Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Grech stepped down yesterday, a day after The Sunday Times revealed he made a ferry turn back for him when he was running late 10 days ago.

In a letter to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, Dr Grech expressed regret for the “embarrassment the incident may have caused”.

He confirmed making an “indignant” call when he arrived for a ferry that had left 15 minutes earlier than he thought it was scheduled to leave. This, he said, would have meant poor customer service.

However, it turned out the timetable had changed a few days earlier and the ferry had in fact left on time. Dr Grech acknowledged that his error, which led to the boat turning back after it left the quay, was “inexcusable”.

Dr Grech pointed out he was not with his family at the time, as previously reported. He added that the boat was only a few metres out when it turned back and also picked up the other cars present.

“This is in no way an attempt on my part to excuse or justify the matter and is solely aimed at correcting the impression that I ordered the ferry turned back on a whim, or out of personal convenience.

“I am taking this step with no little regret, as my experience with the company and working with your good self has been positive in the extreme,” he told Mr Fenech in his letter.

Dr Grech’s resignation came just after Mr Fenech told the press he hoped the chairman would heed the message he conveyed when he told The Sunday Times such behaviour was “unacceptable”.

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando on Sunday filed a parliamentary question to see what action had been taken against Dr Grech.