Maltese Embassy in France clarifies Malta's position regarding the "Erika"

The following is the text of a Press Release issued in the French media on the 22^nd December 1999, by the Maltese Embassy in France, regarding the shipping casualty of the tanker "Erika".

ERIKA

"The Embassy of Malta wishes to clarify certain points related to the shipping casualty involving the Maltese registered motor tanker "ERIKA".

• 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 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 Maltese Maritime Authority requires a periodic inspection, by an independent foreign body which submits a full report thereon to the Authority which then decides whether to continue, to suspend, or to cancel the registration of the vessel.
• 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 of this year, the vessel was again subjected to full annual surveys and all its certificates were confirmed. Surveys of the ship were all carried out on behalf of Malta by Rina, the Italian classification society which enjoys world wide repute including full recognition by the European Union. This is the practice followed by all Flag State Administrations.
• Earlier this year this ship also successfully passed a Flag State inspection which, although not as extensive as a full survey, was in addition to 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.

As is its responsibility as a Flag State, in terms of international conventions, the Maltese authorities immediately started their investigations into this casualty. In the conduct of these investigations, the Maltese Authorities both in Malta and in France have been in close contact with the French Authorities.

The Maltese Embassy wishes to register its appreciation to the French and British rescue teams for their excellent and unstinting efforts in ensuring there was no loss of life."