Faster ferry journeys; EC approves 12 million euro contract

Tista’ taqra bil-
Malta.

Newsbook.com.mt is informed that the European Commission has approved a two-year contract worth €12 million which will help the operators of the fast ferry between Malta and Gozo to maintain their services.

Sources of this editorial staff specify that the contract will be signed in the coming weeks, allowing the implementation of a timetable similar to that of the summer months, that is to say that there will be 24 trips per day. .

In October, the fast ferry operators decided to change the schedule, reducing the number of trips available per day from Mġarr to Valletta from 13 to five and between Valletta and Mġarr to four.

On the day the new timetable was published, the government released a statement saying it was in discussions with the European Commission to help deliver a two-year public contract worth €12 million.

The government explained that the operators are committed to providing the service according to the needs of the public, with a new and improved timetable and fixed prices.

Through this contract, patients receiving care at Mater Dei Hospital or Gozo General Hospital will be able to use the service free of charge.

In June, operators insisted the service was not financially viable and asked the government for subsidies to keep it running.