Inawgurati Fire Engines u Lanec tas-salvatagg ghad-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Civili

Sebgha u ghoxrin fire-engines godda flimkien ma tliet lanec ghat-tifi tan-nar, il-bierah gew inawgurati ufficjalment mis-Sotto Segretarju ta' l-Istat Taljan ghall-Protezzjoni Civili, Prof Franco Barberi, matul zjara qasira f'Malta. Prof. Barberi kien akkumpanjat mill-Ministru ta' l-Intern, Dr Tonio Borg u mis-Segretarju Parlamentari fil-Ministeru ta' l-Intern, il-Perit George Pullicino.

Il-fire engines, il-lanec u t-taghmir kollu kienu ffinanzjati mir-Raba' Protokoll Finanzjarju bejn Malta u l-Italja. Dan il-progett gie jiswa b'kollox ftit 'il fuq minn Lm7 miljun u huwa meqjus bhala l-flagship tar-raba' protokol.

Il-Prof Barberi, li kien akkumpanjat ukoll minn delegazzjoni Taljana, assista ghal dimostrazzjon ta' tifi tan-nar u salvatagg fil-Port il-Kbir abbord it-Tug "Sea Salvor" li huwa l-akbar Tug Ship fir-regjun ta' Malta, li jiflah jirmonka anke super tanker.

Wara, l-Prof Barberi inawgura ufficjalment is-27 fire engine u assista ghal dimostrazzjoni ohra ta' tifi tan-nar mill-Assistance and Rescue Officers tad-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Civili. Id-dimostrazzjoni saret fil-bini tad-Dipartiment f'Hal Far.

Fi tmiem ta' dawn l-attivitajiet saret konferenza tal-ahbarijiet fil-Ministeru ta' l-Intern li kienet indirizzata mis-Sotto Segretarju l-Prof. Franco Barberi u mill-Ministru ta' l-Intern, Dr Tonio Borg.

Il-Ministru Borg tkellem dwar "ir-relazzjoni eccellenti" bejn Malta u l-Italja. Huwa qal li l-Italja qed taghti l-ghajnuna taghha mhux biss bil-kliem izda wkoll bil-fatti. Huwa qal li qabel ma beda dan il-progett f'Awissu tal-1996, Malta ma kellha l-ebda qafas jew struttura ta' protezzjoni civili. It-taghmir tat-tifi tan-nar kien kollu second hand u l-ewwel taghmir gdid wasal proprju f'Awissu 1996.

Huwa qal ukoll li t-taghmir gdid iffinanzjat mill-gvern Taljan kien jinkludi wkoll taghmir ghal kontra t-tixrid u tniggiz taz-zejt fil-bahar, taghmir li qabel kien inezistenti f'Malta.

Il-Ministru Borg enfasizza li fil-futur ghandu jkun hemm aktar koperazzjoni internazzjonali, specjalment jekk jinqalghu incidenti tat-tixrid taz-zejt fil-bahar.

Huwa habbar li l-Italja diga` qablet li tghin lil haddiema u ufficcjali Maltin fil-hidma tat-tifi tan-nar.

Il-Prof Barberi, f'diskors li ghamel waqt il-konferenza tal-ahbarijiet, qal li kien impressjonat hafna bil-progress li sar f'dan il-progett bejn Malta u l-Italja. Huwa stqarr li l-aktar haga importanti issa hija li Malta hija mghammra ghal kull incident li jista' jinqala u hija atrezzata hafna ahjar biex tipprovdi protezzjoni civili.

PROF. FRANCO BARBERI

1962: Iggradwa bl-Unuri fil-Geologija mill-Universita' ta' Pisa.
1962: Ghalliem tal-Petrografija (Petrography)
1963-
1968: Ghalliem tal-Mineralogija (Mineralogy) fil-Fakulta` tal-Farmacija.
1968-
1975: Ghalliem tal-Vulkanologija fil-Fakulta` tax-Xjenza fl-Universita` ta' Pisa.
1975: Ghalliem tal-Vulkanologija fl-Universita` ta' Parigi u nhatar direttur tal- Vulkanologija (Vulcanology) fl-Universita` ta' Pisa.
1989: Inghata Grad Onorarju fil-Fizika mill-Universita' ta' Bologna.
1990: Kien innominat fil-Kumitat Tekniku u Xjentifiku tad-Decennju Internazzjonali ghall-Mitigazzjoni tad-Dizastri Naturali, tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti.
1991: Membru ta' l-Academia dei Lincei.
Iricieva l-premju Sasakawa-UNDRO min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti ghar- ricerjka tieghu dwar il-vulkani fit-Tielet Dinja.
1992: Mexxa b'success ir-rechannelling tal-mixja tal-lava wara l-izbroff ta' l- Etna.
1994: Inhatar Fellow ta' l-Akkademja Spanjola - Real Academia de Ciecias Exactas y Naturales
1995: Inhatar Sotto-Segretarju ta' l-Istat ghall-Ko-ordinazzjoni tal-Protezzjoni Civili fi hdan l-Ufficcju tal-Prim Ministru
1996: Gie appuntat Sotto-Segretarju ta' l-Istat ghall-Protezzjoni Civili u s- Servizzi tat-Tifi tan-Nar fi hdan il-Ministeru ta' l-Intern Taljan.

Bhala president tal-Grupp Nazzjonali tal-Vulkanologija, il-Prof Barberi jippromwovi bla heda u jikkordina ricerka dwar il-vulkani attivi. Din ir-ricerka tvarja minn studji dwar il-karatteristici fundamentali tal-process vulkaniku, ghas-sorveljanza permanenti tal-vulkani attivi u s-sorveljar u l-evalwazzjoni ta' x'potenzjal ghandhom li jizbroffaw.

