Chemicals used to treat the hulls of ships were discharged into the Grand Harbour without environmental authorisation, prompting enforcement action by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).

Footage captured on Sunday and sent to Times of Malta shows a brown liquid extending from a shipyard in Cottonera, winding its way past a cruise ship and a cargo vessel docked at the shipyards. The discharge was still clearly visible by Monday.

ERA confirmed that the unauthorised discharge came from an operator in the area, describing it as an antifouling chemical release rather than an oil spill.

Antifouling chemicals are typically used to treat ship hulls, preventing marine organisms such as barnacles, algae, and molluscs from attaching to vessels — something that can slow down ships and increase fuel consumption.

An ERA spokesperson stated that the authority had ordered the operator to “immediately” remedy the situation, with further enforcement actions underway. The discharge was stopped once ERA officers arrived on-site, and containment booms were deployed to limit the spread of the chemicals.

ERA emphasised that discharging antifouling chemicals into the sea is strictly prohibited, and operators are required to contain such substances within the drydock and dispose of them appropriately.

Industry sources identified the shipyard operator responsible for the discharge. In response, a representative for the operator admitted that an internal assessment had identified a potential issue with the shipyard’s filtration system.

This could have allowed some residue to escape, they said, but assured that containment measures were in place and the environmental team acted immediately to contain the spill within a few hours.

The operator stated that they remain fully committed to environmental compliance and will continue cooperating with the respective authorities.

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