Gozo businessmen, hauliers whip up storm over poor ferry service

The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU has protested against the "totally unacceptable" cargo service between Malta and Gozo.

Gozitan businessmen and hauliers, who transport containers between the two islands, were being treated as second-class clients by Gozo Channel, GRTU director general Vince Farrugia complained yesterday.

The union was prepared to order the cargo hauliers to take more manifest protest action, he said.

At a press conference on the Sa Masion quay, Mr Farrugia said Gozo businessmen were already facing difficulties because they had to pay double the expenses to receive goods.

But much worse than this, the service was extremely poor.

The service is only being offered twice a week from once a day, and only when the vessels are available.

There were also times when the vessels did not berth at Sa Masion for up to four weeks at a stretch.

Moreover, there were a number of instances when, due to bad weather, as was the case this week, the service was not available, but did not resume as soon as the weather improved, sticking instead to the original schedule. This was the case on Wednesday, and Gozo Channel expected the service to resume on Monday as scheduled, Mr Farrugia said.

There were enough containers and trucks parked at Sa Maison to fill two trips, he continued.

The poor service also meant that important products for Gozo were stuck in Malta because "Gozo Channel does not want to recognise that its contractual obligations are such that the service from Sa Maison should be carried out consistently and on a regular and efficient schedule".

The GRTU did not accept Gozo Channel's stand that its obligations were first and foremost towards passengers and not cargo.

The pressure piled on the ferry company resulted in its chairman conceding an extra voyage yesterday night so that the trucks at Sa Masion could make the trip.

While thanking the chairman, Mr Farrugia said ad hoc solutions, although acceptable, were not proper solutions. The GRTU required permanent solutions.

Gozitan hauliers yesterday also expressed their concerns, explaining the enormous expenses they would incur if containers were taken on board only from Cirkewwa.