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The Scheduled Service

Mgarr Harbour - Gozo (Photo Andreas Steinbach, 1994)

The scheduled service is operated between the following destinations:

Mgarr (Gozo) to Cirkewwa (Malta)- Trip takes about 25min.
Mgarr (Gozo) to Sa Maison (Malta) - Trip takes about 75min.

SES Victoria Express (Catamaran)
Mgarr (Gozo) to Sa Maison (Malta) to Sliema (Malta)- Trip takes about 45min.

Since the schedule changes during the year due to weather conditions, it is better if one checks with Gozo Channel for the schedule in operation. Tel: 21561622/ 21243964.

The Gozo Channel Co. Ltd.

The Gozo Channel Co. Ltd. was set up in 1979 to operate a scheduled service between the islands. The Company started operating with three ships: Ghawdex, Imgarr and Melitaland. It also had two boats which were used at night and to carry passengers to and from Comino.

Over the years, other ships were added to the fleet such as the Cittadella. Some of the ships were sold or replaced, although very often the same names were kept.

In 1995, three brand new and bigger ships were ordered from the Malta Shipbuilding. Two of these ships the Ta' Pinu and the Gaulos are already in operation while the third ship is to be delivered shortly.

Historical highlights...

There has always been some form of transport between Malta and Gozo. During the time fo the knights, it was particularly dangerous to cross the channel as pirates roamed the area. For this reason, in 1618, a tower was built on Comino to protect those making the crossing.

Over the years, different types of boats and ships were used. One such ship was the Calypso which was previously used as a minesweeper by the British. It started operating as a ferry boat in 1950 but some time later was bought by the Cousteau Society to be used as a seafaring research vessel.

One of the ships used by Gozo
Channel berthed at Cirkewwa Port

In 1988, the Gozo Channel started operating a new faster service by means of a hovermarine. In 1996, the hovermarine service was replaced by a high speed catamaran service.