Updated 3.55pm with Transport Malta reaction below.
The government spent some €100,000 on boats for Transport Malta's Maritime Division that could have been bought for less, the PN said on Tuesday.
In a statement criticising the government for misusing taxpayers' funds, shadow minister Ivan Castillo slammed poor leadership in Transport Malta, which he said has created a situation where the division does not have the adequate resources needed to operate.
Castillo said the overspending on new boats comes after five rigid hull inflatable boats were bought by TM for €721,000 which were subsequently found to be unseaworthy.
The National Audit Office also flagged a series of failures in the procurement of the vessels.
Castillo said on Tuesday that last June Transport Malta issued another expression of interest to lease three RHIBS for two months between September 18 to November 19 at a cost of €94,000.
But the PN claims that these should have cost far less, with a new RHIB of the same type costing between €70,000 and €80,000.
"This decision not only lacks logic but also reflects wasteful spending of public funds, as the period does not cover the peak summer season – when maritime activity is at its highest – and leaves the most critical months without enforcement. Worse still, it appears that Transport Malta's two existing RHIBs were not utilised during this period," Castillo said.
"The Partit Nazzjonalista is informed that a new RHIB of the same type costs between €70,000 and €80,000. However, the Labour Government, due to incompetence and disregard for taxpayers' money, spent nearly €100,000 renting boats that could have been purchased for less."
Castillo also claimed that two evaluators who were involved in the cancelled RHIB tender are also evaluating the new tender and have retained their position despite pending investigations.
"This raises further doubts about the integrity of the entire process," he said.
The government has "lost control" and is compromising maritime safety by continuing to mismanage a division that is essential to maritime safety.
Transport Malta denies MP's claims
Transport Malta denied Castillo's claims in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
It said the acquisition of the RHIBs was in line with public procurement regulations. The RHIBs were checked by independent experts who found they did not conform to specifications. They were therefore withdrawn from service and TM took action to safeguard its interests. No payment for them has been made so far.
The rent of three RHIBs was a temporary measure to ensure continuity of service while the process for the acquisition of new vessels continued, TM said.
The rented RHIBs are certified for commercial use in terms of Commercial Vessel Regulations.
TM denied that the vessels were rented for €100,000 and that they were not used in the most important months.
It also denied Castillo's claim that new RHIBs cost between €70,000 and €80,000 and said this showed that the MP was not speaking about the sort of RHIBs needed for maritime law enforcement.
The authority said it would abide by the observations of the National Audit Office (NAO) in all acquisitions. It would also be transparent and maintain the highest levels of security at sea.