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Thursday, February 3, 2011, 08:58 by

Fiona Galea Debono

Experts query Malta and Gozo underwater tunnel feasibility

Cars could be driving under this ferry if geological studies show a subsea tunnel between the islands is feasible.

Cars could be driving under this ferry if geological studies show a subsea tunnel between the islands is feasible.

The proposal for an underwater tunnel linking Malta and Gozo has received a lukewarm response from experts, who point out the option floated could prove unfeasible.

“Malta’s experience with tunnelling has not been very successful,” Peter Gatt, geologist and researcher at Durham University, said.

The project could end in “catastrophe” unless the geology of the seabed and underlying rock is known well, he warned, adding he knew of a tunnel job in which the costs doubled because no geological studies were carried out and problems cropped up mid-way.

His caution about the complexity and cost of the proposal was echoed by others, who doubted the tentative price tag of €150 million put on the project.

The idea, which resurfaced last week when Gozitan businessman Joseph Borg asked the Prime Minister to look into the possibility of a “permanent road” between the two islands, was followed by news that Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said would be formally presenting the proposal with preliminary studies to Lawrence Gonzi.

Dr Said called for an in-depth technical and financial assessment of the proposal and estimated that, based on similar tunnels built over the past 30 years, the project should cost in the range of €150 million.

It all depended on the geological problems faced, Mr Gatt said about the cost. In fact, the seabed that would need to be tunnelled is not that straightforward. Malta, Comino and Gozo are separated by large faults, while Gozo’s eastern flank is also densely faulted. Moreover, there are areas near Comino where the seabed is clay.

These issues could push the costs up, Mr Gatt argued, even though he conceded that “practically anything can be built anywhere, as long as there is enough money...”

The president of the contractors’ federation, Anġlu Xuereb was more categorical, insisting the idea was neither technically nor financially feasible.

“To descend to that level, you would need a really long ramp. On the Malta side, it may not be such a problem but in Gozo, you would have to start it from Għajnsielem,” he said.

“Any structural engineer would say it is impossible,” he insisted, stressing the cost would soar well above the quoted €150 million.

Retired road engineer André Zammit also doubts the economic feasibility of a tunnel 50 metres below the seabed.

He suggested that building a tube above it could work, an idea that had already been proposed about 40 years ago by the Malta Joint Group of UK Engineers, which he chaired.

Although the suggestion had not been studied in depth at the time, it looked viable prima facie and, with the technological progress made since, the feasibility could only have increased.

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Dorian Xuereb

Feb 5th 2011, 20:03

Hmmm... If i may ask, where are you from?

Ray G. Abela

Feb 5th 2011, 20:31

Tinkwetax, mhux se jsir ghada l-bridge jew it-tunnel. Jigifieri tista tibqa tbati u tterraq int u kull min jigi minnek fil kumdita, u ara ma thallix lil xi hadd jehodlok dak id dritt :))

Dorian Xuereb

Feb 7th 2011, 00:41

Ghidilhom Ray.... tajba sieheb..

Alex Buds

Feb 5th 2011, 15:38

Some things are obvious without wasting millions of euros on a feasibility study, which will only benefit another bunch of experts...

ps. Malta is not Japan. Last time I checked, Japan's GDP was a bit bigger.

pps. Like most things, normally prices of infrastructure go up with time, not down. It's called "inflation". That tunnel you mention would probably cost 3 or 4 times as much today.

mario Cassar

Feb 4th 2011, 21:29

@Albert Zammit.....details please!. To me this is a shot in the dark.

Pule' Carmel

Feb 4th 2011, 12:14

In the case of an earth tremor or an earthquake,if a crack occurs in a tube tunnel,this can be easily located and repaired from the external locations.I cannot say the same for a tunnel dug under the sea bed where locating the source and fissures would not be that easy.I am sure that in such cases the tunnel would be out of action for many months on end. A bridge could be both graceful and efficient,but still very expensive.If I had such responibility, I would not cut straight across because straight suspension bridges tend to sway sideways too much at the middle. I saw some flat suspension bridges which are arched horisontally and so since they are anchored at either end the arch will stop the sway as this willl be refleted on the anchor ponts unlike a straight bridge.Also an flat arched gridge would not oscillate as the Taucoma Bridge did. but that type of design has now changed and the caternery suspension bridge has been superceeded by Triangulation bridges where the formed triangles do not change shape as the parallelograms in the old catenary bridges. I think a bridge, fine and delicate engineering, tunnels are not as graceful.

