Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1483500
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 NOVEMBER 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Palumbo noise WE are a group of residents from the Cottonera and environs, suffering severely from the Palumbo-MSC ship- yard's operations, which have been even worse than usual in recent weeks. The police have, on more than one occasion, responded to complaining residents that they cannot enforce any- thing given the nature of the shipyard's business. Indeed, the permit – EP 0023/17 – does not include hours for noisy operation and other stipulations to ensure the densely populated area, the shipyard is located in, is not ad- versely affected. Given that said permit is issued by ERA and that ERA is also the competent authority (according to L.N. 193 of 2004) which oversees environmental noise regulations, we are lodging our complaint and request with you. Over the past weeks, we have been afflicted by extreme noise - often throughout all hours of the late night and early morning. It is no exaggera- tion to say that it has been impossible to sleep for several nights in large areas of Senglea and Paola. We are attaching sound readings taken by Senglea (Triq is-Sur, Triq Pietru Pawl, and Triq San Pawl) residents on phone apps; which also indicate the times and dates, av- erage, maximum and minimum sound levels. These levels even supercede what is considered to be safe, let alone acceptable in the middle of the night! Other than the blasting operations which happen throughout the night, there has also been an incessant, loud alarm - going off all day long for days on end – on several occasions. We believe this is activated when the crane on the dredger currently in the ship- yard (D'Artagnan) is in use. Furthermore, residents in Senglea (Triq Felic, Triq Mark Mifsud Toma- si, Triq San Gwann amongst others) are suffering a lot of dust debris from blasting occurring in Dock number 4 (please see attached, video 2). Ac- cording to EP 0023/17, blasting in Dock 4 is not permitted and this dock is indeed located directly alongside a densely populated area. In Senglea, Bormla, Birgu and Kalkara - coinciding with the extreme late-night noise – residents have been chocked by a stifling smell. It is hard to breathe, the throat and oesophagus burns resulting in coughs and head- aches – all windows and doors need to be closed in order for the air to be remotely bearable. Several families have even had to move outside the Southern Harbour because of respira- tory distress – from infants and tod- dlers, to vulnerable adults. We would like ERA to investigate whether there is a correlation between the noise and the smell, identify the source of this smell, and ensure it doesn't occur again. We hope that you will act immedi- ately by including parameters in your permit so that: i) Operations are not allowed to have such an extreme, negative effect on residential surroundings; ii) Noisy operations are regulated in extent and limited to suitable hours; iii) The operators are obliged to respect the fact that the shipyard is located in a densely populated area and they must there- fore employ all measures necessary to mitigate the effects of their operations on the environment and surround- ings. The way the shipyard is conduct- ing its business is causing us severe mental and physical distress, and we also worry about the long-term health effects. For years now we have complained about the incessant emissions, but to no avail. It is evident that the shipyard has no interest in conducting its busi- ness with respect for us or the area. So insensitive are the operators, that on occasion it appears that the docked ships are used as accommodation, even hosting loud parties and karaoke late into the night. The most recent example of this was on 29/10/2022 on MSC Seaside, where a loud party – which went on till 1am – took place. The current situation is unaccept- able on many fronts. We trust that you will take immediate action to amend the current permit – which currently completely disregards the residents' wellbeing – and include the necessary stipulations, and then mon- itor and enforce them. Azzjoni Tuna Lura Artna Residents' group, Cottonera