Buoy for cruise liners laid off Xlendi, at last

Robert Attard

Mar 25th 2010, 16:01

the more the merrier, ha jkollna fejn inrejxu al lampuki u ic cervjol

John J. Borg

Mar 25th 2010, 10:53

It's amazing, whoever tought this one up must surely be in line with the eco-Gozo concept? The Xlendi cliffs have been scheduled by MEPA because of their important seabird colonies, namely Cory's Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater, both Annex I species in dire need of protection. Already we had a small colony of Cory's Shearwaters deserting their nests at Xlendi Bay when electricity was introduced in the bay. I sincerely hope that these floating hotels will not be staying overnight, disturbing the incoming birds,. I ask, why Xlendi, when there is already a harbour at Mgarr?

Ronald Debattista

Mar 24th 2010, 23:18

Buoy for cruise liners laid off Xlendi, at last,
What about laying one off St.Pauls Islands .I've been told that the sea is not deep enough,(Good Excuse)but it was deep enough for HMS ARK ROYAL way back in the 80's.What a laugh hey.It seems that St.Pauls Bay is not part of the maltese islands anymore as big projects are being done everywhere,like Valletta(about 5 projects being done at one time) Sliema front and the list goes on exluding BUGIBBA

Frankie Camilleri

Mar 24th 2010, 18:35

Its an asset news for Xlendi and Gozo tourism. The maltese islands depends alot of tourism and cruise liners industry is expanding year by year. The Maltese government with all discussions with all parties involved can manage to make these sensational islands an ideal place for these water crafts.

Its a pleasure for maltese, gozitans and me that cruise liners decide to anchor in Gozo with the collobaration of Mifsud Brothers Limited to discover and taste the great experience remixed with welcomed atmosphere, tranquility, hospitality that Gozo only can offer.

Me personally, and LPP management would like to thanked all the authorities for this job.

George Cremona

Mar 24th 2010, 18:11

I agree with Konrad that the authorities are taking too long to decide on projects proposed for Gozo and also to impliment same projects. This one is a case in point.
What I objected to and called 'Maltese gemgem' is the negative attitude taken by Simon Ciantar who argued that Xlendi's facilities are inadequate to host cruise liners. And to prove him wrong I mentioned the French fishing village Villefranche sur Mer of which facilities are not superior to those at Xlendi and yet it is very popular with large cruise liners.

Robert Sant Fournier

Mar 24th 2010, 17:55

I think a buoy is redundant in this day and age. I have seen liners in the Bahamas use their GPS connected to their thrusters and main engines maintain better positioning than with anchors or buoys.

J Buttigieg

Mar 24th 2010, 16:58

Big thanks to all involved

Konrad Scicluna

Mar 24th 2010, 16:40

Nobody is saying that having a buoy at Xlendi for cruise liners is bad. What we are ‘gemgeming’ about is the fact that this has taken ages to implement.

Mr Cremona must be referring to Villefranche sur Mer, which is a quant French fishing village on the Cote d'Azur. Let me remind him that Nice with its full port facilities is just 5km away.

Sadly Norwegian Gem will not be making use of the buoy at Xlendi. Indeed it will not even be making use of our port in Malta as the company has decided to drop our islands completely from its itineraries, while another company Costa Crociere has decreased their visits by over 50%. Both companies have however actually increased their overall cruise itineraries to other places.

This kind of mentality that anything goes, coupled by inadequacies and inefficiency will surely not benefit our tourism industry.

A Mercieca

Mar 24th 2010, 16:21

This fuss about a simple buoy that took 3 years to be done ?? What about the road to Xlendi and the environment around Xlendi. They are in horrible state. Poor Gozo ! Poor Gozitans !

George Cremona

Mar 24th 2010, 15:16

In the past the English used to call the Maltese, Maltese gemgem. They couldn't be more correct for that's what the Maltese are.
Some two years ago I had been on a cruise liner Norwegian Gem. One of the ports it had called at was much smaller than that of Xlendi and very much popular. It berthed to a buoy and the passengers counting hundreds of them were taken ashore by the liner's boats in no time. Our liner was not the only one berthing there at the same time. There were another two liners as large as the Norwegian Gem.

So what is all this fuss about? Simply just to 'gemgem, gemgem and gemgem'

Charles Micallef

Mar 24th 2010, 14:38

BANG ON TIME ! ! ! !

Konrad Scicluna

Mar 24th 2010, 14:08

I really cannot understand what is wrong in our country. In over three years it took to place a buoy, we could have built a complete cruise terminal with breakwaters and all. It is shameful that such a trivial thing as this would take so long in the making. Incidentally I wonder how much it has cost the tax payer.

I feel that Gozo and the Gozitans deserve so much more.

Simon Ciantar

Mar 24th 2010, 13:51

As usual we are doing things in half measures , taking the cheap option. Having liners stop here is far from ideal. Where are the passengers going to disembark ? Can you imagine hundreds of passengers crowding on to the already overcrowded shore of Xlendi in summer ? Not to mention the damage done to the seabed and the beautiful xlendi reef just inside the valley with the invetable pollution from the proximity of such large ships - besides I cant imagine a cuiseliner being safely moored there in rough weather - woiuld nt it be better to provide a proper berthing site in Mgarr harbour ? even if this means demolishing or adding additional breakwaters ... Half baked measures are not the solution !

D Spiteri

Mar 24th 2010, 13:34

buh bye nice reef. Buh bye Xlendi.