I don’t want to sound alarmist or anything but a lifeboat with a hole in it does not instil loads of confidence on board the Ta’ Pinu Gozo ferry.

Admittedly, the picture above, taken on Saturday’s return trip at 4.30 p.m. from Gozo, shows it is unlikely that should the emergency boat be deployed it would sink immediately. But given its condition, the rusted quick-release straps holding it in place and its overall shabby state are appalling.

It is well documented that most major disasters are the accumulation of a string of small errors going awry sequentially at the worst possible time. I dread to think what other poorly maintained safety features the ferry may be hiding beyond the eyes of the unsuspecting passengers – as after all these pictures were taken from the upper deck where passengers can take an easy stroll.