Call for reduction in departure tax

Grimaldi Ferries passenger services manager Hans Isler has called on the authorities to reduce the departure tax for Maltese passengers to the level of other European departure taxes.

Malta's, he said, was 3.5 per cent higher.

He also called on the government to cancel the requirement for an export permission when a Maltese person takes his car to Europe.

Mr Isler was speaking on board the new Grimaldi Ferries' cargo/passenger ship Eurostar Valencia (local agents Sullivan Maritime Ltd) which called in Grand Harbour on its maiden voyage.

The visit heralded a weekly service linking Malta to Italy, Spain and Tunisia.

The new ferry will replace the Malta Express, which has been calling at Malta for the past four years.

Transport Minister Censu Galea said port reform would be one of his main objectives in the coming months. The reform, he said, would help promote the efficient and cost-effective operation of the ports through the upgrading of policies and legislation.

The minister said that to facilitate cargo clearance through the ports, plans were in hand to develop a maritime centre that would serve as a one-stop shop for port services.

He was also considering the establishment of a shipping bureau that would act as a facilitator within the port industry and advise transport users on the most suitable and effective routes for their transport needs.

The 26,000 ton Eurostar Valencia was constructed in Italy. It has a capacity for 450 passengers and up to 160 cars.

Passengers are given the option to select between accommodation in one of the vessel's 89 cabins or 64 Pullman seats.

The vessel features state-of-the-art public areas including a restaurant and a lounge bar, a television room, slot machines and a sun deck with a bar.

It has a service speed of 22.5 knots, with a capacity of 2,230 linear metres of cargo intake.

The service will continue to support transshipments to and from northern Europe, the United States, Canada and South America.