Gozo and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri has said that the Gozo Channel company is in the process of issuing a tender for a new ship.

The Minister was replying to a Parliamentary Question on Monday tabled by Opposition Spokesperson for Gozo Alex Borg, who had asked the Minister to provide information on Gozo Channel’s fourth new ship that had been promised for this year.

Borg also asked Minister Camilleri whether the ship would be leased or purchased, this information was not provided by the Minister.

Exactly a year ago yesterday, also replying to a question on the plan and a time frame for the long-awaited purchase of a new fourth Gozo Channel ship which had been tabled by PN Spokesperson Alex Borg, The Gozo Minister said that “at the end of this year the Gozo Channel Company will be able to announce its vision for the future, including the way forward on the fourth ship.”

The leased 35-year old Nikolaos started operating as the fourth ship in the fleet in the summer of 2019, costing approximately €8,000 per day off-peak and up to €12,000 per day during the peak times.

The vessel used to operate between the Greek Islands with Ionion Lines. However it has been the subject of many complaints, not least its age, costs and the service to passengers, including the loading and unloading of vehicles.

File photo: MGP/DOI

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