret at the negative publicity that had been created by Capt. Grech's "irresponsible actions".

Gozo Channel did not specify whether Capt. Grech would be reinstated in the roster and questions sent to company chairman Joseph Grech remained unanswered by the time of writing.