An employee at the Freeport who in 2010 suffered a permanent injury because of "prehistoric" systems of work was awarded €131,000 in damages.

Alexander Ciantar told the court he was injured in December 2010 while performing twist lock manoeuvres consisting in putting containers together.

He had to climb six storeys above the wharf onto the ship without any communication equipment to be in contact with the operator of a crane below.

The crane operator at one point moved the gantry and it hit Mr Ciantar.

Mr Justice Silvio Meli rules that each employer had to provide its employees with a safe and secure work environment.

In this case, it resulted that Malta Freeport Terminals Limited had not provided its employees with systems of communication.

The Freeport, said the court, could not accept work practices which were reminiscent of prehistory.

The court found in favour of Mr Ciantar and, after evaluating the level of disability and his salary, awarded him €131,077 in damages.