H Zammit

Feb 4th 2011, 13:14

The bridge would not be a straight link between Malta & Gozo but would make use of Comino.

G Vella

Feb 4th 2011, 10:48

How can the Gozitan people spend 150 million to improve the economy in Gozo.. If the Maltese people dont want to approve any projects in Gozo? The Maltese people just want Gozo to remain isolated and completely green. If the Gozitans are so discriminated that they cant even create jobs in their country, at least they have the right to travel to Malta-Gozo every morning and every evening more decently.

C Cassar

Feb 3rd 2011, 18:42

The existing ferry system is perfectly adequate for the tiny population of Gozo. Nobody is going to spend the €1-2 billion (yes billion) that will be required to build a tunnel. This doesn't even take into account the show stopping issues of fault lines in the area and regular earth quakes/tremmors that occur in this region.

Basically, Gozo's economy is a million light years from being large enough to justify a physical link with Malta.

David Debono

Feb 3rd 2011, 22:04

@C Cassar
So now we start calculating the population and economy of our tiny villages in order to build a new road or not! Cant you realize that Malta is so so small as a territory and any link or road between it's parts will benefit all? Or maybe you never left tiny malta and think that you're going abroad when you go to gozo?

G Vella

Feb 3rd 2011, 17:01

..then you should check the maintenance expenses of the ferry boats

anthony pace gouder

Feb 3rd 2011, 21:17


These are the Gentlemen who Dr.Chris Said should have consulted ,discussed and asked for advice before lumping blindly and adopting naive suggestions . Notably , Andre Zammit A&CE, a specialist in Road Construction, whom I had the honour to assist in his drawing office for a number of years. Andre is also an ex- University Professor, lecturing in the Faculty of Architecture and Engineering . Likewise , Mr A. Xuereb and Mr.P.Gatt, are as notable and outstanding in their relative Profession .

,

Adrian Allain

Feb 3rd 2011, 15:15

"As for Gozo and Comino, their charm lies in the fact that they are separate from Malta. Once they become one piece, you can say goodbye to their unique character and more pristine environment."
I agree with this entirely Charles.

Anyway 2 tunnels or 2 bridges would be required to prevent the inevitable head-on collisions. ;-)

S. Camilleri

Feb 3rd 2011, 16:10

Ditto. However it is important to steer clear of emotional arguments based on 'Gozo charm', 'Unique Character' etc.. The true bottom line is there can never be an economically feasible technical solution for the benefit of 7% of the population. Not even if everyone in Gozo starts paying all their VAT and income taxes!

anthony pace gouder

Feb 4th 2011, 01:00


This evening the Gozo Chamber of Commerce declared their full support for the Channel Tunnel Project, claiming Gozo (i.e, hadd hlief ....??? ) will benefit as Development , Investment and buisness would flourish !

They should take the iniative and organize a Referendum to discover what the Gozitans' truly want .

A. Sultana

Feb 3rd 2011, 15:03

Your nonsense? Get your facts straight first.

MSciberras

Feb 3rd 2011, 16:00

What facts did he get wrong? He is 100% right. These comments really serve to show that we Maltese truly have the politicians we deserve.....!

A.Spiteri

Feb 3rd 2011, 22:51

Goes to prove the vision some of our parliamenterians have. Like someone said. " We deserve the people we elected" Il poplu Malti u Ghawdxi ihobb jissawwat.

david debattistad

Feb 3rd 2011, 15:45

My dear fellow Mr Debono Since you are the GENIUS you should realize that you cannot compare Malta and Gozo to Japan, financially . Yours Faithfully, the rest of us idiots!
PS The view is much better on the ship then in some tunnel DO NOT FORGET YOUR UMBRELLA.

Frans van Avendonk

Feb 3rd 2011, 15:55

I crossed by car through the channel tunnel, it cost me 169 Sterling one way. Did not drive myself but was "sitting" in a train, loading time etc calculated the crossing took still well over an hour and there was no queue before boarding. The train reaches a speed of over 150KM/h while under water! I also drove through Mont Blanc and St Gothard tunnels and still remember the sweaty hands I got from that experience!

anthony pace gouder

Feb 3rd 2011, 16:30


It's easier said than done when you completely ignore the facts . Geology is the primary factor in Tunnelling , which you ignored completely .

