28 expressions of interests submitted for maritime hub

28 consortia who submitted proposals under the maritime hub expression of interest will now be asked to resubmit their detailed proposals according to four categories identified by the Privatisation Unit following an evaluation of the EOI.

The four categories identified are: oil and gas industry and logistics; ship repair, heavy industry, yachting and logistics; super yacht refit and repair facility and an offshore energy regional support base; and servicing of yachts, supply of hard-standing facilities and other services.

In the case of the first three categories, projects submitted must make full use of the 150,000 square metre site of the former Marsa shipbuilding. The fourth category will make use of plots.

The request for proposals will be launched in the coming weeks. Interested parties will have between 10 to 13 weeks to submit their projects.

According to Economy minister Chris Cardona, the four categories "best maximize" the use of the site.

"These categories provide the best space for added value opportunities, investment in human resources and the creation of a significant amount of jobs," Cardona said.

The minister said the oil and gas industry category has been identified by the Privatisation Unit as the one with the biggest potential for effective use of the site. This category would see the setting up of a rig-servicing centre and an academic institution for teaching and training.

"Such an institution would be the incubator of the maritime hub, working in collaboration with MCAST and the University of Malta," Cardona said.

The servicing of oilrigs, he added, would attract not only oilrigs operating in the Mediterranean but those in the Atlantic Ocean and West Africa.

"This would be a golden opportunity for Malta as the Mediterranean Sea currently lacks such a servicing centre," he said.

An oil pollution response centre - the first of its sort in the Mediterranean - would be set up as well, catering for the whole region.