A port worker was yesterday awarded nearly Lm1,200 in damages after he was injured while working on a ship.

A small claims tribunal ordered the ship’s agent MMS (Shipping) Limited to pay the port worker damages after it was found guilty of failing to safeguard the health and safety of the people working on the ship.

The tribunal heard how Carmelo Zerafa, 57, was working on MV Lady Virginie, which is owned by Genta Genel Tasimacilik Denizcilik ve Ticaret Ltd STI.

This company is represented in Malta by MMS. (Shipping Limited).

The incident took place on 5 December 2004 when Mr Zerafa was hit by the hook of a crane which was being used to lift items from the ship’s storage compartment. The tribunal heard that Mr Zerafa was hit in the chest and as a result he suffered injuries which constrained him to be absent from work for nearly four weeks.

The tribunal, presided over by Dr Joseph Refalo, noted that the incident could have been avoided had certain procedures ensuring health and safety of workers at their workplace been in place.