Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544052
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2026 OPINION IT is good news that the government an- nounced it will be investing in the con- struction of the fourth and fifth Gozo ferry ships. It is 26 years since the first Gozo ferry was purposely built by Mal- tese workers and put in service. It was a privilege to have formed part of the team that built the MV Ta' Pinu, the MV Gau- dos and the MV Melita. The construction of the first ferry was completed in the Marsa dock at the ex-Malta Shipbuilding Co Ltd (MSCL) in December 1999. The first ferry, Ta' Pinu, was put in service in March 2000 after the naming ceremony took place in the presence of then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. The MS- CL workers, including myself, are proud of having built these three ships from scratch and are still operating after more than two decades. The gained experience from building 16 vessels at the MSCL prompted me to share my thoughts on a 46-year career in the marine sector. I suggest the government consider build- ing the new ferries with one wheelhouse instead of two, similar to Norwegian fer- ries. The double navigational, electrical systems, and outfitting superstructure used for both wheelhouses will be reduced to one, which eventually decreases cost and thus reduces gas emissions. The wheelhouse space could be utilised to accommodate batteries and solar pan- els. These eco-friendly measures are in use on other ships and evident on the scheduled RoRo ships entering the Grand Harbour. The energy-efficient system will eventually reduce emissions. The Ulstein four engines (or Rolls Royce) coupled with 1.575 kVA, 440V, 60Hz generators could be changed to a cleaner fuel such as LNG, methanol or hydrogen if the pres- ent marine technology is approved by the classification society. However, having an adequate storage infrastructure for these cleaner fuels is important. The present capacity of the ferries allows for the carriage of up to 158 cars and 900 passengers. The demand for people cross- ing the two islands is increasing, so the ca- pacity of the ferries must increase to ease the long queuing of cars especially during summertime. The increase/decrease of the dead weight tonnage (DWT) of the new ferries must also be considered. Ac- cessibility for passengers with disabilities should increase to a minimum of two big- ger lifts. The ventilation system in the car decks should be expanded from the cur- rent six points to cater for the discharge of exhaust. This is necessary when passen- gers with physical manoeuvring disability prefer to stay in their air-conditioned cars during the crossing of the islands. The existing ferry ships have four 1MW azimuth thrusters to propel ensure ma- noeuvrability during berthing in bad sea conditions. But other configurations of propulsion systems could be explored. The power demand of the azimuth thrust- ers and other electrical motors could be reduced if an energy efficient hull is de- signed and soft starters are exploited. The government must also decide whether to opt for a different hull design. These are just random thoughts gleaned from years of experience and which I hope could be useful in the design of the new ferries. A modern take for Gozo Channel ferries Alfred Buttigieg Ex-Malta Shipbuilding divisional manager THE news that Manoel Island and Fort Tigne are to be given back to the Mal- tese public is positive, significant and commendable. The renegotiation of an agreement by the government of a contract which was entered into by a previous administration demonstrates a clear commitment to uphold the public interest. Instead of accepting what is and hiding behind contractual obligations, the government opted to re-enter negotiations and ultimately succeeding to return the land back to public guardianship. This shows that the government prioritises long-term public benefit and takes into consid- eration the broader impact of its deci- sions on the community. Upon closer consideration, this deci- sion stands as a clear example of how national economic strength can be used to enhance quality of life. With- out a robust economy, the government would not have been able to successful- ly renegotiate the contract and achieve the consensus that was announced. If there ever was a doubt as to how the government can and should deliver on bettering the quality of life this sets a great example. The government opted to invest in negotiating for the purpose of getting back land already scheduled for investment and consequently turn- ing it into a public space. Public spaces contribute to healthier communities and therefore play a critical role in im- proving the quality of life. Moreover, public spaces, as opposed to having land commercialised or used by the few, allow equal access to everyone. This decision confirms the govern- ment's willingness to tackle challenges head on as it has done during its ten- ure. Critical voices were sceptical on how the discussions would play out. Some even considered the notion of turning Manoel Island into a national park a dream rather than something that could tangibly happen. Doing nothing was the easiest option but not necessarily the most socially correct decision. The government decided to face the challenge straight in the eye and this action alone should be com- mended. At a time when the MaltaVision 2050 is shaping our country's future, focusing not merely on numerical fig- ures but also on how the economy can make our life better, the Manoel Island decision fits into the country's broad- er vision. It is good to shape Malta's future but in doing so one should not lose sight of the present. It is often said that commitments to quality of life are made in words; this decision, howev- er, portrays a tangible and deliberate effort by the government to translate such commitments into meaningful action. The result in this case is getting Manoel Island and Fort Tigne off the contract and back to the community. From contract to community: Giving Manoel Island and Fort Tigné back Francesca Zarb Lawyer and Labour Party candidate Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday One of the Gozo Ferry ships being built in Malta in 1999