A buoy which cost €238,230 when it was laid off Xlendi in March last year, has still not been used by cruise liners.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said in reply to a parliamentary question this week that four cruise ships visited Gozo this year, but none used the buoy. Six cruise ships stopped off Gozo last year.

Parliamentary questions last year also showed that the buoy was not used.

The laying of a buoy was first discussed in 2006, after the Seabourne Pride anchored off Xlendi. Although a small number of other ships followed, their masters had complained that engines could not be switched off because the ships dragged anchor.

In April last year, the small cruise ship Spirit of Adventure, which had planned to use the buoy, had to move to Mgarr because of of unfavourable weather conditions.