The Grand Harbour Clean-Up In Full Swing

Captain Fritz Farrugia Deputy Chief Officer Deputy Harbour Master Ports and Yachting Directorate

Peter Paul Barbara Director Office of Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer

SPECIAL FEATURE

March has been an eventful month for the Grand Harbour because of an ongoing general clean-up currently underway and in full swing, in an effort to make way for the continuation of our ongoing Grand Harbour Regeneration Programme, thus restoring our main port to its former glory.

As our natural harbour is marked with natural splendour and natural creeks, and adorned by unique cultural heritage dating back to the Middle Ages, making it one of the most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean, the Valletta Grand Harbour is indeed our window to the rest of the Maltese Islands and our showcase for the thousands of visitors, notably those tourists visiting our islands through our unique and majestic port.

This effort also saw at last, the removal of two oil rigs which were berthed at the Palumbo Shipyards for years on end; a scene which marred the Valletta skyline and tarnished its aesthetic beauty.

The removal of the Atwood Beacon and the Atwood Aurora oilrigs was sparked by a notice given to the shipyard in question by the Transport Minister to shift operations on these rigs. This operation was first made public on the 27th of January of this year in a press statement published by the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, where reference was made to the discussions with the Palumbo Shipyards and the agreement reached, stating that both rigs will be removed by the end of April of this year. In addition, as reported in the media, the Transport Ministry had also announced that an agreement was reached with Palumbo Shipyards to assist in the removal of half sunk vessels in the Marsa Creek.

These rigs have been subject to controversy because they have been laid up and static for a number of years, brought about by the global crisis in the oil and gas industry, combined with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, following discussions with the rig owners and local representatives who recognised the sensitivity and unique features of the Grand Harbour and the relevance of the harbour to residents in the surrounding cities as well as the public in general, it has been agreed that the rigs will be mobilised and plans have been drawn up for them to leave Malta.

Both residents and activists, fronted by Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, called on the Ombudsman to address a number of issues taking place in the Grand Harbour, particularly complaining about the idle oil rigs in the harbour. In line with the above, Transport Malta introduced a Port Notice, which imposes a two-month limit for ships being laid up in the Grand Harbour, with extensions provided on a case by case basis.

The two oil rigs were in fact towed out of the Grand Harbour this March, with the Atwood Beacon being towed out on 9th of March and the Atwood Aurora following suit on the 24th of March.

The planning for the removal of these rigs took several months to be drawn up, especially due to the travel restrictions brought about by COVID-19. Their reactivation and mobilisation is even more complex due to the fact that the use of specialised machinery was needed, and this had to be imported from the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe.

THE TWO JACK-UP RIGS WHICH WERE IN GRAND HARBOUR FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HAVE NOW BEEN TOWED OUT OF GRAND HARBOUR.

In a press statement which was published following a ministerial press conference, Hon. Minister Dr. Ian Borg said,

“THIS GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL AND REPUTATION THAT MALTA HAS IN THE MARITIME SECTOR AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAINTAIN THIS STANDARD AS WELL AS TO IMPROVE IT. WITH THIS INITIATIVE AND POLICY TO CLEAN THE GRAND HARBOUR FROM THESE SHIPS, WE WILL ALSO BE COMPLEMENTING OTHER INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS THE GRAND HARBOUR REGENERATION PLAN, AS WELL AS OTHER PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE GRAND HARBOUR CLEAN AIR PROJECT AND THE NEW WHARF AT RAS ĦANŻIR. WE ARE AWARE OF THE DEGREE THAT THE MARITIME INDUSTRY IN MALTA IS A PILLAR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND HOW IT GENERATES MANY JOBS, AND SO IT IS OUR DUTY TO SAFEGUARD IT AND IMPROVE IT.”

During that press conference, the Minister also made reference to the initiative to remove laidup vessels in various parts of the Harbour, an action which will also serve to prevent potential damage to the marine environment. He also reiterated that both Government and Transport Malta officials will be in contact with representatives of industry, NGOs, and all stakeholders, so that the maritime sector flourishes whilst also being sensitive to social expectations and needs.

The maritime and shipping industries are two of the most important contributors to our economy, through which it is ensured that

there is a continuous supply of most commodities to the islands, on which every local household and business is dependent for its well-being and to a certain extent, survival.

It is for these reasons that the Authority for Transport in Malta together with Infrastructure Malta will be embarking on a number of projects set to regenerate the port of Valletta, thus enhancing the services that can be offered, not to mention the flexibility that the port can offer to the shipping and maritime industries in Malta as a whole.

One of the projects will include the maintenance dredging of a number of areas within the port, thus providing deeper waters and providing additional flexibility to the types of vessels that can be accommodated within our harbour. Areas known as Ras Ħanżir, Church Wharf, and Bridge Wharf, together with other areas, are all earmarked for this intervention, which will

ATWOOD AURORA BEING TOWED OUT OF GRAND HARBOUR.

c. Captain Fritz Farrugia

c. Captain Fritz Farrugia

ATWOOD BEACON BEING TOWED OUT OF GRAND HARBOUR

Photo taken by Capt Fritz Farrugia

ultimately maximise the operational options and efficiency of Industry stakeholders.

To make sure that these works proceed without any delays, scheduled to commence during the first quarter of 2021, the Ports & Yachting Directorate within Transport Malta, together with the assistance of other Directorates of the Authority and in line with legislation, have initiated several operations to remove a number of vessels and wrecks scattered around various locations within the harbour.

The complexity of these operations is not to be underestimated; noting that a number of vessels, now considered wrecks, are fully submerged, which adds to the complexity of the equipment and experience required in their removal. In addition, the circumstances surrounding each vessel, which are now considered as un-seaworthy, vary to the extent that each vessel has to be looked at and treated differently, with processes ranging from legal to strictly logistical, tailor made for each vessel. These preparations and processes are already underway, together with a number of operations through which, to date, have already recovered and removed, a number of vessels.

These operations will continue taking place throughout the coming months until our objectives are reached, with related Notices to Mariners issued in the interest of safety of navigation, preservation of good order, and the prevention of pollution. This, together with the collaboration of all industry stakeholders, will result in a more efficient and multimodal port.

By the time of printing, further enforcement notices were issued, and vessels have been taken out of the water to be scrapped. The last activity of this kind took place on the 25th of March at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub, for which operations were also observed by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Hon. Dr. Ian Borg, who was accompanied by High Officials of Transport Malta, led by the Chairman and CEO, Mr. Joseph Bugeja. Deputy CEO and Chief Operations Officer Mr. Kevin Farrugia was also present on the quay side overseeing the Enforcement measures. At this stage, a total of 12 abandoned vessels have been removed from the Grand Harbour.