More berths planned for Mġarr’s harbour

Plans to extend Gozo’s Mġarr Harbour pontoons to accommodate more boats are pending at the planning authority.

The proposal is to install additional pontoons and a floating breakwater to berth yachts at the marina, according to the project description statement.

It aims to support the yachting and boating sector by providing approximately 45 berthing spaces.

The report referred to research that estimated a local yacht owner spends an average of €15,000 per year on maintaining a 15-metre boat, while visiting yacht owners are likely to spend between €4,000 and €6,000 a week for a 15-metre to 20-metre vessel.

A super yacht on charter typically costs approximately €100,000 excluding refits or internal transport.

In general, 10 per cent of the original value of a boat is spent in maintenance and operation, the report said.

In 2008, the Government began a process of privatising yacht marinas to attract investment that would go into upgrading the infrastructure and level of service and improve space management.

The Mġarr yacht marina was privatised in May 2010.

The site, which includes the pontoon and berth, covers approximately 2,300 square metres.

Part of the area is currently used by a pontoon to berth a seaplane and this will be shifted to the east.