Fewer people crossed between Malta and Gozo in the second quarter of this year - possibly put off between the state of the roads on the sister island.
The NSO said that sea transport between Malta and Gozo registered decreases in vehicles, commuters and trips compared to the corresponding quarter of 2011.
The number of passengers on the ferries decreased by 1.6 per cent, totalling 1,079,367 when compared to the corresponding period in 2011.
The number of vehicles carried by scheduled vessels went down by four per cent, totalling 274,123.
The highest number of commuters was recorded in June (367,140 or 34 per cent of the total for the quarter).
The number of trips in the period under review stood at 4,742, a decrease of 1.6 per cent over the corresponding period last year. The majority of trips took place in June - 1,610 - or 33.9 per cent of total trips for this quarter.