There was no more than a 50 per cent chance that the “shell of shells” – the largest petard ever manufactured in Malta – would be successful, according to fireworks enthusiasts.

The much-anticipated “shell of shells” failed to hit the heavens on Friday night. Photo: Viktor Vella

The petard of record-breaking size failed to light up the heavens on Friday night, to the dismay of thousands who had driven to the outskirts of Żurrieq to watch the anticipated spectacle.

Instead, the firework appeared to go off just as it was exiting its base on a barge some three kilometres off the coast of Wied iż-Żurrieq at around 10pm, falling far short of the potential display.

“There was always going to be a high risk that it wouldn’t work,” said one enthusiast connected with the event.

“In any fireworks display, you get many unexploded petards falling to the ground.”

The fact that the barge could be rocked by the waves and that the petard was being let off from a fully exposed tube, rather than one buried in the ground, may have added to the risk of failure, the man explained.

Knowing this would probably not have eased the disappointment felt by the members of the public who arrived in droves expecting to be awed. People could be spotted all the way from Ħal Far along the coast of Dingli.

There was always going to be a high risk that it wouldn’t work

Manufactured by Manwel Gauci and the Żurrieq St Catherine’s Fireworks Factory, the fireworks ball measured 135 centimetres  in diameter and would have surpassed the current record of 96.5cm had it been successful.

The shell weighed about 500 kilograms and was composed of 500 smaller shells each about 10 centimetres in diameter.

The Malta Records organisation, which monitors national records, thanked the organisers and the people who turned up for the event.

Attempts to reach the fireworks club had proven futile at time of writing.

The 500-kilo shell was originally made for Valletta’s Pageant of the Seas, which was meant to close the Sette Giugno celebrations in Grand Harbour.

The spectacle was originally designed for the Valletta 2018 Foundation’s Pageant of the Seas in June. However, it was cancelled a few days before, when the authorities refused to issue a permit due to safety concerns.

The event was then moved from the Grand Harbour to Żurrieq. This drew controversy, after BirdLife Malta said the big blast from the firework would harm Natura 2000 sites, particularly seabirds inhabiting Filfla.

The Environment Ministry said, however, that it had received assurances from the Environment Resources Authority that the fireworks event was in line with local regulations.

An impact assessment had shown there would be no significant effect on the natural environment of the area, in particular its fauna, the ministry said.