Valletta waterfront to be extended

The operator of the cruise liner terminal at the Valletta Waterfront, VISET, has been given the go-ahead by the government to extend the berthing area beyond Customs House.

Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett told The Sunday Times that VISET made the request so that it would be possible to host large 400-metre-long vessels, which it sees as key to the success of cruise liner business in Malta.

The proposal was approved by Cabinet and the minister will move a resolution in Parliament shortly. The concession is expected to last as long as VISET's current leasehold on the Valletta Waterfront, which expires in 2064. However, a proposal by VISET to build a floating pontoon with a car park - a project that requires substantial investment - has been shelved for the time being.

Barges with fenders will be installed in the new area to accommodate the vessels, with a mooring bollard being placed near Customs House. Fencing will also be erected to seal off the quay as a security measure for visiting cruise liners.

Mr Mugliett said that although VISET has a monopoly over cruise liner traffic in Grand Harbour for 10 years, the government is to allow ferry landings in the area.

Last week the government instructed the Malta Maritime Authority to make a call for ferry services in the harbour. Mr Mugliett said: "We will establish a contract with VISET to define use of the quay so that ferry landings will be permitted."

The minister also said that next year reconstruction work will begin on the road linking Marsa to the cruise liner terminal.

Plans include building an underpass from December 13 road to channel traffic directly to the terminal as well as the road that runs behind it.

"This is one of the roads that has been listed as a priority for EU funding so that it can be done next year.

However, the road is so bad that we will still need to carry out extensive patching before the reconstruction work can begin. The impression this area has on the 350,000 visiting cruise liner passengers is very important," he said.

However, the minister said he disagreed with a proposal by VISET to build a car park in the area, adding that a possible solution would be to create an efficient connection with the park and ride scheme.

Meanwhile, a call for tenders in relation to the vertical connection from Grand Harbour to Valletta will be issued in June. Lifts are expected to be in place in around 18 months time to provide cruise liner passengers with convenient access to the capital city.

The Lm10 million Valletta Waterfront Project was officially opened in June last year. The new cruise passenger terminal hosted its first passengers last February.