Pollution Free Harbour

submitted by St. Margaret College Boys Secondary Verdala : Jake Cauchi, Logan Formosa  for 11-14
dissemination(s): newspaper
Dissemination description: Writeup and photo have been sent to the Times of Malta.
filed under Photos


The only Grand Harbour sandy beach in Malta is being polluted with toxic liquids and oil spills from passing ships. In Rinella Bay there’s a Tank Cleaner Farm meant to clean ships which dock in our harbour risking contaminating the beach. Discharges of sewage, dumping of rubbish from vessels, as well as spills of oil and other harmful substances cause Marine Pollution in our Grand Harbour. Also ballast water offering stability in empty ships is problematic. Before every voyage, ballast water is pumped into the ship tanks risking taking in tiny stowaways in the form of marine organisms. Then when the ballast water is pumped out of the ship into the sea, some of these organisms may become pests, contaminating our sea harbour, beaches and fisheries. Unfortunately there is not adequate awareness in keeping our sea harbour clean and local authorities should intervene to safeguard our marine environment and ecosystem.