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TRANSPORT Malta executive chairman James Piscopo yes- terday sent a boast- ful SMS to the Mal- taToday newsroom – namely managing editor Saviour Bal- zan and journalist Jurgen Balzan – after a 70-metre supery- acht checked in as the first order of business at Outer Coal Wharf. For Piscopo, formerly the Labour Party's chief executive, the news is a personal triumph: he decided to award a private company the ex- clusive concession of Outer Coal Wharf with no public call for ten- der, which MaltaToday was first to reveal. Despite facing a judicial protest from a company that claimed un- fair competition in the unilateral decision, Piscopo though it fit to send an SMS boasting that the first order of business had docked at Outer Coal Wharf – a token of the 'success' that the uncompeti- tive direct order he granted has brought. A private company has filed a judicial protest against Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo, for unilaterally granting the lucrative permit for a f loating dock without issuing a call for tender or an ex- pression of interest. The company, Woman In Management Ltd, has demanded that TM repeal the con- cession it gave to Melita Shipyard Ltd in breach of competition laws. The company said it could have possibly shown interest in the regulator's contract, but that this was not published and therefore prevented them from competing for it. Piscopo had confirmed with MaltaToday that Melita Shipyard was directly awarded the permit "because this was an immediate, realisable opportunity that ought not to be missed". Piscopo has claimed the opera- tion is expected to generate a turn- over in the region of €10 million annually, adding that this would also have a spillover effect for sub- contractors and related services. The permit for the superyacht facility was warded to entrepre- neur Pierre Balzan, who registered a new company, Melita Shipyard Ltd, in March 2014 – a month be- fore the concession. Outer Coal Wharf will be used for the berthing and operation of a f loating dock and for the provision of repair services on superyachts and marine vessels. "The initia- tive is directed towards addressing lack of capacity issues, increasing competition and is thought to be an important step towards the fur- ther development of this lucrative industry," Piscopo had told Malta- Today. He said the 12-month agreement was similar to other agreements for use of other port areas, and re- newable subject to the success of the operation and at TM's discre- tion. Given the long-term condition that Melita should engage four apprentices for three consecutive years, it is likely that the 12-month agreement will be renewed: the operator must invest €4 million in infrastructure, equipment and up- grading of the area, and employ 10 additional employees to the cur- rent direct compliment in the first year. Piscopo has described the award of the concession, as well as anoth- er at the former shipbuilding site, as "a typical positive case where different government entities col- laborated proactively, in seizing an imminently realisable opportunity that could have been missed if we did not act promptly". "While government entities are reaping the benefits of thousands of euros per day in rent fees and the applicable statutory port dues, the economy at large is reaping eco- nomic value added from the mul- ti-million euro budget available, across the whole maritime cluster, transportation, supplies and hotel accommodation sectors," Piscopo had told MaltaToday. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 JUNE 2014 TM boss is proud as a peacock over direct order The 2014 World Cup Get all the latest updates News