Another yacht marina in Gozo would be a welcome addition to the facilities available on the island, if only to offer competition to the one at Mġarr. But when it comes to a cruise liner terminal, a reality check might be in order.
Yes, the economy of Gozo gets a huge boost from cruise passengers. True, adequate facilities would attract more ships and bigger ones. But is a fully-fledged cruise terminal really justified? What does Gozo need and what could it feasibly sustain?
Gozo has already welcomed a number of vessels since the first one in 2006. Many anchor in the channel between Malta and Gozo, with passengers ferried to shore in groups. This limits the size of the ship because it would simply take too long to get all the passengers interested in excursions to shore via tenders. The largest so far was the Nordstrom, which carried 2,100 passengers.
The weather is also a problem because winds above Force 3-4 would make the transfer of passengers to shore e uncomfortable and dangerous in very rough conditions.
The buoy in Xlendi, aimed for smaller boutique vessels, turned out to be a disappointment. After years in the planning, the length of chain anchoring it to the seabed had so much slack that the cruise liner tied to it had to keep its engines running to keep a safe distance from the shore. It will hopefully be adjusted in time for the rest of the season’s 12 scheduled calls to go ahead.
What would encourage more cruise liners to stop on the sister island?
The first question is whether the Gozo call would replace one in Valletta – which is most unlikely given the attractions of the capital city – or will it involve a second night here. This is only possible for some of the longer itineraries and could be ‘sold’ to the cruise companies as getting two nights in two very different locations with just a minimum amount of expenditure on fuel, which is, of course, a major consideration.
How many cruise ships would actually offer a night in Gozo out of the 300 that visit Malta every year? And what would it take to entice them to come here (apart from incentives like a temporary casino licence)?
What a cruise vessel requires is either an anchoring point, a buoy or a suitable quay along which to tie up, so that passengers can get on and off easily. Where could the quay be? One could perhaps be built on the outside of the breakwater at Mġarr.
In spite of its picturesque setting and the growing number of restaurants there, Mġarr is, however, too busy as a ferry port and has little to entice passengers to stay.
Xlendi has been tried and tested and has enough on offer to serve as a destination in its own right for smaller cruise liners.
At Marsalforn, an anchor in the mouth of the bay would be perfectly adequate, as long as the small breakwater at the Menqa is upgraded to make it easier for passengers to disembark from the transfer launches.
It would be shortsighted to offer a concession requiring a massive infrastructural investment that would then have to be recouped from retail outlets, restaurants, excursion booths etc. The aim should not be a project that may have a negative environmental and aesthetic impact undermining the untouched nature that makes Gozo attractive in the first place! The intention should be to boost Gozo’s economy.
Let’s keep it simple. At least, then, there is a better chance of it materialising. And soon.