The Gozo Channel Company Limited, commonly known as Gozo Channel Line or the Gozo ferry ( mt, Vapur t'Għawdex), is a

Maltese Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...

company founded in 1979 that operates ferry services between the islands of

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

and

Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After t ...

using

Roll-on/roll-off Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, Trailer (vehicle), trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their o ...

(RORO) ferries. Crossings happen throughout the day all-year round including weekends, public holidays, and night services. The company's ferry services are the main connection between the two islands and it is used by millions of Gozitans, Maltese and tourists every year. It currently operates three identical ferries, all of which were built between March 2000 and March 2002. In addition to the normal services of foot passengers and car passengers, Gozo Channel also offers services for cargo vehicles and hazardous cargo.

Predecessors

A ferry service connecting the islands of Malta and Gozo has existed for centuries, with records indicating that ''dgħajjes tal-latini'' were used as ferries as early as 1241 from the harbour of

Mġarr Mġarr ( mt, L-Imġarr), formerly known as ''Mgiarro'', is a village in the Northern Region of Malta. Mġarr is a typical rural village situated in an isolated region, west of Mosta. It is surrounded with rich farmland and vineyards. Many of it ...

. ''Dgħajjes tal-latini'', also known as Gozo boats, remained in use until after the Second World War. A few survive to this day, such as th
''Maryanne''
operated by

Captain Morgan Cruises Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, although this does not have any masts. Despite this, the first regular passenger service between the islands was only inaugurated on 13 June 1885, when O.F. Gollcher & Sons Ltd provided an official mail service using the vessel ''Gleneagles''. By the end of the 19th century G.P. Sammut & Co and Francesco Pace were also offering ferry services. These three companies had stopped operating services by 1923, when the Malta Steamship Co Ltd took over with two vessels. In the late 1920s and 1930s Bernard Zammit and the Joseph Gasan, Giovanni Dacoutros & Grech Family started their own ferry services. More companies were formed after the war, including Joseph Gasan (1947-57), the Magro Family (1948-70), the Magro & Zammit Families (1958-68) and the Malta Aliscafi Ltd (1964-68). At some points there was only one company operating services in the Gozo Channel while at other times there were more at the same time. E. Zammit & Sons Ltd was formed in 1966, and by 1970 it was the only company offering ferry services across the Gozo Channel. It operated four vessels until Gozo Channel Company Limited was formed in 1979. The following ships were used as ferries from Malta to Gozo between 1885 and 1978:

History

Gozo Channel Company Limited was formed to operate ferry services in 1979. The four ships of E. Zammit & Sons Ltd were taken over by the new company, and two more vessels were purchased later in the year. The MV ''Għawdex'' began operating services to Sicily from 1981 onwards, but these stopped in 1995. Hovermarines or catamarans were used for express services between Malta and Gozo from 1988 to 2002. By 1990 the company was carrying 1.93 million passengers and 370,000 cars annually. By the mid-1990s a modernization program started and three brand new ships were built from 2000 to 2002. Mġarr ferry terminal was later completely rebuilt from 2001 to 2008. The terminal at Ċirkewwa was also rebuilt in the next few years and was completed in 2013.

Gallery

File:Ta' Pinu ship 2009.JPG, MV ''Ta' Pinu'' File:Malta - Mellieha - Triq il-Marfa - Cirkewwa Harbour - Gaudos 01 ies.jpg, MV ''Gaudos'' File:Gozo Channel Malita.jpg, MV ''Malita'' File:Ro-ro passenger Ship Nikolaos - IMO 8611506 - Ionion Lines - Gaios, Paxos - Greece - 18 May 2012.jpg, MV ''Nikolaos''

References

Notes {{notelist Gozo Ferry companies of Malta Transport companies established in 1979 1979 establishments in Malta Gozo Channel