The Greek owners of Gozo’s Channel’s hired fourth ferry have once again snubbed a public tender issued by the government aimed at reducing its costs for the mediocre service being delivered by the 35-year-old MV Nikolaos.
At the closing of a public tender process this week, which called for “the hire of a vessel under a time charter agreement”, no bids were submitted – not even from the owners of the MV Nikolaos, who seem to prefer the previous conditions of their direct order, which is costing around €10,000 a day excluding fuel.
This is the second time a tender for an additional vessel to be added to Gozo Channel’s permanent three-ship fleet has been issued, and both had the same dismal results.
Gozo Channel, which is registering millions of euros in losses every year despite its millions of euros in taxpayer subsidies, has been leasing out the old Greek ship since 2019 by direct order.
The vessel is hired through a wet lease, which includes the provision of the ship’s crew, and it is restricted in its operations because of its old age.
The ship is not allowed under international maritime rules to operate at full capacity in winter and the vessel is taken out of service for a few hours every afternoon for a crew break.
Since the 2019 direct order is in breach of EU rules and the government is still depending on an expired Public Service Obligation since it has failed to assign a new tender since 2017, an attempt was made to try to secure a new fourth ferry service through the proper channel of a public tender.
Those efforts, however, have now been unsuccessful twice over.
A first tender published last November called for the successful bidder to commence services between Malta and Gozo within just two months of the contract’s award but failed to attract bidders.
The second attempt through a tender published last July also failed to attract a single bidder.
Gozo Channel will now be forced, perhaps conveniently, to award a new direct order to keep the MV Nikolaos as the fourth ferry in its fleet on the same terms, meaning the government will have to continue injecting millions of euros into the company’s operations to keep it afloat.
Ferry..not comfortable for pensioners and senior citizens…..far too many steps to climb…..I am 78 yrs old and do not look forward into using this Greek ferry…… Maybe the Government should think of purchasing a new modern ferry instead of paying the high renting price…..
I totally agree.
We are in our 80’s and have either to terrifyingly drive up that steep ramp or tackle the tricky stairs. Surely for an economy that’s riding the waves the government could have done much better!
Procuring a new vessel would be the most reasonable and possibly more economic way forward!
The greek ferry is illegal because it is against regulations. Who is the Minister Responsible? The PM uses his super boat to cross the channel , so he does not care a hoot. The Gozo Labour MP get VIP and not the greek junk. So who is the idiot ? Justine?
the idiots are those who support this muvument korrott.
He is using Nikolaos to cross as its faster.
L-Ghawdxin approvawh bi hgarhom fl-ahhar elezzjoni, tajjeb li jkomplu jgawduh.
Terminate the operation of the Greek ferry immediately and send the ferry back to Greece.
That is the obvious solution, unless someone in Gozo Channel is profiting from this deal.
do you have any doubt?
Obviously
Obviously you do not count how much Nikolaos is needed for Gozo.Biggest capacity for mixed cargo .It is developing Maltese island Gozo .
It’s time to buy a brand-new ferry instead of spending 10,000 euros daily.
A simple maths calculation – This service has already cost Gozo Channel more than 14 million. Alla bierek!!!
deduct the commissions.
There was a time, before 2013, when the Gozo ferries were built new and put into service. It just needed a bit of government thought, planning, decision and less money.
Just give one alternative in the circumstances
Is it correct to say that the Greek owners have again ‘outwitted’ (for want of a more appropriate verb) Gozo Channel?
Stop that junk ship, and give those money to the workers of gozo channel. They can work more hrs and can take extra money for their families.
Do we really need a fourth ferry in winter?
If I may, ask a simple question that may be the root cause of this “tendering” shenanigan. There appears to be a hidden hand holding things back from scrapping this unwanted ferry and getting a new one. WHOSE HAND IS IT????
Totally agree. I have a mobility disability and am forced to wait for the ferry after. It’s a shame and a disgrace.
Kif taghmel telf meta rekord ta passigieri jaghmlu uzu mill-vapuri. Din qatt ma stajt nifhem jien.
possibbli se nibqgu nissaportu din il-korruzzjoni lampanti?
Ibnu valur gdid mill-ewwel… Watts nies inkompetenti