The Valletta ferry service linking the capital to Sliema and the Three Cities will operate till late this summer to infuse the city with life, day and night.

Between June 1 and the end of September, the Sliema-Valletta service will operate from 7am until midnight, while the Valletta-Cottonera service will run between 7am and 11pm.

Valletta 2018 Foundation chairman Jason Micallef said V18 was striving towards the economic, social and cultural regeneration of the capital city.

“We’re already seeing results but we’re not happy. We want to infuse the city with life, day and night.”

Many cultural activities and performances in Valletta theatres take place in the evening, so it does not make sense to have a ferry service that stops running at 7.15pm.

We’re seeing results but we’re not happy. We want to infuse the city with life, day and night

The service will be operated by Fortel Group, run by Michael Zammit Tabona, following negotiations with the V18.

A new catamaran will operate on the Valletta-Sliema route, and another new, similar vessel will provide the Valletta-Cottonera service once the quay at Lascaris is complete.

“I’m quite disappointed that the quay is not yet ready. One would expect it to be complete before summer. I urge Transport Malta to finish the works at the very earliest so that the new catamaran can start operating,” Mr Micallef said.

Alternative methods of transport were important, but compared to places such as London, Greece and Amsterdam, in Malta they were severely underutilised, he noted.

Mr Micallef hailed sea transport as part of the solution to Malta’s congested roads, arguing that a ferry trip from Valletta to Sliema only took five minutes, as opposed to 60 minutes during the rush hour.

Mr Zammit Tabona said the new service would be extended to winter if the summer service was a success.

Prices are €1.50 for a one-way ticket and €2.80 for a return trip.