Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542776
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 23 JANUARY 2026 OPINION A €130 million plan to enhance connectivity for Gozo WITH commuting of goods and peo- ple between Malta and Gozo register- ing double digit annual growth rates, the need to invest heavily in port infra- structure has become a requirement in the quest to enhance the potential of the island of Gozo. In this context, the government announced a new invest- ment plan that will further strengthen sea connectivity between the two is- lands. During an inter-ministerial press conference, it was revealed that by 2029 the Gozo Channel fleet will consist of five vessels, four passenger vessels and an additional ship dedicated for car- go. This investment amounts to €130 million. A significant figure, especially when considering the fast ferry service carried over 1 million passengers the last year. The plan, announced by the Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camill- eri; the Minister for the Economy, En- terprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri; and the Minister for Trans- port, Infrastructure and Public Works, Chris Bonett, aligns with the Gozo Regional Development Strategy. This Strategy, which was published almost 3 years ago, underscores the need to con- tinue investing in Gozo's connectivity to reflect the island's economic devel- opment and ensuring delivery of the required capacity for both commercial and passenger vehicles. It is widely accepted that Gozo's dou- ble insularity impacts the movement of people and goods, as well as the is- land's productivity and economic per- formance. The introduction of a fourth Gozo Channel ferry in 2019 increased service capacity and helped reduced waiting times and improved overall ef- ficiency. However, the traffic between the two islands continued to grow sig- nificantly over recent decades, driven by several factors including increased domestic and international tourism. In fact, according to official Gozo Chan- nel data, the number of vehicles and passengers crossing between the two islands increased by 225.2% and 92.7% respectively between 1995 and 2022. Over the same period, the number of trips increased by more than 75%. Ac- cording to projections, demand for sea transport between the two islands is expected to continue increasing. This necessitates bold decisions and a firm commitment to invest in the connectiv- ity between the islands. The investment plan in the new fer- ries does this. By 2029, two new vessels will be introduced: a fourth vessel with a capacity of 250 cars to be deployed during periods of high demand, and a fifth vessel with a capacity of 75 cars to operate during lower-demand periods. These vessels will operate alongside the existing fleet, which will be retrofitted one ferry at a time following the intro- duction of the two new vessels. During the retrofitting period, Gozo Channel will continue leasing an additional ves- sel to maintain a fleet of five operational ferries, ensuring uninterrupted service, and enabling the operation of the newly introduced commercial vehicle route. The proposed cargo ferry is expected to eliminate around 11,000 trips currently undertaken by commercial vehicles, ex- ceeding 12 metres in length, on Maltese roads. The new route will operate from Malta Freeport and the Grand Harbour, easing pressure on Ċirkewwa, improv- ing freight logistics, and reducing con- gestion and pollution in urban areas. The Ministry for Gozo and Planning is committed to go further. An addition- al step is the setting of a Taskforce to develop a strategic plan for upgrading the port infrastructure in Gozo, with a particular focus on the development of a strategic plan for the optimisation of Mġarr Harbour. This will be formu- lated through open, accountable, and responsible decision-making that pro- actively engages the Gozitan commu- nity and relevant stakeholders and will ensure that the Mgarr Harbour contin- ues to serve as a resilient, efficient, and sustainable multimodal transport and logistics hub for Gozo. Mario Borg, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Gozo and Planning