Ferry services at Valletta’s Marsamxekk harbour have received an operational upgrade, with new ramps and walkways allowing passengers to get on or off vessels without them having to be tied up.

The upgrades, which will also speed up passenger disembarkation by allowing both walkways to be used at the same time, are expected to reduce the risk of service delays, the Transport Ministry said in a statement announcing the improvements.

Mechanised walkways will make it easier for passengers with mobility issues to use the ferry, the ministry added.

The €200,000 upgrade to Marsamxett facilities will now be followed by further works to develop sheltered areas for passengers to use while waiting for ferries.

The ferry service shuttles passengers between Marsamxett Harbour and Sliema. Around 25 services operate on any given day.

Use of ferry services to and from Valletta – which also include a service running between the Grand Harbour and Three Cities – was up significantly in 2018, with an estimated 25 per cent more people making use of the services.

“I look ahead to the coming months when Infrastructure Malta will start building new similar facilities for passengers who use the sea transport service from the Sliema and Cospicua,” said Transport Minister Ian Borg.