The Gozo Channel ferry Gaudos returned to service this morning after a €1.7 million upgrade.

The Ta’ Pinu was similarly refitted last year, at a cost €1.2 million.

The ships, which are 10 years old, needed to be overhauled in line with international specifications and obligations, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said.

He said Gozo Channel is considering fitting hoistable car decks on the two ferries, like the one fitted on the Malita, which can take 155 cars instead of 80.

Mr Fenech said that in the first quarter of this year Gozo Channel carried 100,000 more passengers than in the same period last year – a nine per cent increase.

There was also a five per cent increase in the number of cars, which had gone up to 323,000.

Gozo Channel was the only bidder for the public service obligation contract issued by Transport Malta earlier this year and has been awarded the tender to provide the service.

Last year, the company made more than 20,000 trips, carried 4.03 million passengers and 1.1 million cars.