Oral history of the Malta Dockyard: Aldo Attard

Entering the dockyard-Reasons for joining

(00:30) He joined the dockyard as an apprentice in 1970. He applied for the Dockyard because he spoke with his friend who had just applied and who had his brother working there already. He got him an application form and Attard applied and went to do the examination and he passed.

(05:30) He states that the apprenticeship was useful as he learned all the trades and met new people. Attard describes how the apprenticeship was organised in different parts; he mentions that during the first 2 years they stayed at school learning theory on the trade. He describes these 2 years as interesting as he learned new things, he even learned how to do personal tools. They were working for three days, and the remaining two days were spent at school. Aldo, joined as an engine fitter. The trade was chosen according to their order of merit they obtained in the entrance examination. They spent the first year doing practical training on all trades, as well as attending school learning the theory. After the first years at the training centre, they started with the practical training on their trade, where they were attached to an instructor. In fact, before learning things well, the instructor did not let them touch anything. During the apprenticeship, over-time did not exist, and Attard claims that the wage was about £2/13s (żewġ liri u tlettax-il xelin). Aldo mentions that if during the apprenticeship period, anybody who was in a family receiving allowances from the government due to certain family reasons had their wage was reduced.

 

(12:00) Another incentive was applicable whereby a reduction in the apprenticeship period would apply if the apprentice fared well in his practical training and examinations. This meant that one could complete his apprentice period in a shorter time. It was encouraging for the apprentice as he would get a full wage before. 

(13:30) He experienced several trades, including going with the joiners, patternmakers, welders, cleaners, went even to the garage and at Manoel Island. He even visited the laboratory, where they studied the materials required to do the work. 

Looking back-Reflections 

(16:00) Aldo mentions also some political aspects related to the dockyard. The authorities used to state that the Dockyard was not doing well and was not making a profit. But Attard find this difficult to accept, especially considering that any problems that other public entities had were practically solved by the dockyard. He compares how nowadays tourism is the basis of the economy and income, the same was the Dockyard at during that time. 

(18:15) He mentions how he started to learn joinery work. The instructor gave him a wooden beam (serratiz) and he had to start planing it until he learned how to handle the wood planer. In this way they learned how to section, divide, and take angles. Attard praises all the instructors.

(21:15) When he finished his apprenticeship period, he spent 6 months working at the factory (machine shop). Then he was transferred to the Manoel Island. There he worked until 1979. In the meantime, he applied for several positions at the Dockyard in order to obtain a better position as a chargeman, foreman or a shiprepair manger. Attard even mentions that he applied to become a pilot with Air Malta.

He then applied for an estimator and was transferred back to the Dockyard. Attard states that it was not an easy job to do, as he had to study a lot in order prepare good estimates. He started off with an established estimator to learn the process of the estimation.

They were given work specifications for repairs, new buildings and/or modifications. Then the estimator went through the specifications and the estimator prepared the estimate of what the shipyard required in terms of hours and material to carry out the work. This was eventually prepared as a quotation to be sent to the ship owners. They even went onboard ships that are repairing in the yard, and required a quotation for any additional work. To prepare the estimate they did not have any particular tools, and he emphasis it is the experience that was the basis of the estimate assisted with standard rates that the estimating department provided. By time things were changing and he mentions that for a quote they usually had 1 or 2 weeks, but by time to do the quotation was reduced.

(32:15) He was impressed with the final estimating work carried out on the Fairmount Fjord and Fairmount Fjell. His opinion was that these projects were used to harm the yard. The owners required a self-propelled barge with bigger accommodation plus other systems and services. 

(35:00) He mentions again about when he was working on the boat gantry hoist at the Manoel Island. They had to remove some wires for repair. He went to help the rigger and had a small accident and was rushed to the dockyard surgery. He also remembers when he was at Manoel Island where they had about 7 slipways, and once they had a ship on the one of the slipways, and they missed to tie one of the valves and once the yacht was afloat, water started flooding the yacht. 

Education-Interesting training and skills 

(37:45) When he worked at the factory, he was involved in a lot of work. He particularly mentions work on the damaged propellers, where they had to take a template (galvu) of the missing part, make a wood pattern, which was used to produce that required cast part of the propeller. Once the new part is welded on the new propeller, it is shaped to its original profile using hand tools. Attard point out that some propellers weighed around 70 tons, so imagine the hard work they had to do to carry out the repair.

The estimators had to consider the financial aspects of the job. Some repairs were not worth doing as compared to a new purchase. He described the work of an estimator as very vast.

(42:45) Aldo mentions that people who did not work at the Dockyard did not like the yard workers. He states that since they were technically good and knew how to do things by themselves. He feels that the people from outside the shipyard were a bit envious of the yard workers and there was a lot of bad influences against the yard worker. He also claims that a lot of people linked the dockyard with politics.