Virtu Ferries welcome the announcement by the Hon Minister Ian Borg, and the Hon Minister Clint Camilleri, on the liberalisation of the High Speed Passenger Ferry Service between Gozo and Malta.
Virtu Ferries has expressed interest in the Gozo – Malta route since the Company’s incorporation in 1988. Now that the fast ferry passenger service has been liberalised, Virtu has applied to Transport Malta for a licence to operate. The feedback from Transport Malta has been positive and encouraging.
Virtu is looking forward to replicating the success achieved over the last 33 years on international routes, including between Malta and Sicily, on the domestic route between Mgarr and Valletta. Virtu will be offering travellers the same standard of service on the domestic route as that provided on the company’s international routes.
Given the short notice between the announcement by Government and the intended date of commencement on 1st June 2021, Virtu will be operating the service with a ferry from their existing fleet in order to meet the required deadline.
Once the service is up and running, Virtu will be reviewing building a ferry specifically for the Mgarr- Valletta service. The proposed new ferry will conform to highest environmental standards in place at time of build, respecting stringent Emission Regulations and guidelines issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Virtu will strive even further to accomplish “Zero Emission” once such advanced technology is available for ferries of this type.
