Gozo Channel did not breach its public service obligations when it stopped the Mgarr-Marsamxett cargo route, Transport Minister Ian Borg told Parliament on Wednesday.

He was replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Joe Ellis, who asked how the minister could say that there was no breach of the Public Service Obligation when the same PSO states that Gozo Channel must provide lifeline services between Valletta and Mgarr.

This service has not been offered for a number of years now, the MP noted.

Replying, Borg said Ellis was wrong. The PSO, he said, declares that “the Life Line services shall be provided at and from the following ports, or at or from any other ports agreed in writing by the Parties.”

In fact, there was an agreement between the two parties (Gozo Channel and the government) to transfer cargo services from Marsamxett to Cirkewwar after the construction of the new marina in Pieta`.

This means that there is no breach of the PSO, he said.