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Recreational divers ‘allowed to carry out commercial dives’ by ANGELE SPITERI PARIS

Maltese law permits a diving team to carry out commercial dives if it only has recreational diving certification, a commercial diving expert said yesterday.

Although international regulations would have required the diver’s team to have high commercial diving qualifications, he said, Maltese law did not make similar demands.

The diving expert was giving evidence in the case regarding the death of a Dutch diver while carrying out an underwater hull inspection.

Ramiro Cali’ Corleo took the stand in the case against the German captain and chief engineer of the Verlaine, Peter Bargmann, 63, and Herman Dieter Raake, 57.

The two men are accused of causing the death of 40-year-old diver Raymond Van Beck through negligence at around 10am on 11 July last year.

Dr Cali’ Corleo, a witness for the defence, was questioned about the requirements for a commercial dive similar to the one Mr Van Beck made at the time of his death.

The expert, who has been a two-star diving instructor since 1985 and is a specialist in hyperbaric and diving medicine, gave a list of the qualifications that a diver’s team should have when carrying out a commercial dive.

He said, the diving supervisor and the stand-by diver should both possess commercial diving qualifications, adding that all those involved in the dive, including all the crew of the vessel being inspected, were usually briefed by the supervisor.

He said the stand-by diver should be kitted up and ready to jump into the water at any time.

The diving expert was shown the certificates held by Anthony Farrugia and Michael Galea, who were the assistant and stand-by divers respectively on Mr Van Beck’s dive.

Dr Cali Corleo said the two men held recreational licences and that technically they were not qualified to carry out commercial dives.

However, he added, that although this was the case according to international health and safety regulations, no legislation existed in Malta that required of them a commercial diving licence.

“Although recreational divers are not supposed to dive in harbours, it is ultimately up to the authorities concerned whether to allow them to carry out the dive or not,” the witness said.

“Malta lacks proper diving legislation and allowing someone with a recreational licence to carry out or assist a commercial dive went against all published guidelines for diving health and safety,” he continued. He said, the skills needed to dive in a harbour were completely different. Recreational divers are not trained to deal with low visibility, the high risk of entanglement and loud engine noise that can be found in harbour waters, said Dr Cali Corleo.

He said the rules and regulations are usually self-imposed by the industry in other countries to reduce the divers’ risk. This was not done in Malta.

The defence requested the court to appoint Dr Cali Corleo a court-appointed expert, but this was turned down after presiding Magistrate Abigail Lofaro heard that the man had spoken to the accused, albeit for a short time. The man was therefore called to the stand as a witness for the defence.The case continues.

Superintendent Peter Paul Zammit and inspector Johan Fenech are prosecuting.

Dr Stefano Filletti and Dr Stephen Frendo are appearing for the accused. David Saliba is representing the Occupation Health and Safety Association while Dr Francesco Depasquale and Dr Joseph Schembri are appearing part civile.