Gozo Channel is 30 years old. For the past 30 years this company has provided sea transport between Malta and Gozo. Its vessels have served as a most necessary bridge between the two Islands. It has provided the means for Gozitans to cross over to Malta and vice-versa. It has helped Gozitans seek careers in Malta and has ensured a thriving internal and external tourism economy on the Island of Gozo. In a nutshell Gozo Channel, apart from serving as a gateway to Gozo and the Gozitans, has also served as the umbilical chord of Gozo’s economy.
The younger generation is fortunate. Today’s channel service is nothing short of luxurious. The ferries are specifically designed for the channel between the islands and for our particular necessities. The vessels are state of the art and enjoy latest technology, facilities and amenities. Furthermore, the fact that the vessels have been specifically built to cope with our particular conditions, trips between the two islands are hardly affected by inclement weather.
It has not always been like this. Gozo Channel was set up in 1979 but this was not the first cross-channel organised service between the Islands.
The Malta Steamship Company operated a service between 1923 and 1937. This was followed by a service provided by the Gozo Mail Service Company which included Joseph Gasan, Giovanni Dacutrous, the Gozitan family known as Ta’ Gelluxa and some other Gozitans as shareholders. The vessels operated by this company where the Royal Lady and Franco.
The Bancinu, the Maid of Pinto and Pino operated on the channel between 1950 and 1957. King of England, Lady Strickland, Hanini, Queen of Peace, Imperial Eagle and the Jylland were among the other vessels that served commuters between Malta and Gozo.
Gozo Channel was formed in 1979 with the purchase of Ghawdex. This ferry was followed by the acquisition of Melitaland and Mgarr. In the 1990s, the company embarked on fleet modernisation project and plans for the construction of three ro-ro vessels at the Malta Shipbuilding were finalised. The first vessel, the M.V. Ta’ Pinu, was introduced into service in March 2000, while the M.V. Gaudos entered into service in February 2001. The third vessel, the M.V. Malita, was delivered in March 2002.
Initially Gozo Channel’s vessels performed an average of eight round trips a day. Today, Gozo Channel has become one of the leading local maritime companies in Malta with over 240 employees. On average, the company performs 19,000 trips a year, which are made up of a minimum of 50 trips a day in winter and many more in summer. The ferries carry around 3.5 million passengers and 900,000 vehicles annually. These statistics alone portray the huge strides Gozo Channel has made throughout these last 30 years.
As I already pointed out, today’s state of the art custom built ferries are a far cry from the earlier vessels. But this is not just about the ferries.
Gozo Channel is also about social obligations which the company has always undertook to fulfil. Gozo Channel fulfils these obligations and services the national economy while providing an economic, efficient, profitable, reliable and a safe service for its customers. The company has introduced several customer care initiatives and one can safely say that customer orientation has become a top priority for the company.
From time to time, Gozo Channel also launches other initiatives to encourage channel crossing. One such initiative was taken yesterday week when passengers travelled between the islands for free. Other initiatives are taken in collaboration with restaurants in Gozo and other stakeholders in the tourism industry.
Today, Gozo Channel is on the threshold of a new era. The monopoly of sea transportation between the two islands will be liberalised as the government invites local and international companies to tender for the supply of this essential service.
EU accession has brought about many changes. One of the most radical was the end of monopolies in sectors where exclusivity and protection reigned for decades. Fear of change is understandable. However other sectors of the Maltese economy showed that they were capable of facing competition and indeed come out stronger.
Gozo Channel will be facing the same challenges. I have no doubt that the company, ably led by Dr Joseph Grech, will be up to this challenge. It is not the time to be afraid. It is time to be strong, face challenges and overcome them. Gozo Channel has won so many challenges over the past 30 years. Its record will stand it in good stead to win the next one.
Chris Said is parliamentary secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister