Project phases
Tender for the Purchase and Installation of the Decompression Chamber
and Facilities
Albeit the fact that Malta and Gozo enjoy a relatively low diver accident
rate, sometimes as low as a third of the European standards, the installation
of a decompression chamber on the island of Gozo is imperative in order
to meet the initiatives of increasing diving tourism. The over-riding
objective of installing a Decompression Chamber is to have the facility
on Gozo to treat cases of Decompression Sickness (DCS). Time is a detrimental
factor in the treatment of DCS and having to transfer patients to Malta
is not only time consuming but may cause irreversible damage to the patients.
- The main objective is to issue a tender for the purchase and installation
of the decompression chamber in line with the requirements and specifications
to be discussed with the appointed experts in the field in order to
complement the existing service provided in Malta and to issue a tender
for mechanical, civil and electrical works required for the installation
and operation of the decompression chamber in line with the specifications
stated in the tender document. Needless to say that an important aspect
of this part of the tender is to ensure constant liaison and co-ordination
with the hyperbaric experts at St. Luke’s Hospital;
- In addition to the above, another important facet of this tender is
to identify the location within the Gozo Hospital where the Decompression
Chamber is to be housed. In doing so an evaluation would be carried
out;
- To ensure that all directly and indirectly required medical equipment
and other requirements such as therapeutic oxygen are to be installed
in the chamber house and are according to European safety standards.
- To ensure that installation and operation of equipment conform to
security and safety requirements according to the European legislation.
Tender for Training of Personnel
The main aim of this part of the tender is to ensure that all human resources
are adequately trained in order to manage on professional basis the decompression
chamber and to give the highest professional treatment to users. Investment
in human resources is imperative in any development and therefore high
priority is to be given towards the training all personnel involved.
- The tender should cover identification of the adequate training
to be provided to all personnel working in the decompression chamber including
but not limited to the following:
- Medical Doctors;
- Nursing Staff;
- Technical Staff.
- The tender document will identify the best training for all personnel
in meeting all standards set by various international and European Bodies,
the European Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) and the European
Diving Technology Committee (EDTC).
- To identify which class of hyperbaric service is going to be
provided according to the level of training and experience of the personnel
in accordance with standards and requirements set by the Coordinating
Committee for Centres of Hyperbaric Medicine (CCCHM).
Tender and project management and scuttling of vessel
The aim is to enhance the existing dive sites by scuttling a ship to create
a wreck – the ultimate underwater attraction for divers. The lack
of wrecks renders Gozo less competitive as a diving destination. Scuttling
at Xatt l-Ahmar adds another site for diving.
As a result, this tender document is to encircle around:
- Issuing a tender in order to purchase a vessel according to the
defined budget and the specifications which are to be discussed with the
project leader and all stakeholders. This should include attractiveness
of the vessel as a wreck, the depth of the highest part (to be attractive
and accessible for less experienced divers) and its availability within
the reasonable time frame.
- The same tender document will specify that the vessel is to be
cleaned from all oils and fuels, towed and properly scuttled at Xatt l-Ahmar;
Consequently, in issuing the tender for the scuttling of the vessel the
following considerations are to be taken:
- Exact location where wreck is to be scuttled, its depth and
proximity to shore;
- Pending applications filed at MEPA relating to Xatt l-Ahmar;
- Eliminating obvious and unnecessary dangers for divers prior
to the scuttling.
Master Plan to Support a Sustainable Diving Industry in Gozo
One of the most important aspects of the project is to issue a Master
Plan for a complete assessment of on-shore and underwater in order to
support a sustainable diving industry in Gozo. When completed, this document
will be considered as being the base for future developments. It will
also form the basis of approval for any development by the respective
authorities. In pursuit of achieving the project objectives it is therefore
imperative that this master plan gives a holistic overview of:
- The present diving situation in Gozo in terms of the facilities
and dive sites available, quality of dive sites, general infrastructure
of the coast as well as the safety feature(s) available for divers;
- To identify the short-term, medium term as well as long term
sustainability of the diving industry in Gozo;
- To identify the actions that are required to be taken by competent
authorities in order to ensure that the project objectives of making Gozo
a hub for divers is reached within the shortest time possible;
- To upgrade the various diving sites around Gozo in order to improve
accessibility and to render them comfortable for divers to use during
different seasons and hours.
- To have a common platform of understanding between the competent
authorities and stakeholders in the tourism industry at large and specifically
the diving industry. This is to strategically plan the way forward and
operationally agree on the steps to be taken in order to meet the goals;
- To use the document as a common platform of understanding between
the competent authorities and stakeholders in the tourism industry at
large and specially the diving industry to tap EU funds as well as other
local and international funds in meeting the financial costs of the various
projects identified;
- Preparation of all reports requested by MEPA in order to obtain
approval for the scuttling of the vessel at Xatt l-Ahmar.
Carrying out Marketing and publicity activities
The Marketing and publicity strategy ensure that the whole project will
be marketed in alignment with the Government’s plans and EU directives.
In consultation with the Ministry for Gozo a marketing strategy has to
be drawn up to promote Gozo as a diving destination internationally. Campaign
material will include: campaign logo; publication of adverts and articles
in various international diving magazines related to the activities being
carried out and promoting diving in Gozo and any other relevant material
which deemed suitable for the scope of this project. The campaign team
will consult with relevant bodies which include Malta Environment and
Planning Authority; local diving schools; Gozo Tourism Association; Gozo
Business Chamber and Malta Tourist Authority to make sure that the campaign
reach successfully its goals and objectives.
More information about the marketing campaign and publicity of the project
are found in the campaign section and media office section of this website.
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