Fast ferry between Gozo and Sliema to cost €8.50, Tal-Linja holders pay €6.50
The call for tenders, which closes on July 27, states that the vessels must carry a minimum of 200 passengers
The standard fare for the fast ferry service between Gozo and Sliema will cost €8.50 for a one-way trip for non-residents and those who do not own a Tal-Linja card, slightly more expensive than the Valletta ferry, according to the tender document issued for the new service.
The Sliema-Gozo ferry service was officially announced on Wednesday and will also include a stop in Buġibba. Speaking at the inauguration of the new terminal and breakwater in the seaside town, Transport Minister Chris Bonett said he hoped the service would be up and running by the end of August.
According to conditions set by the government that bidders for the tender will need to abide by, Gozo residents will pay €2.25 for the Sliema route, with further discounted fares for students, senior citizens, children and those with special needs. Passengers with hospital appointments will also travel for free.
The one-way trip between Gozo and Buġibba will cost €6.50 for standard passengers and €2 for Gozo residents.
The leg between Sliema and Buġibba will be free of charge for Tal-Linja card holders.
The standard fare for the fast ferry between Gozo and Valletta is €7.50, while the standard fare for walk-on passengers for the ferry between Gozo and Ċirkewwa is €4.65.
The service will allow residents and tourists living in Sliema, Buġibba, Gozo and the respective neighbouring localities to travel more efficiently
The call for tenders, which started on Thursday, states that the service will allow residents and tourists living in Sliema, Buġibba, Gozo and the respective neighbouring localities to travel more efficiently.
Prospective summer and winter timetables are also included in the tender document. Under both schedules, the first ferry of the day will depart from Mġarr, Gozo, at 5.15am, and from Sliema going in the other direction at 5.45am.
The last departure from Gozo will be 9.15pm in summer and 4.15pm in winter, whereas the last ferry from Sliema will be at 10pm in summer and 3.45pm in winter.
The tender, which closes on July 27, states that the vessels must carry a minimum of 200 passengers.
“Small water-plane area vessels (SWATH) may be the most suitable type of vessel for the Fast Ferry Services... [and] as a minimum, be in Class IACS member and have a Notation Class of either a Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC) or High-Speed Craft (HSC),” the document states.
Bidders must have experience with operations related to the carriage of passengers exceeding 200 in number per trip for a minimum period of two consecutive years in the last five years.
They must also have a minimum average yearly turnover during the past three years of not less than €1,500,000 per year for an aggregate amount of €4,500,000.
The government also plans to eventually expand the service, called Tal-Linja bil-Baħar, to include a route between Valletta and Marsascala.