No hazardous waste was found aboard the Norwegian ship Kronviken during a thorough investigation by Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) environment inspectors on Tuesday. The ship was found to contain only ashes resulting from the incineration of domestic waste on board the vessel.

The two-hour inspection was carried out soon after the ship docked at the Tank Cleaning Farm in Ricasoli. The inspection was co-ordinated by MEPA's Environment Protection Directorate together with the Civil Protection Department and the Administrative Law Enforcement Police.

First to board the vessel were MEPA's environment inspectors who searched the ship for hazardous wastes, including radioactive residue. Administrative Law Enforcement Police kept watch around the ship to ensure that there was no offloading of material or disembarking of persons until inspections by MEPA personnel and customs officers are complete.

As a precautionary measure samples were taken of the ash waste and are presently being analysed.