Firstly you should know that the Channel Tunnel known as The Euro Tunnel was feasable as the excavation was through a relatively 'soft' CHALK marl Strata . Another advantage was that an 'impervious', no water penetration layer of CLAY above it prevented water seepage from the sea above .

On the Contrary, our proposed tunnel , will run through 'wet' pervious rock layers , mainly globigerina and possiobly coralline limestone .

As stated by geologist P Gatt the seabed is even characterised by large geological faults , represented by crack-like , in this case 'water clogged' fissures running in angled generally vertical direction all along the particular rock strata or layer. I presume, an efficient method of stopping water seepage at high pressure and prevent total flooding has still to be devised .!

D. Borg

Feb 3rd 2011, 17:10

Prosit M.Muscat. Tal-inqas hawn xi hadd mill gzira l-ohra li nduna li ahna kollha Maltin, fejn uhud jghixu f'Ghawdex u uhud f''Malta. Ghawdex u ta kulhadd mhux tan nies li jghixu hemm biss, bhalma M'Xlokk hu tieghi ukoll avolja noqghod Ghawdex. U gost niehu meta nisma li se tinbena triq gdida lejn M'Skala ghax b'xi mod jew iehor iktar ma nimxu l-quddiem kollha flimkien iktar jaqbel lil kulhadd.

Manoel Bajada Xlendi

Feb 3rd 2011, 18:14

@Adrian - I said it is of no concern to the tax payer as it will be a private interest. Moreover projects like this will be looked at over a period of 80-100 years. A lot of us Maltese Citizens on this side of the divide have definately made our sums and know exactly what we want. I suggest you and moaners like you should seriously make your sums and work out what the cost of keeping Gozo isolated is to the Taxpayer.

J.Barnes

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:02

Please read carefully, the cost is "billions" not millions.

E Gatt

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:42

@ J.Barnes

I double checked the website. It is €4,200 million ( €4.2 billion).

J.Barnes

Feb 3rd 2011, 18:30

Then i wish to querie your maths, the story you refer too quotes all figures in "b" = billions, not"m" =millions. this is the wikepedia definition Million: 1,000,000
Billion: 1,000,000,000
Trillion: 1,000,000,000,000
the zeros only apply before the decimal point, you can have as many as you like after but it is meaningless!

E Gatt

Feb 3rd 2011, 18:55

@ J.Barnes

1,000 million (m) = 1 billion (bn)

€4.2 billion = €4,200,000,000
€4,200 million = €4,200,000,000


Where can I send my fee for the maths lesson please?

C.Formosa

Feb 3rd 2011, 19:45

Mr Barnes, what on earth are you on about?

Ninu Cassar

Feb 3rd 2011, 23:39

P.Cassar don't insult amateurs

adrian mifsud

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:25

Mr.Tony Fava, first of all PROJETT is written PROGETT in pure and correct maltese. In your opinion this so called tunnel project is all just a waste of money because only a few thousands will benefit from it. and that is discrimination. Now let me tell you what that means to those few thousands. I worked in Malta for 6 years which obviously meant crossing back and forth every single day. I started work at 8 am but to be there on time i had to leave home at 5.30am to catch the 6am ferry. Not mentioning of course that i had to wake up at 4.45am. Now the Maltese colleague working next to my desk used to get up a 7am to get to work punctually. So I used to sleep 2.15 hours less. Then we finished work at 5pm, my colleague would be home by 5.20pm while i would still be at birkirkara on the bus stucked in traffic also missing the 6pm ferry. Getting on the 7pm ferry i used to get home at around 7.45pm. Then i would eat, shower and get into bed because i needed to wake up again at 4.45am the day after.


Joey Borg

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:16

.. and not to mention the traffic mayhem caused if someone's car breaksdown inside the tunnel! happens in St Venera tunnel too

S. Camilleri

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:31

Well pointed out.

A.Sultana

Feb 3rd 2011, 16:19

Do you even know where Xewkija starts?

M. Gauci

Feb 3rd 2011, 17:54

The English channel is not so much deeper and the entrance on the England side is nearly 10 km inland.
With the same proportion the entrance of the tunnel in Gozo, would be nearer to Ghasri. Ftit iehor u jibda mit-tunnel tal bahar tad-Dwejra.

