Gozo-Comino ferry link re-established

The Comino ferry service, which provides the only link between Gozo and the tiny channel island, will resume on Saturday, Christmas Eve, following an agreement between the Ministry for Gozo and Gozo Channel Co. Ltd, a ministry spokesman said.

The cost of the service will be borne by the ministry and the ferry company. It will be run by the small ferry operator Midas.

Over the past few weeks, Comino has been isolated after Gozo Channel decided not to award its usual contract for a subsidised, limited ferry service from November to March. Throughout the rest of the year, when the Comino Hotel is open for business, the service is run by the regular operators. The suspension of the service had left the small community pleading for assistance to get their supplies and a priest, Fr Karm Scerri, without the means to get to Comino to celebrate Mass.

The spokesman said the agreement was reached following the intervention of Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono. It provides for a ferry service between Gozo and Comino under the previous schedule from December 24 to the end of March. Midas will operate the service on Saturdays and Sundays, public holidays and on the preceding days.

A decision by Gozo Channel to award the contract to Midas and share the cost with the Gozo Ministry was taken by the company during a board meeting on Monday.