I am in complete agreement with Anthony Gouder’s timely letter regarding the limited capacity of the Grand Harbour ferry (‘Busy day for ferry boat’, April 10).
The crossing is already very popular with tourists and residents and in the summer months overcrowding – and, worse still, turning customers away – will only become even more unsatisfactory.
The Three Cities are a part of the island increasingly ‘on show’ to visitors and mistakes simply cannot be made any longer.
I am now wondering when the new, larger ferry, Topcat Two, will be in operation. According to newspaper reports, it was due to leave her builders (in Exeter, UK) in December 2014. Has it arrived?
However, I should like to correct Gouder on one detail. The ferry landing stage opposite Senglea is not in Vittoriosa but in Cospicua. This small error, by the way, is symptomatic of a much wider encroachment. I often hear of quite recent ‘land-grabs’ at Cospicua’s expense, especially in the area of St Edward’s College, now a part of Vittoriosa.
Finally, could I make a plea for better signage at the Cospicua landing stage?
Tourists need to be directed to the historical sites located in both Vittoriosa and Cospicua.
A large map would also help, as would official opening for tourists of Cospicua’s very fine parish church of the Immaculate Conception and the equally fine monastery of Santa Teresa.