Kemm handna experts.....

j camilleri

Feb 3rd 2011, 12:37

Propjament mhux kastelli fl-ajra, imma mini tal-bahar!!! Figuratively speaking, I think it means the same thing - that is, its just waffle to get us (il-pupazzi bl-ispaga, John Bundy would say), would have something to debate, and alienate us from the real issues!

C Cassar

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:37

This gets more hilarious as the days go by.

S. Camilleri

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:43

So you consider linking two economies like Denmark and Germany to be on par to linking the economy of Malta to that of Gozo!?? OMG, people must surely be living in cuckoo land.

The Denmark-Germany tunnel at 18km would cost OVER €5 billion (first estimates) and the terrain on both sides is fairly low lying (no steep exit ramps). There is nearly 5km of sea between our Islands. Fourth grade maths is enough to give you a true picture of the scale of such an undertaking.

Albert Farrugia

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:44

With such a strong emotional reaction from the "No" camp to this proposal, I suspect there are some other reasons behind them, not just economic and financial. There are some who would still spread the myth that Gozo is somehow "different" from Malta, that it is some sort of "exotic colony" of Malta, and that it's "so much fun" to experience the sea passage. Yeah, right! Now, just ask the Gozitans what they think of it.
Because of the thick-hedaidness of many, more than 6 per cent of the population of Malta (yes, Gozo IS Malta) is cut off from developments and investments which happen on the main island. This is plainly unfair.
And, since we are on the subject, can, please, all those concerned remove from the jardon the expression "il-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin"?? When someone is adressing the whole nation, there are only "Maltin".

A.Vella

Feb 3rd 2011, 16:23

Mr Farrugia,
It is you who should quit complaining of how hard a deal you have in Gozo.
If you see the amount per capita the government spends on Gozo ( as opposed to the tax revenue) you will see that Malta is underpriveleged.
As to those whingeing about travelling to work and university what do you think other people do in the rest Europe? Vera mfissdin.

Philip Sultana

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:47

I am sure that as true professionals our Parliamentary Secretaries would not have just made up the figures based on some rough calculations. But the Germany-Denmark tunnel will cost about €256 million per kilometre, so can Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Said, explain his figures?

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 3rd 2011, 11:11

I think that the link in whatever shape or form has the potential to incorporate a Toll system too.

Victor Vella

Feb 3rd 2011, 11:28

And may I ask what would the toll fee be for each crossing? would the Gozitans then request a subsidy in thier cost of living to cater for the expences incurred?

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:09

Victor Vella, I haven't got the slightest clue. I admit, it was instinctive of me to comment in such a manner but what I had in mind is a maintenance contribution which is quite common on european road networks. So, please, this was just me thinking loud, that's all.

C Cassar

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:47

What private "interest" is going to invest between €1-2 billion when there will be no visible return unless the toll for any link will need to be over €100 in order to break even? Over a 20 year period ata cost of €1 billion (a condervative estimate) , revenues of around €140,000 a day would be required. EVen if 1000 cars a day used the crossing (which is highly unlikely), that's €140 per crossing. This doesn't even take into account the interest payments on a load of €1000000, which would be over €100,000 per day. What about maintenance costs on top of this?

Best save discussion of the "Malta - Gozo" link until April 1st.

A Cremona

Feb 3rd 2011, 12:06

Who are all these experts who are writing on things they know absolutely nothing about? A big thank you to all those who commented that feasibility studies, geological studies, etc would need to be carried out before such a project. That was a real brainwave and a massive contribution. I'm sure no one including the Parliamentary Secretary would have got that. So thanks for pointing it out.

At last a proposal for a major infrastructural project as an EU Member State. Not just some road to Bidnija or And before this debate even kicks off one needs to assess whose hardships this vital link goes to address - i.e. the Gozitan business community and Gozo in general who is suffering a massive brain drain and economic meltdown. (Check occupancy rates of Gozo hotels vs hotels in Malta, average age of Gozo, number of factories, etc). The input of commentators' who are not privy to such hardships as that of Mr. Sinagra have to be taken with a pinch of salt and an important degree of humour. They add fun to the debate but just that.

