Local company builds 'floating house' for Venice lagoon
A local company has completed the building of a ‘floating house' which will be moored near Venice to offer top quality accommodation on a timeshare basis.
The building of the €500,000 boat by General Maintenance Ltd, is part of a Venice on Water project which envisages a fleet of 10 such ‘floating houses' which may all be built in Malta over a number of years.
The project is being handled by Malta-based Marketing And Promotion (MAP) Ltd, a holiday property marketing company and Italian partner Floating House.
Apart from offering an innovative and easy way of cruising on the most famous lagoon in Europe, these houseboats will also enable residents to enjoy a luxurious boating lifestyle without needing to find the capital, maintenance and management costs to support full-time boat ownership, guests were told at the launch of the project today.
The launch took place at the marina of the Grand Hotel Excelsior, where the first boat, called Mdina Venezia, was displayed.
The houseboat measures 10 by four and a half metres and can accommodate up to six guests.
MAP Managing Director Mary Anne Pulé said the boat was easy to manoeuvre and handle with no licence or experience was required.
The hull was fabricated from light aluminium ans specifically designed for the shallow waters of the Venetian Lagoon. The inside layout consists of two bedrooms, one with ensuite facilities, a separate shower room, a full kitchen and living area, a rooftop sundeck and lounge area, a cockpit and private sleeping area for the skipper.
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Roderick Marmara
Jun 25th 2009, 08:15
The company should work with the Barge Association in the UK to market these 'flouting houses' in the UK. The UK is covered with canals and waterways and therefore, it would be a great opportunity for the Maltese organisation to grow.
h galea
Jun 24th 2009, 06:07
Well congratulations, to compete with Italians i am sure it's worth the money spent. PLS Do you Know About the Strong Winds called BORA , well find out, unless you end up in total loss.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 23rd 2009, 22:39
I am totally astonished by the way certain things are promoted in this country! While I totally congratulate this local company for this achievement, however what promotion should be given to our shipyards where very recently kilometers of pipeline and thousand of tons of steel work was used to finish a floating dock which was converted from just a barge to a self driven floating dock. for massive transport You will not find positive comments always the usual negative comments on shipyard workers. The ship left just two months ago and yet no one knows! Such an achievement by the Maltese workers should be given adequate propoganda!
Andrew Grech
Jun 23rd 2009, 18:26
@Bryan What an 'out of place' comment. I would focus my attention on the local investment that has gone into such a project thus generating more spending amongst the various entities involved, the great concept itself and the fact that we are surrounded by very capable & talented people.
Andrew Camilleri
Jun 23rd 2009, 17:36
@Bryan Fiore: Did you actually read the article? I'm struggling to understand what you mean. Property developers have, granted, spoiled much of our landscape, although on rare occasions have succeeded in upgrading ugly areas going to seed. But what on earth does this have to do with property development in Malta? House-boats in the Venice lagoon? Since when is Venice Maltese? As an aside, well done to this local company.
Ingranio Batista
Jun 23rd 2009, 17:07
Great.....this free market capitalism at its best. I love boathouses...it gives the sense of privacy in the sea...no noisy neighbourhoods
Bryan Fiore
Jun 23rd 2009, 16:30
Property developers spoilt up the landscape, and now turn their attention to the sea...just what we need.