In the protest, filed against the owners Edward and Keith Micallef St John, Malta Shipyards said that in the specifications it issued, it requested asbestos-free jointing sheets. The company claimed that Inter-Power Ltd had offered to supply the product and certified that the sheets were asbestos-free.

However, following recent studies carried out by Malta Shipyards on the jointing sheets, it was found that these contained traces of asbestos.

Malta Shipyards said that Inter-Power had breached the agreement reached between them by not providing asbestos-free jointing sheets.

In the protest, Malta Shipyards requested all the documentation, original certification and specifications of the materials, including details of the manufacturing company and the foreign supplier, as well as proof of purchase.

Furthermore, Malta Shipyards said it was holding Inter-Power Ltd responsible for all the damage that could have been caused.

Dr Pawlu Lia signed the protest.