The Gozo Business Chamber has said in a statement that it is concerned about the latest incident on one of the Gozo ferries that happened this morning.
The incident involved a truck [1], which toppled over while crossing from Malta to Gozo, due to the rough seas. The Chamber said that while it welcomes the fact that no one was hurt in this incident, it cannot but air its concern to “the grave consequences that would have ensued from such an incident.”
“This incident also highlights the vulnerability of the link, Gozo, as an island, presently enjoys, with the ferries and the need to alternative means of communication, such as the fixed link between the two main islands,” The GBC said.
“The disruption of the service, regardless of all the efforts of the Gozo Channel, remains the prerogative of many factors which unfortunately cannot be controlled, such as this morning’s incident and the inclement weather.”
The GBC pointed out that any sort of disruption whether minimal (late departures) or cancellation of trips causes enormous hardships to commuters (business persons, students, workers). “Not to mention tourists who either want to come to Gozo after a long flight or try to catch a flight back home. Such disruptions will reflect badly to the island’s image.
The GBC concluded by saying that it urges the Authorities to “step-up the necessary ground work, so that, they will be in a position to decide the way forward to better the connectivity between the two islands with a fixed link.”
File photograph
4 Comments To "Gozo Business Chamber voices its concern over truck incident on Gozo ferry"
#1 Comment By Mr+Brightside On January 30, 2015 @ 4:36 pm
As a former user of the Dartford crossing of the Thames, the Channel tunnel and the Sheppey crossing does the GBC seriously believe that something like a bridge or tunnel isn’t victim to freak accidents or closure by the weather. Bridges are frequently subject to closure or restrictions because of high wind and I would suspect that any Gozo bridge would have been closed on several occasions in the last few days. Although tunnels are not affected by weather in the same way accidents and fires are occasional problems with the Channel Tunnel not to mention the regular problems caused by industrial action. As a Gozitan resident I find the service provided by the boats cheap, reliable and relatively quick and although bridges and tunnels are nice concepts they are not going to significantly improve reliability and I suspect the tolls will be massive for what is effectively just a few minutes saved on a very short journey.
#2 Comment By Slim On January 30, 2015 @ 5:56 pm
In my opinion the Gozo Ferry are excellent and they do a good job well organized however accidents in this kind of weather which is expected for this time of the year can happen, i do not know much about the Dartford crossing but i can assure you the Bristol channel is just as bad., whilst on this subject of the Gozo Ferry the only negative comment i have is a the way the parking attendants tend to squeeze every little space available between one vehicle and the next ,for people such ourselves rather on the big side, one an invalid it is very difficult to maneuver ourselves out the car to go on top deck, cause of the lack of room between one car and the other, hence many a time we just sat for the duration -summer time- although it is not advisable and we have noticed the posters , but we found it impossible to get out, we either brush against the other car doors or wing mirrors etc etc., i would however like Gozo Ferry to take note and at least leave enough space as oppose squeezing us like sardines, We love Gozo ferry as oppose a bridge which as you rightly says in this kind of weather causes all sorts of problems for the drivers.Glad nobody was hurt or injured had there been people in the vehicle as i explained that would have been a different story altogether.My advice is never mind the extra REVENUE/space think of SAFETY FIRST.
#3 Comment By Eliza On January 30, 2015 @ 10:25 pm
No fixed link. Malta and Gozo are 2 different islands. For that matter why dont you connect Sicily to Malta. Malta and Gozo are different and should remain separated
#4 Comment By Mick Cundy On January 31, 2015 @ 12:06 pm
Quick release shackles would have prevented this. They take only minutes to connect and tension and seconds to remove. Standards of safety as we well know out here leave a lot to be desired. My first thought was ”what if it had fallen on a vehicle with someone inside” as we know the regulations are flouted and not enforced. It makes me laugh to read that the situation could not have been controlled. Of course it could!!! Also, why do some remain in their vehicles? Because sometimes it is impossible to get out of the vehicle, particularly for those with mobility issues. It’s all about get as many on as possible, in the shortest possible time. Well, their should be a separate lane for ‘blue card’ holders, who should go on first and be parked in such a way as to make it easy for them.