Updated: Seven cruise ships in Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour was full of activity this morning, with seven cruise ships gracing its wharves, bringing 7,478 visitors.
Two ships, the Coral and Seven Seas Navigator, berthed at Boiler Wharf, the new spillover wharf adapted for such occasions.
The other ships, berthed at Valletta Waterfront are Deep Water Quay, were the Prisendam, Arion, Island Sky, the MSC Splendida and the MSC Musica, the latter two being the biggest of the seven.
The ships berthed at the Valletta Waterfront’s quays: Pinto 1 - 2, Pinto 3 and Pinto 4 – 5; on Deep Water Quay as well as on the recently inaugurated Boiler Wharf in Senglea.
John Portelli, CEO of Viset, operator of the cruise liner terminal, said that today’s operation proved that Viset was well-prepared to handle multi-vessel operations.
"Over the years, Viset has invested heavily in creating state-of-the-art terminal facilities to accommodate larger vessels and a staff complement capable of handling large amounts of guests simultaneously. The restoration of historic buildings also formed part of this project. The cooperation of all stakeholders both on portside and landside operations was instrumental in handling such a large number of passengers"
He said that the company was meeting every challenge to ensure that guests enjoy edan efficient, professional and courteous transfer to or from their ship, whether in terms of more efficient check-in, reduced embarkation times or improved baggage handling.
The all-time record for the port of Valletta in terms of ship numbers is eight ships in a single day. The busiest day in terms of guest numbers was registered on May 2, 2008, with six vessels in port, 12,729 guests and a total length on quay of 1.5 km.
www.vallettawaterfront.com
14 Comments
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Stephen Borg Cardona
Nov 6th 2009, 00:20
How about Viset getting involved in raising funds to restore the walls of Fort Ricasoli which look onto Grand Harbor before they collapse ? grand Harbor is our greatest asset and Viset`s too !
Joss Galea
Nov 5th 2009, 15:14
I wonder if it's in our Maltese blood that we have to argue everything!!!!!
Robert Azzopardi
Nov 5th 2009, 14:06
@Jason Bezzina
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091105/local/providers-to-apply-for-utility-tariffs-rise
C. Bartolo
Nov 5th 2009, 10:51
So the busiest day in terms of cruise ships in the harbour ended up not being the busiest day in terms of people arriving in Malta. What's the fuss about? It's not about the number of cruiseliners that enter the harbour, but rather about the amount of people that are brought in Malta; so there's absolutely nothing to be astonished about.
It's a nice sight to see 7 cruise-liners in the grand harbour, but then when you work out the maths it comes out that these ships have brought less than 1500 passengers each. So what will the other businesses gain out of all this?? Nothing...
Once again we are happy with a low level of tourists, when in fact we can be doing a lot more to attract full ships rather than half-empty ones. Maybe the tourism authorities love to see these ships manouvering in the grand harbour, but personally I'd rather see lots of people getting off and spending their money in Maltese businesses.
This industry needs to be exploited a lot more as it's becoming the latest trend in industry whereby cruises are becoming as substitutes to conventional holidays. A lot of hard work lies ahead...
R.J.Costigan
Nov 4th 2009, 17:28
Very positive news for Malta and the Maltese. But other bloggers
wan't comment on a positive item.
Well done and good luck for the future to all those involved including
the workers for such great work to berth them. I mean the riggers.
Mark Wattson
Nov 4th 2009, 17:25
I don't know what all the commotion about cruise ships just visiting the Grand Harbour.
Lets be a bit realistic as much as i love Gozo, one can't compare the two harbours, one is full oh history and beauty, while the other is full of old banged up boats, besides the Mgarr harbour is just not big enough to accommodate really big liners.
C Borg
Nov 4th 2009, 17:12
It is great for our Grand Harbour to be such a popular cruise liner port of call. I sincerely hope this goes on and on. However, I have this week taken my family for a harbour cruise and, while big investments have been made, there is much more which can be done, at a fraction of the cost, to improve the harbour's appearance to visitors, be they are on a cruise liner, a harbour cruise or using an air / sea ferry service. The area around the grain silos, the internal Marsa creeks full of junk / half-sunk vessels, unusable / broken cranes alongside the docks, makeshift (green/other colour) boathouses, derelict blocks at Fort St Elmo, Bighi and Fort Ricasoli whose inward facing bastions are literally crumbling, first come to mind, but there are others. What is left of the former breakwater bridge merits special attention. It's ok to remember what happened in WWII, but the rusted columns are an eyesore and tarnish the first impression vistors may have our our grand port / country. I understand we can ill afford the expense of rebuilding the bridge, but on the other hand, I think the columns should be removed.
M Schembri
Nov 4th 2009, 16:08
Gozo will get a second cruise ship tomorrow and I think it is around the 10th cruise liner to call in Gozo this year which I must say is a very big improvement. I hope things get better and better every year as everyone tends to gain from having a ship in Maltese waters for 2 days instead of one.
Karl Abela
Nov 4th 2009, 16:02
@james zammit
ask and evaluate before you speak.
depthwise, the mgarr harbour can barely take the gozo ferry let alone such large cruise ships
J.Camilleri
Nov 4th 2009, 15:58
In spite of this the number of tourists visiting Malta decreases every month. We owe much to children who come in Summer learning English.
No more comments Mr. Bezzina.
mick fenech
Nov 4th 2009, 14:27
its the number of tourists wot counts !!!!!
Jason Bezzina
Nov 4th 2009, 13:58
Come to think of it, dan kollu grazzi ghall-Gvern Nazzjonalista.
james zammit
Nov 4th 2009, 13:34
Grand Harbour = 7 Cruise Ships in 1 Day
Mgarr Harbour = 1 Cruise Ship in MONTHS
IS GOZO LESS IMPORTANT THAN MALTA FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY???
IS GOZO BEING USED FOR MARKETING PURPOSES ONLY BY MTA TO ATTRACT TOURIST TO MALTA ONLY???
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 4th 2009, 12:57
Cool !!