A brand new Gozo Channel ferry could soon be in the works, with the government planning to issue a tender for its construction by Summer.

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri confirmed this during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, stating that he has instructed Gozo Channel to prepare a call for tenders for a ferry “built to Gozo Channel specifications” by summer.

The current fleet operating between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr consists of four ferries — three of which are government-owned. The fourth vessel, the Nikolaus, has been on lease from Greece since 2019 as a temporary solution until a new ferry is commissioned.

Prime Minister Robert Abela first announced plans for a new vessel last October, but no timeline was given until now.

A previous 2022 tender for the lease or operation of a fourth Gozo ferry failed to attract any bidders due to the specific requirements of the route and the type of ferry needed.

Finding the right vessel hasn’t been easy. The new ferry must be a ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessel, equipped with ramps on both ends to operate within the unique infrastructure of Ċirkewwa and Mġarr harbours. It must also be able to handle open-water conditions between the islands.

The ferries currently in operation — Ta’ Pinu, Gaudos, and Malita — were the first ferries ever custom-built for Gozo Channel. All three were constructed at Malta Shipbuilding between 2000 and 2002.

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