Gozitan employees in Malta association expects better services from Gozo Channel

The Association for Gozitan Employees in Malta yesterday demanded better services from Gozo Channel, including the use of all three ships simultaneously and on a daily basis, as well as the addition of a fourth vessel.

In a statement, the association said that technical faults arose and were understandable since the current Gozo Channel fleet was around 18 years old and, in the last couple of years, the vessels had regularly been called for maintenance and repair. Their ageing was a constant strain on those who depended on Gozo Channel to make a living, be it employees, self-employed or businesses, the association said.

“The needs of the present have to be dealt with immediately,” it added. “Permanent links will not be installed in the coming weeks and we are requesting the relevant authorities to treat shortterm exigencies with high care. We are aware that the government has been working on the fast ferry in the last months. However, for reasons reported in the media, this process has been delayed. We are requesting that authorities prioritise the resolution of this matter in order to avoid further delays in the commencement of operations,” the association said.

“There have also been statements on the introduction of a fourth vessel to the current fleet of three. While acknowledging the introduction of another vessel is not swift process, we request that all the current three vessels operate simultaneously and daily. Leaving from Point A in Gozo to arrive at Point B in Malta is turning into a hectic and a long journey with the current schedule. Traffic jams in Mġarr and Ċirkewwa is becoming norm rather than the exception. Parking spots in these areas are increasingly being exhausted.

The Association for Gozitan Employees in Malta requested authorities to refer to immediate action and board efficient action: “Moving from the ‘One Day’ concept to the ‘Day One’ concept is a must. The living and economy of an island of around 31,000 citizens highly depend on accessibility to the mainland.”