No negative effect on Maltese register

by David Kelleher

The recent sinking of two Maltese-registered ships does not appear to be having a negative impact on the Maltese register, Transport Minister Censu Galea said yesterday.
Asked to comment on the negative impact Tuesday’s sinking – the third in 15 months – could have on the economy and the Maltese shipping industry, Mr Galea said that accidents happen and Tuesday’s sinking was due to bad weather and because the vessel was not structurally sound.
“According to the latest information I have, the Balu had not broken up but sank in bad weather. This is not a repeat of the Erika. However, when these accidents occur we are happy,” the minister said. The Malta Maritime Authority, he added, was taking immediate action when accidents occurs and a casualty inspector was sent to Portugal to interview the crew members.
The recent accidents involving Maltese-registered ships may raise concern in the industry that the Maltese registry is not reliable. How-ever, Mr Galea said this was not the case. “Accident happens to vessels flying under all flags. In this case, it seems that the vessel sank in bad weather and not because it was defective. There is a tendency to associate a ‘bad flag’ with Maltese-registered ships – this is unfair. The Erika incident is closed. The sinking of the Crystal is being investigated and our inspectors are in the process of finalising their preliminary reports,” Mr Galea told The Malta Business Weekly.
The Balu, which sank in the Bay of Biscay off the northern coast of Spain on Tuesday, was a freighter carrying sulphuric acid. The authorities however said the cargo was not an environmental risk as the acid would dissolve in sea water in a matter of hours. All 23 crew members of the 24-year-old ship were rescued.
Tuesday’s incident was the third in 15 months. The Erika sank in December 1999, causing an environmental disaster along the French coast. The second was the Crystal which broke up into two last February.