Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542776
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 23 JANUARY 2026 NEWS Severe delays for Gozo Channel ferry as service recovers from Storm Harry PASSENGERS and heavy vehi- cles faced long delays at Ċirkew- wa and Mġarr on Thursday as ferry operations between Malta and Gozo gradually returned to normal following an almost two-day suspension caused by Storm Harry. Gozo Channel services were halted on Monday evening and throughout Tuesday as strong south-easterly winds, with gusts reaching 104km/h, made condi- tions at sea and in port unsafe. An attempt to resume crossings on Wednesday morning was aborted after one of the ferries struggled to berth at Ċirkewwa due to strong residual swells left by the storm. Full service was eventually resumed later on Wednesday, but with reduced capacity, as one of the vessels, MV Gau- dos, remains out of service for scheduled maintenance. Gozo Channel has warned that delays are expected as traffic builds up and goods deliveries resume af- ter the prolonged disruption. On Thursday, queues of heavy vehicles were reported at both Ċirkewwa and Mġarr, while some passengers said they had been waiting for more than two hours in Ċirkewwa to return to Gozo, as the backlog from ear- lier cancellations continued to affect operations. Other sea transport services also remain affected. The fast ferry service between Valletta and Gozo has been suspended indefinitely after storm damage at the Valletta terminal, while the Sliema–Valletta ferry and the Three Cities ferry servic- es were still not operating on Thursday due to strong winds and swell in the Grand Har- bour, according to Valletta Fer- ry Services. Authorities have urged travel- lers and commercial operators to plan ahead and expect fur- ther delays as conditions gradu- ally stabilise and normal sched- ules are restored. THE Rotary Club of Gozo is seeking applications from eligible residents of Gozo for assistance under the Gozo Vocational Fund. Since 2016, the Gozo Vocation- al Fund has awarded in excess of €13,000 to 29 beneficiaries, supporting a range of vocational disciplines including technical trades, creative industries, per- sonal training, computing and public speaking. The Vocational Fund was es- tablished to provide financial as- sistance to individuals pursuing vocational, technical and skills- based training, as well as the acquisition of educational mate- rials and specialised equipment directly related to vocational de- velopment. Grants of up to €500 per applicant may be awarded, subject to eligibility and approv- al in accordance with the Fund's governing agreement. Approved grants shall be paid directly to the service provider, supplier, or educational institution, as appli- cable. No payments will be made directly to beneficiaries. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be ordinarily resident in Gozo; Demonstrate a clear vocational or career objective; Outline how the requested as- sistance will contribute to their personal and professional devel- opment; and Indicate any efforts made to obtain alternative sourc- es of funding. Application Procedure Applicants are required to re- quest an official application form via email: secretary@rotarygozo. org Completed applications must be submitted no later than: 31 March 2026 Applications will be reviewed by the Trustees of the Fund in accordance with the Fund's gov- erning rules and administrative procedures. Rotary Club of Gozo calls for applications Grants of up to €500 per applicant may be awarded, subject to eligibility and approval in accordance with the Fund's governing agreement A meeting of the Rotary Club Gozo (Photo: Rotary Club Gozo/Facebook) Backlogs after two days of suspended crossings left heavy vehicles queuing at both harbours, with some passengers waiting over two hours to return to Gozo