Labour Party representatives, led by leader Alfred Sant, heard of Malta Shipyards’ prospects and problems at a meeting that discussed the MLP’s initiative of drawing up a regional development plan for Grand Harbour, which the shipyard welcomed.

Malta Shipyards chairman John Cassar White said the regeneration of Grand Harbour was hugely important because the area could be the heart of the country’s economic activity. The company’s activities, he said, spanned different areas of the port, from Kalkara to Cottonera, to Marsa and Manoel Island.

Mr Cassar White said an important element of Malta Shipyards’ business had to be related to work on super-yachts. Arrangements had already been made for one of the docks to serve this purpose and super-yacht work could bring new economic activity to Grand Harbour.

Another activity that interested Malta Shipyards was related to the needs of boats using the Vittoriosa marina. At the same time, Malta Shipyards was taking initiatives on joint ventures that it could undertake with multinational companies wanting to use Malta as a service depot. Malta Shipyards’ facilities were among the best in the Mediterranean, he said.

Mr Cassar White added that the company was seeking to be more active at its Manoel Island facility, which was profitable. He expressed concern that the shipyard was finding it difficult to lower the average age of the workforce through the recruitment of young workers.

Dr Sant said the Labour Party wanted to have a development plan for Grand Harbour for the next 30 years. There had to be a balance between industrial, touristic and social development in Grand Harbour.

At the same time, he said, there should be more means of communication by sea, which would link the entire harbour.