Palumbo Shipyards have been found not guilty of creating excessive noise to the detriment of residents living nearby.

Three representatives of the Palumbo Shipyards were arraigned in court recently, after complaints regarding incessant noise at night were filed by Senglea residents.

Palumbo director Joseph Calleja, Francesco Domenico Impollino as captain of the vessel Hamal and vessel inspector Saverio Velluci - were charged in court over the noise pollution following a criminal complaint filed by a representative of the Senglea Residents' Association.

The court acquitted them as it could not be proven that the noise in question was coming from the Palumbo Shipyard.

Residents had told the court that they could not sleep because of the non-stop noise, which sounded like the hum of a generator. The court heard on Wednesday how readings taken in the bedrooms of the complaining residents exceeded the World Health Organisation threshold of 30 decibels when the windows were open.

But the shipyard owners disputed the value of the threshold limit saying that the noise levels were still within the World Health Organisation nighttime parameter which they claimed was 40 decibels.

After hearing the contrasting opinions, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja ruled this morning that it could not be verified that the inconvenience was emanating from Dock 5, where the Hamal was docked.

Lawyers Abigail Bugeja, Matthew Brincat and Kathleen Grima appeared for the accused. Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.