Oral history of the Malta Dockyard: Charles Abdilla

(00:30) He states that he always wished to work in a similar environment to that of the Dockyard. As a result, he applied to join the Drydocks and sat for the exam and did well.  First, he started with the apprenticeship which was five years, however if one was capable to continue technical studies at the same time and achieve good grades, the years will be reduced to three years and this was the case for Charles.

(03:15) The apprenticeship was well planned, as they could try all trades and then after a final year assessment carried out by the various instructors, the apprentice will be allocated to a trade. Charles was specifically inclined to engineering (mechanical fitter) and electrical. He was selected to continue his apprenticeship as a mechanical fitter.

(04:15) He spent one year and a half practicing on various machines in the machine shop and his progress was again assessed, and he was eventually assigned to the work in the machine shop. He worked there from 1971 to 1976. 

Education-Interesting training and skills 

(06:00) He remembers when the US Government donated two patrol boats to the AFM, and he was involved to do the overhauling of their main engines. There were other works, such a high-quality work on feed pumps, steering pumps, etc.

 

(07:30) Around 1976/77, there was a call for applications for management trainees and the manager of the machine shop, Carmelo Baldacchino, who was considered as one of the top engineers in the yard, contacted Charles and recommended him to apply for the post, and was later selected together with three other colleagues.

(09:30) The training was for 2 years, where he was allocated to the shiprepair manager, Leli Formosa. After a period of six months Abdilla was already working by himself as a management trainee. He worked with several well-known companies, including: Dutch Shell, Shipping Corporation of India, Olympic and with an Offshore American Company Odeco.

(10:45) With ODECO, he was involved with massive project. This was a jack-up rig. There requirement was to enclose the moon-pool area. Then they required to fit on deck two cantilever beams fabricated from 5” thick plate. These beams were used as sliding rails for the drilling derrick, which could also slide transversely. Probably this was one of the major conversions done at the shipyard.

Entering the dockyard-Dockyard layout 

(13:30) During that time, there was a lot new work resulting from new regulations, such as Inert gas systems and Crude oil washing system. Charles gives some detailed description of the work involved.

Education-Projects 

(15:00) As management he also involved in conversion of passenger ships. He remembers the Cunard Countess that was returning from the war of the Falklands and came to Malta Drydocks for a major conversion. At that time the yard won the contract against very harsh competition from British shipyards, who pretended that this refit should have been done in the UK. So, the yard was under the searchlight with the British who were disputing that Malta was not able to complete the work in the contracted duration. 

Part of the work was the renewal of four generators, which required the shipyard to open an access in the shipside for removal and replacement of the generators. On the second day, somehow some oil and fuel spilled in the dock floor and was absorbed by the used grit that was also on the floor. This oil-soaked grit went on fire, and Charles who was on night shift, by the time he went to call the fire engine, the ship was engulfed by flames. Luckily the docking section were working on that night and they took the decision to flood the dock, in order to extinguish the fire.

(19:00) In 1985, there was a call for a vacancy for a Plant Divisional Manager, and Charlie applied for this and was chosen for the role. This gave him the experience of the shipyard’s facilities in more details. He worked in that post from 1985 to 1989.

(22:00) Then in 1989, there was a call for vacancy for an Engineering Divisional Manager. After sometime it was agreed for Charles to take up the position. He now had the responsibility of the engine division of the Dockyard. This gave him a lot of experience and exposure to all aspects of the shipyard work. Charles occupied this position up to 2005.

Entering the dockyard-Dockyard layout 

(26:15) In 2005, there was an increase in the market of LPG tankers. These were ships with a highly specialised cargo containment and cargo handling systems.

Malta Dockyard’ management at that time, Mr. Peter Moore decided to organise better the Dockyard for these LPG carriers and assigned Charlie for this. He transferred Charlie from the engineering division and made him a marketing manager for gas tankers. He carried out several research, however for some reason it was realised that it was not a feasible market to be taken up by the shipyard. The project lasted up to end in 2006.

(29:30) In early 2007, there was the section for super yachts in No.2 and No.3 docks, and again Peter Moore told him that they were missing engineering experience and wanted him to go to this section. Abdilla agreed and took up this post. He describes it as a new experience with a much cleaner environment.

Before starting working at the Super Yachts, there was a request that workers should be reduced. And the management decided to make redundant those on sick leave and Abdilla due to back pain was unfortunately chosen as one of those that should be made redundant on early retirement and he terminated his experience in the Dockyard like this. 

In January 2010, he was asked again by the manager of the super yachts and requested him to do a survey of the condition of the area. 

Life after the Dockyard-Memories of last day 

(39:00) He finished in July 2010 and once he was at home and around 4pm he received a message if he would be willing to work with Palumbo. The next day they phoned him and told him that the engineering manager was about to leave and they asked him to replace him. He accepted and started working with Palumbo. He describes the transition between the way he used to work prior Palumbo versus under Palumbo-he mentions that hundreds of machines were not working and not in use. At age 61 Abdilla retired. 

(46:00) When he was in engineering, he knew a company in England, Cooper, where he asked for financial aid from the Commonwealth, and he mentioned that the Malta Dockyard had old machines and told them about Cooper who were experts in machinery refurbishment, and the Commonwealth liked the idea and offered him financial help.