The idea of having a buoy for cruise liners at Xlendi is not feasible and the project will probably be shelved once and for all, according to sources.

The story started in 2006, when the cruise ship Seabourn Pride anchored there to rave reviews from its clients. In 2009, then tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco had seen the buoy as a way to promote Gozo as an independent cruise port of call.

The tender was duly issued by the Malta Maritime Authority and, almost €240,000 later, the buoy was laid down at the entrance to the bay in March 2010. It was, however, too late to include in the cruise liner schedules and the buoy was not actually used until 2012.

Tap on its touristic potential

The 2012 visit by the Seabourn Pride, represented by Malta Cruise Services, had been – at least for Xlendi’s businesses – a tremendous success, delivering hundreds of visitors who were greeted by music and folklore.

However, things did not work out technically as the buoy’s anchoring chain had too much slack, which meant the ship drifted perilously close to the cliffs and had to use its engines the whole time. It had to be removed, in spite of the fact that a number of calls had by then been booked.

Read: Hopes fade for Xlendi cruise calls

However, bureaucracy then intervened and it was only in the Budget for 2015 that the project was resurrected. The government voted €1.5 million to lay another buoy in Xlendi, with then Gozo minister Anton Refalo saying in 2017 it would cost €1.56 million.

Of this amount, €190,250 were to be spent on studies, technical surveys and tests, €105,400 on professional services and project supervision, €1,145,000 on manufacturing and installation of the buoy and €120,000 on maintenance and five-year certification.

However, the sources said the feasibility studies, carried out by a local advisory firm, found that the buoy was not economically viable. They expressed disappointment because the project required a long-term approach since no cruise line would schedule visits until the buoy was in place and functioning well.

“It was never given a chance,” they lamented.

Asked about the project, the Gozo Ministry ignored questions about the project itself, saying only it was looking at “a holistic master plan for Xlendi to address various needs and tap on its touristic potential” and also exploring other avenues to attract more cruise liners to Gozo and make the island a distinctive tourist destination all year round.

This year, 21 port calls were booked for Gozo, with the ships anchoring off Mġarr.