30 December 1999 - 5 January 2000

Malta's France embassy issues statement over Erika

by a staff reporter

The Maltese embassy in France has issued a statement to clarify certain points related to the sinking of the Maltese registered tanker Erika.

The statement said that Malta is a signatory to all relative IMO conventions and therefore ships registered under its flag must be at the time and during this registration maintained in accordance with the international standards set by such conventions.

The Malta Maritime Authority also ensures that the ship owner is, in every sense, a serious, fully-experienced and thoroughly responsible company, maintaining very high technical standards in its use of the vessel and internationally accepted social security levels for its captain and crew while ensuring that they have the necessary experience acquired over long years at sea.

To ascertain that a vessel registered under the Maltese flag continues to follow precise standards of seaworthiness, the MMA requires a periodic inspection, by an independent foreign body which submits a full report to the MMA. It is only after this inspection that the MMA decides whether to continue, suspend or cancel the registration of the vessel.

The Maltese embassy said the motor tanker Erika has been registered as a Maltese ship since 1990.

In 1998, the vessel underwent special surveys as required by international regulations and eventually issued with full statutory certificates. Furthermore, between August and November this year, the vessel was again subjected to full annual surveys and all its certificates were confirmed.

Surveys of the ship were all carried on behalf of Malta by Rina, the Italian classification society which enjoys worldwide repute including full recognition of the European Union. Earlier this year, Erika also successfully passed a flag State inspection which, although not as extensive as a full survey, was in line with international requirements.

The operators of the vessel were also certified by Rina in terms of the international safety management code. Furthermore, the ship was also covered in terms of international law for civil liability and oil pollution damage. Finally, the ship was manned by a properly certified crew, all of the same nationality.

The embassy said that as its responsibility as a flag State, in terms of international conventions, the Maltese authorities immediately started their investigations into the matter. In carrying out these investigations, the Maltese authorities have been in close contact with the French Authorities.

The Maltese embassy said it wanted to express its appreciation to the French and British rescue teams for their excellent and unstinting efforts to ensure there was no loss of life.