Peter Korsten

Feb 3rd 2011, 11:12

The point is not the link itself, but a tunnel drilled 50 metres under the seabed. Is that so difficult to understand? It's never going to work. Instead of looking at something that is feasible, immediately the most complex solution is proposed, thus ensuring that it'll never happen.

D M Grech

Feb 3rd 2011, 10:55

In the same way that the Piano / City Gate project will be a tourist attraction so could a Calatrava (?) / Gozo Bridge

Philip Sultana

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:31

No wonder our tourist industry is such a failure. We have little idea what tourists find attractive.

Steve Zammit

Feb 3rd 2011, 18:45

Oh so now you want to destroy Comino too?

Emanuel Bajada

Feb 3rd 2011, 11:04

We have tried fast crossing - for your info in 1964 we already had a fast crossing via the ali scafi Delphin - the crossing time from Grand Harbout to Mgarr was 30 mins. The catamaran was introduced twice in the 2000s, all died a natural death as it does not work. Gozo Channel ferry service is at its maximum of efficiency, cannot be made more efficient and no it is the only service that must be a monopoly as much as any important road to your town is - note that the ferry is our road.

M.Aguis

Feb 3rd 2011, 10:46

Are you another expert Mr.Sciberras? It seems this country is full of experts. Let them do the studies and look into every possibility. Kulhadd irida ta lespert dal-pajjiz. Now we will get a torrent of expert comments. If only ToM could add the thumbs up/down feature so I could thumb down all the stupid comments without wasting my time and theirs.

Etienne A. Calleja

Feb 3rd 2011, 10:49

You know this because you were privvy to the proposal and you therefore know that no costings were submitted, against your express instructions (enlightened as they are)? The same goes for not providing sources (whatever this means, as it's not a thesis after all, but a proposal)

You were involved in the whole process all along weren't you? The dsgruntled financial consultant who remained unheard and unheeded as the maniacal Parliamentary Secretary, in the grips and throes of a paroxysamal fit and frenzy of architectural gluttony, went about spawning his evil and devilish plans and, ignoring the protests of his people, plied the proposal on an unwitting and naive Prime Minister - this to the dismay of all and sundry.....I'm sure.

Somehow, I'm thankful that we aren't as yet governed by people like you.

MSciberras

Feb 3rd 2011, 14:45

Nice turn of phrase..........I am no financial consultant but a voter and a taxpayer. As a voter and a taxpayer, I am not impressed when a politician comes up with a proposal, says it will cost euro 150MIO and does not provide a single shred of evidence such as budgets, projections etc and a proper feasibility study. The one study mentioned by the parl secretary is a decades old very preliminary study that did not involve any thorough analysis of the sea bed or the access and exit points on the two islands. Such a properly conducted study alone would cost millions........ Read the article again. And then maybe learn how to become an intelligent voter, who is not hoodwinked by politicians stealing the limelight with grandoise, poorly-planned schemes. For example - in Malta we currently have a first rate hospital, Mater Dei. Yet Mater Dei cost hundreds of millions more than it should have because different governments changed their plans and signed a contract that did not set a final price for the hospital. Of course, as many politicians both PN and PL will tell you, it is easier in life to just dream and impress gullible voters.......

David Sciberras

Feb 3rd 2011, 11:02

Sorry but you just contradicted yourself. You either want a service as efficient as possible or you feel afraid of the maltese and continue to feel at ease if isolated only. If you really treasure the status quo you should have said that you want a shoddy service like we gozitans are having now, and that you dont want it to improve....so that you dont feel a threat to your gozitan mentality.

a. sciberras

Feb 3rd 2011, 13:05

@david sciberras
i never said that the gozo channel are giving the service they should be giving. at times far from that! if there was physical room for competition i would have agreed that we have competition to gozo channel so each and every one of us would be able to choose between ferry or catamaran services. but let's face it there is no physical space & few would want to run such a risk! and no i don't feel afraid of fellow maltese. they are our best tourists. but for something to work i feel that it needs to make sustainable sense and the tunnel definitely does not.

David Sciberras

Feb 3rd 2011, 17:57

Agree about the tunnel, not sure it is easier and cheaper than a bridge. But you know how things are right? First they dont care less about work in Gozo, or the conditions or hardships that the people have to endure for every service they need in Malta. But then if someone mentions a bridge, then we all go out to protect the "alka" and pontificate how Gozo is beautiful because it is isolated and that kind of crap.

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