Il-Grupp Nazzjonali tal-Vulkanologija jipprovdi konsulenza lid-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Civili waqt sitwazzjonijiet ta' emergenza.

Il-Prof Barberi kien involut b'mod attiv fit-tfassil ta' ftehim ta' koperazzjoni internazzjonali fl-oqsma xjentifici kemm fl-Ewropa kif ukoll 'il barra mill-kontinent.

VALUE OF PROJECT (BREAKDOWN OF FIGURES)

Description of Project
Fire Fighting Facilities (Iveco Contract) - Lm1.6 million
SARs Boats (x2) - Lm590,000
Medium Fire Fighting Vessel * - Lm1.2 million
Large Fire Fighting Tug Boat - Lm2.6 million
Equipment for Operations Centre - Lm224,000
Master Plan Payments and Consultancy Fees - Lm133,000
Training/Spare Parts - Lm56,000
Equipment for specialised workshop - Lm11,000
Construction of Operations Centre ** - Lm191,000
Continuation of works at Xemxija Fire Station and
Setting Up of Training Centre Fire Station – Hal Far - Lm173,000
Construction of Marine Unit - Lm100,000
Construction/Extension Corradino Fire Station - Lm40,000
Construction Marsa Fire Station (Floriana) - Lm4,000
Construction Specialised Workshop - Lm22,000
Grand Total Value (Approx.): - Lm7.1 million
* Still under construction and will be ready in April
** Including access road

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE VESSELS

The marine crafts identified by the Malta Civil Protection Department are the most suitable to deal with any eventual emergency at sea, in Harbour or on the coastline.

Two Search and Rescue Boats. (Similar to those of the Italian Coast Guards)

One Medium size Multi-Purpose Fire-Fighting Boat (22m length, 22 knot)

One Multi-Purpose Fire-Fighting/Salvage Tug (30m length, 12 knot speed, about 55 tons bollard pull)

Mr. Daniel Grima, Marine Consultant on contract with the Civil Protection Department, drew up specifications for the building of the above crafts to our requirements. Eventually tenders were invited from interested builders (mainly from Italian yards) with the exception of the two Search and Rescue Boats which were purchased from Cantiere Navale Vittoria, in Adria (Rovigo) who built similar boats to the Italian Coast Guards.

For the medium size Multi-purpose fire-fighting boat, two bids were received from Italian yards, (Gianetti and Cantiere Navale Vittoria) while for the Fire-Fighting/Salvage Tug, only one bid was received and that was from Cantiere Navale Ferrari, who eventually were awarded the building contract. For what concerns the medium size fire-fighting boat the Adjudicating Board has recommended that the bid submitted by Cantiere Navale Vittoria was the most favourable and were eventually awarded the building contract.

Two Search and rescue boats

The building contract was awarded to Cantiere Navale Vittoria, Adria. These two boats were delivered to the department on 10th August 1998 and are now moored near St. Angelo in Dockyard Creek. Special equipment to be installed on board together with spare parts and other equipment was separately shipped and delivered in August and is now placed at the CPD building at Hal Far.

These boats, which are self-righting, and could withstand heavy weather, are about 13m long and can develop a speed of about 33 knots. These are a modified and upgraded version of the twelve boats already built for the Italian Coast Guards and are also equipped at our request with a small fire-fighting pump to extinguish fires on speed boats, cabin cruisers and small yachts, which are a common occurrence during the summer season. An elevated deck for increased visual range with connecting controls was also built at our request.

Multi-purpose fire-fighting tug

The building contract for this tug was awarded to CN Ferrari, La Spezia on 29th August. This boat which is made of steel construction is about 30m long, 10 m wide, and has a draft of about 5m. The propulsion system of this boat is non-conventional called tractor Z-drives for high manoeuvrability, and is powered by two diesel engines developing a power of about 4500 brake horse power. This tug is expected to develop a maximum bollard pull of about 55 tons, which is a good pull for harbour towage of large vessels and also for offshore towage of standard vessels.

The main propulsion engines also drive two large fire-fighting pumps capable of throwing a horizontal water jet of about 120 metres long. In addition, there are two foam tanks having a total capacity of about 10 cubic metres.

This tug also has the capability of laying oil booms and recovery of oil from the sea in the event of an oil spill of a certain magnitude. Oil dispersing booms and chemical-dispersing tanks also forms part of the anti-pollution equipment, which can be used if necessary.

For communication and navigation, the tug is equipped for ocean going and unrestricted service having the latest state-of-the-art radio and navigation equipment, including a Global Maritime Distress Safety System for communication through satellite and shore stations, including telex communication and anti-collision warning system.

The engine room is equally equipped with advanced state-of the art equipment to protect the sea environment against pollution by oil and sewage. Included in the accommodation is a sick bay to give first-aid assistance to any injured person on the spot. The accommodation is designed and equipped for weeks of endurance. The tug was launched on 11th July 1998.

The tug is equipped to perform and provide the following services:

• Fire-fighting of large vessels and oil terminals
• Oil dispersing and oil recovery from oil pollution. Services for containment of oil slicks by floating booms can also be provided.
• Harbour towage
• Offshore towage/salvage of disabled vessel in distress
• Salvage/diving operations capable of plugging and de-water breached compartments of vessels
• Survey of underwater part of ship's hull while afloat
• Conveyance of ship's personnel, stores and spare parts, to and from vessel's offshore Malta