Comments on: Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat ‘launch’ LNG tanker as Transport Malta wakes up to maritime risk reports

By: rita schembri

rita schembri — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 18:35:00 +0000

In reply to C Falzon. The gratuities would be settled by then.

By: Vince Aquilina

Vince Aquilina — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 17:43:00 +0000

Travelling at its maximum speed ALL the way, it would take 21 days 9 hours to arrive at Marsaxlokk. That gives the switchers 12 days before fellatio starts.

By: C Falzon

C Falzon — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 16:04:00 +0000

As usual the project is ahead of schedule and all is going well. The latest declared target date for starting to operate is mid-September.

This means that if the tanker were to leave right now from Singapore and somehow manage to steam ahead at a steady 20kmh, it would barely arrive at Marsaxlokk before mid September.

Then we are supposed to believe that a few hours later the power station will miraculously start producing electricity when the machinery hasn’t even been tested yet and can not be tested before the ship arrives and is filled with gas.

The commissioning and testing of such a plant usually takes at least a matter of months and the thing is that such testing obviously needs gas to put into the machines, which gas is not available until the ship arrives.

Actually not even then as even the ship itself and the unloading facilities will need to undergo a lot of testing before even starting to deliver gas to shore.

I suppose one could of course opt to skip all that and just turn the key and see what happens, which whatever it is will likely be very bright and loud.

By: Lomax

Lomax — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 09:52:00 +0000

I believe this is what will happen. The LNG will never make it to Malta. Why? Because some environmental report will say that it’s dangerous etc. We do not really need it now, do we, given that the interconnector should be fully up and running by 2017 anyway.

So, it the tanker be conveniently swept under the carpet, whoever had to get rich out of the deal did so and whoever had to receive windfalls did so and, as the Italians so aptly put it, chi s’e’ visto s’e’ visto.

By: Frank Atkinson

Frank Atkinson — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 09:36:00 +0000

Let’s hope that whoever writes this report puts his name on it. It is no longer acceptable to hide behind ‘the Authority’ as the author. A true professional would be open about his assessment not remain anonymous.

By: Steve C. Miller

Steve C. Miller — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 08:02:00 +0000

Rubber stamping or what?

By: Giovann DeMartino

Giovann DeMartino — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 07:59:00 +0000

Maybe this corrupt government has decided to scrap the project and ‘hopes’ that Transport Malta would object. Then the Prime Minister can shift the blame on them.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 07:53:00 +0000

In reply to MG Farrugia. I think you mean the European Commission, not the EU. The EU is not an outside body to Malta. Malta is part of it.

By: MG Farrugia

MG Farrugia — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 07:50:00 +0000

We thought that joining the European Union would save us from this kind of government behaviour, irrespective of who is in government.

What is the EU’s role in all of this? How can the EU ignore all of this, is it spine-less in such dealings relating to this new power station corrupt deals?

By: Mikhail Tal

Mikhail Tal — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 07:49:00 +0000

“The maritime risk assessment has been submitted to the relevant authorities by the operator. This is being evaluated by Transport Malta and it will be taken into consideration in the safety studies being undertaken on behalf of the control of major accident hazards (Comah) competent authority. Comah, through its participating entities, which are the OHSA, the Civil Protection Department, the Planning Authority and the Environment and Resources Authority, together with Transport Malta, are reviewing the works carried out on maritime safety.”

Unbelievable.

They are truly convinced that that is the right way of doing things. First they approve a project, then demand a maritime risk assessment from the developer, allow the developer to submit his assessment when the project is practically complete, then instruct authorities to comment. (oops, sorry : instruct authorities to approve).