Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542941
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 30 JANUARY 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Traffic patterns over the course of 2025 show that ve- hicle departures from Mġarr were highest on Sundays and Mondays, while passenger de- partures peaked on Sundays and Saturdays. From Ċirkew- wa, vehicle traffic was busi- est on Fridays and Saturdays, while passenger traffic was highest on Saturdays and Fri- days. Mgarr–Valletta Fast Ferry Activity also rose on the Mġarr–Valletta fast fer- ry route. During the fourth quarter, 2,687 trips were car- ried out, transporting 312,597 passengers. Compared with the same quarter in 2024, the number of trips increased by 11.8%, while passenger numbers rose by 25.6%. December recorded the highest number of trips on this route, with 950 cross- ings, or 35.4% of the quarterly total. October saw the larg- est passenger volume, with 125,770 passengers, account- ing for 40.2% of all passengers carried during the period. Annual overview From an annual perspective, the total number of trips by the Gozo Channel ferry ser- vice and the fast ferry in 2025 increased by 1,707, or 3.8%, compared with 2024. Vehicle movements between the islands rose by 63,069, or 3.0%, while passenger num- bers increased by 511,306, a rise of 7.4%. August was the busiest month of the year, record- ing 4,099 trips, as well as the highest monthly totals for ve- hicles, at 210,290, and passen- gers, at 740,474. Vehicle traffic from Cirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, NSO says Tourists in Rabat Gozo during the summer period (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Gozo Chamber calls for renewed discussion on permanent link with Malta after Storm Harry THE Gozo Business Chamber said the past days of adverse weather have once again un- derscored how accessibili- ty remains central to Gozo's present and future, as trans- port links between the islands were severely disrupted. In a statement, the Chamber expressed its appreciation for Gozo Channel workers, the police, civil protection, medics and other public officers who, despite difficult conditions, ensured the provision of emer- gency services and safeguard- ed public safety. The Chamber also welcomed the launch this week of a Task Force focusing on the acces- sibility of Mġarr Harbour and Gozo more broadly. As a member of the Task Force, the Chamber said it will con- tribute to what it described as an important milestone aimed at addressing long-standing criticalities at the harbour. It added that the body should help drive the infrastructural works needed to complement the planned expansion of the Gozo Channel fleet. However, the Chamber warned that the recent weath- er conditions exposed Gozo's heavy reliance on a single mode of transport, which re- sulted in the island being com- pletely cut off from the rest of the country. According to the Chamber, people were stranded while flights and appointments were missed because sea crossings could not operate. In this context, the Cham- ber renewed its call for the re- consideration of a permanent link between Malta and Gozo. It noted that it had been the main promoter of the project and had ensured its inclusion on the national policy agenda. The need to re-examine the proposal was also highlighted in the Gozo Regional Develop- ment Strategy issued in 2023, the Chamber said. The Chamber stressed that the expansion of the Gozo Channel fleet and the perma- nent link project are not mu- tually exclusive, arguing that the two would complement each other and strengthen Gozo's resilience. While acknowledging that positive steps had been taken in the past and that substantial work had already been carried out, the Chamber said the is- sue now merits a serious and transparent discussion aimed at ensuring a more resilient Gozo. Waves batter the coastline in Gozo (Photo: Paul Scicluna)