The government will be building a new breakwater instead of the current one at Buġibba, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said on Tuesday.

The Infrastructure Malta-led project proposal will also include the construction of a passenger terminal for a sea ferry, together with ferry landing facilities, as well as berthing and landing facilities and safer platforms for the mooring of cruise boats that use it in summer. 

Borg said the plan is to build a breakwater that is 180 metres long together with a 37-metre jetty adjoining it, to provide increased shelter for fishing boats and other small vessels moored in the area.

Plans for the project have been submitted to the Planning Authority and are currently at the screening stage. Work is currently under way to complete wave studies required by environmental regulator ERA.  

Borg said the project will be carried out in the context of government efforts to improve connectivity, which recently also saw plans for the introduction of a fast ferry service to Gozo in the coming months. The government would also like to see the ferry services around Valletta and Cottonera extended to other areas. 

The minister also pointed to similar works being handled in Valletta Marsamxett, Sliema and Cottonera.

The jetty will protrude from the northern side of the breakwater and will offer increased shelter and safer berthing under different weather conditions. The project will also rebuild the slipway next to the existing breakwater in a safer design.