Gozo finally gets its new ferry terminal

The new €9.7 million (Lm4,160,000) Mġarr sea passenger terminal was inaugurated yesterday, a decade in the making but marking what was described as a "leap in quality" arising from the government's vision for maritime transport between the islands.

Catering for 600 passengers and 200 cars at a time, the terminal is complete with lifts, escalators, air conditioning, a spacious, squeaky-clean, marble-clad waiting area, cafeteria and baggage deposit and pick-up spot, a roof garden and 180-vehicle car park, under the marshalling zone.

Nevertheless, it does not detract from the surrounding environment, hidden away and relatively subtle, despite standing on pile foundations, the tallest of which descends some 30 metres - 10 storeys - for stability.

One of the major changes is that passengers would no longer be embarking and disembarking together with the cars for more ease and safety, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi pointed out.

Ferry turnaround should be speeded up, meaning less time is wasted, traffic management improved and queues reduced, he said, adding that the terminal is accessible to everyone - the elderly, persons with disability and mothers with children.

The project, Dr Gonzi said, reflected a "tangible leap of quality" and another concrete step in the government's vision for the country in 2015. It was setting a benchmark that steered away from mediocrity.

Obstacles in the completion of the project were mainly due to rough weather, which often disrupted works, he said, adding that another challenge lay in integrating the development into the picturesque port.

The secret of Gozo's success lay in improving its accessibility, and the new and welcoming terminal was offering just that to passengers.

An emotional Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said the terminal was "a radical change for the better; an ambitious and successful project, but not the only one".

The journey had been long and not free of obstacles, particularly due to the fact that the terminal had to continue operating normally, while undergoing the change, she said.

The first impression on arriving at the terminal would be positive... and would be prolonged as visitors took the upgraded road leading away from Mġarr - another major investment, Ms Debono continued.

Investment Minister Austin Gatt said a record 3.8 million passengers - more than those passing through Malta International Airport - and over one million cars crossed the channel last year, and the records were set to be broken again this year, with a growth of 11 per cent already registered in the first six weeks of the year. Hence, the need for a more efficient service, he said.

The terminal, which is being operated by Gozo Channel, would cost €700,000 (Lm300,510) a year to run, but this would be absorbed by the company, which had started to make a "decent" profit.

Communications Minister Ċensu Galea said work on the Ċirkewwa terminal should start by the end of the year, and was pending approval of EU funding, which was expected shortly.

Application permits were pending for the construction of piers outside the Mġarr breakwater for the berthing of cruise liners, which would also use the new terminal facilities.