A Cospicua resident made a heartfelt appeal to the authorities to address the noise and dust from works at the Palumbo shipyard, claiming his health was suffering as a consequence.

Despite going to one regulator after another, Joe Busuttil, 63, told the Times of Malta the situation had not changed. He produced dust and particles he had collected from his balcony only that morning, saying he was being forced to live in constant noise and dirt.

“I have asthma on top of other illnesses. I have to take three types of inhalers every day. I’m always out of breath. I can’t live like this. I can’t live in this noise and dirt… I am desperate. This goes on day and night,” he said, barely audible against the background noise coming from the nearby yard.

The Palumbo management has denied operations at the yard are the cause, saying the company was carrying out activities and observing the same standards as those in shipyards in Spain, Portugal, France, Monaco and Singapore, among others.

Mr Busuttil, however, is not convinced. Holding a container filled with dark particles he said he swept off his balcony in the morning, he said: “I collect this every day. We are living in this”.

He lives close to docks four and five, and wants the authorities to stop the blasting work there, at least “to stop this dirt on our balconies and cars”.

Mr Busuttil insisted he was not against the operations at the yard. “I don’t want the drydocks to close. I don’t want workers to lose their jobs. On the contrary, I hope they get more work. I was once a labourer too but it’s not right that I’m expected to move when I’ve lived here for 55 years,” he said.

“I love Cospicua… I shouldn’t have to leave because of the drydocks. Blasting has always happened here but not like this, day and night, living in this noise and dust. This is making us sick,” Mr Busuttil insisted.

Palumbo’s management poin-ted out that what Mr Busuttil was referring to was slurry blasting (carried out by water pressure), which, it said, minimised the spread of residue in the air.

“We don’t want to have an impact on neighbours but we need to use the docks at the end of the day. Zero impact is not possible but our activities are very well controlled to minimise any impact. Our standards are beyond what is demanded of us,” managing director Joseph Calleja said.

He noted that work at night only occurred when clients had tight deadlines: “We are suppressing operations during the night. [Work at night] doesn’t pay unless the client gives us a tight deadline”.

Palumbo applied for an environmental permit during its first year of operation, Mr Calleja said. “All necessary studies are now done. We are just waiting for the outcome of some final ones to hand over to Mepa.”

Mr Calleja added: “It is very hard to work in this environment. We try to push this country to the highest level worldwide. There is huge potential but it is very difficult when people do this”.

He insisted Mepa officers were at the yard “almost every day”.

The environment watchdog confirmed it had been notified that blasting works were to occur in docks four and five over the past days. It said an inspection was carried out “earlier this week” but did not go into whether its officials visited the place almost daily.

Mr Busuttil said other residents were complaining too but were reluctant to speak up. “All I want is for the drydocks management to hear us. I’m the only one taking a stand. The others are bothered by it too but they are reluctant to complain. I am not scared to speak up, no matter the consequences. I have nothing in life except my health and my family. All I want is that our voice is heard and something is done,” he said.