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  PRESS RELEASE |
25/02/2006 |
Gozo Channel Company Limited would like to inform the general public that the ferry service between Malta and Gozo is now back to normal following unfortunate circumstances that led to a limited service being provided on Friday 24 February.
On Wednesday 22 February the ramp of the M/v Gaudos developed a fault and had to be drydocked. However, work on it could not start immediately due to safety risks posed by the inclement weather, given that the work had to be performed on the outside. As soon as the weather permitted, both Malta Shipyards and Gozo Channel staff worked round the clock to repair the fault, and the M/v Gaudos has reverted back into operation this morning at 10 a.m.
Moreover, until Thursday 23 February, the M/v Ta’ Pinu was operating with limited engine power, a situation which was being addressed by the technical staff of the company and a foreign service engineer. In normal circumstances, the vessel does work with this limitation without any compromise to passenger safety. However, this mode of operation could not be sustained as the weather deteriorated and strong winds of up to Pinu until the ferry was back on schedule Friday night at about 10 p.m.
Therefore at 10.00pm on Friday, the company was operating with two vessels, until the MV Gaudos was delivered this morning at 10.00am. Gozo Channel is now working with its three vessels.
Unfortunately, the bad weather compounded the situation as on Friday morning the ferry service, had to be diverted to Sa Maison. The service was reverted to Cirkewwa as the winds abated later on in the afternoon. Using the M/v Malita and eventually the M/v Ta’ Pinu, the Company operated a continuous shuttle service throughout the night to carry all remaining passengers waiting to travel between Malta and Gozo.
The Company would like to apologise to all its customers for the inconvenience caused. This was a situation caused by unfortunate technical faults, compounded by the inclement weather. Gozo Channel would like to expresses its gratitude to all those who gave their full contribution to manage the situation and resolve the technical issues in the shortest time possible, including Gozo Channel employees, all technical teams working on the ferries and Police officers at the terminals.
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