There's a new website (at least I think it's new for I never saw it before) which gives a sort of panoramic life views of the outer part of the Grand Harbour.

I intend to keep checking it out even in the evening.

We might think, based on a cursory glance, that most of the time it is empty, probably remembering when it used to be filled with Royal Navy ships.

But if you look at this website for some time you realise the amount of traffic at any time.

There's a ticker, for instance, that shows the incredible amount of cruise liners expected in the coming days, a very impressive amount.

A considerable amount are regular - the fast ferries to Gozo today being increased by new services.

Maybe I am wrong or maybe because the sea was choppy but I didn't see the amount of harbour cruises I thought there would be.

Then there are the tankers and the cargo ships. Some seem to prefer the hours before sunrise and in the afternoon possibly timed to their arrival in Sicily.

It may come as a surprise but the Grand Harbour is still used for swimming at least in two areas that I could see - Taht iz-Ziemel on the Valletta side and under the new luxury flats between Birgu and Fort St Angelo.

My point is there are still areas that can be developed even in this part of the Grand Harbour apart from the inner harbour area about which a remarkable development was the subject of a running advert in the days before the election (and about which we have not heard anything since then).

But straight ahead the website shows us Fort Ricasoli which is huge as huge are its problems. It's a pity it is in such a derelict state when it can be developed into a prime site rather than used sporadically to store cinema props.

Going by the example of London's Docklands and Hamburg's Haven one would expect a certain amount of development of residential potential accompanied with a lesser use of industrial purposes.

But if this is the case let us at least plan ahead with regards to infrastructure such as drainage, electricity supply etc so as not be caught short again.

The Grand Harbour is a very important asset and must not be squandered. Having said that I am not sure we are making optimal use of its development by devoting so much space to yacht marinas though on the other hand the controversy regarding more mooring spots, whatever the legality of this, shows there is a huge, unsatisfied demand in this regard.