410 liner calls confirmed for 2003

The Valletta Waterfront project aims to reduce congestion in Grand Harbour and provide a valid contribution to the country's economy, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday.

The project, being undertaken by the consortium Viset Malta plc, and incorporating a cruise liner passenger terminal and a recreation centre, is expected to cost Lm10 million and be concluded by 2005.

There were days last summer when the need for the terminal was apparent, with six to seven cruise liners berthed at Pinto Wharf.

The prime minister was speaking during a visit to the Pinto Stores, which are to be restored as part of the project.

"One would have to look into the possibility of having a lift installed to assist cruise passengers gain easy access to Valletta," the prime minister said.

As things stand, access to cruise passengers is either by taxi or on foot - all the way from the harbour front steeply uphill to Valletta via the steps in Floriana close to the War Memorial.

Earlier, Viset chairman Chris Falzon said that 408 cruise liners called at Grand Harbour last year, bringing in a total of 370,000 passengers, a 32 per cent increase over the previous year.

"If the situation in the Middle East remains stable, this year should be as good as last year. So far cruise line companies have confirmed 410 calls at Grand Harbour.

"Together with Malta International Airport, we are developing the concept of 'fly and cruise' enabling holidaymakers to begin and end their cruise in Malta.

"This ought to prove a stimulus to the economy," Mr Falzon said.

The success of the project, Mr Falzon added, would depend on how many cruise liners Grand Harbour would be able to accommodate in any one day.

Therefore, it was important to update the infrastructure of the berths around the harbour and make Valletta easily accessible to passengers, he said.

The local shareholders in the consortium include AX Holdings Ltd, Demajo Group, Valletta Investment Bank, Malta International Airport, Farsons Group and Salvu Grima Ltd.

The foreign shareholders are World Infrastructure of Hong Kong, MLS of Spain, and Port Developers of the US.