Stormy winter exposes Gozo ferry vulnerability to climate change, say business groups

A particularly windy winter at the beginning of 2026 laid bare how vulnerable the Gozo ferries are to stormy weather, which is likely to increase as the Mediterranean climate changes.

Recently publshed data shows that the total number of trips between Malta and Gozo fell by 9.0 per cent year-on-year during Q1 2026, while the number of vehicles dropped by 5.8 per cent.

Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt, both Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) CEO Daniel Borg and Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) CEO Joe Muscat, attributed the stark decline to weather conditions, which resulted in severe disruptions to both the Gozo Channel service from Ċirkewwa and the fast ferries operating from Valletta.

Of particular concern is that the weather experienced in the past months “may tend to become frequent in the coming years given the impact of the climate change in the Mediterranean,” says Mr Borg, pointing to the increased prevalence of inclement weather in other islands and countries that have their coasts in the Mediterranean.

The GBC CEO stressed that Gozo’s connectivity must become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, arguing that “any future investment in the port infrastructure, both in Mġarr and Ċirkewwa, needs to be seen in this direction.”

Weather disruptions take centre stage

Mr Borg noted that the fast ferry service, being more exposed to rough sea conditions, experienced sharper decreases, reinforcing the view that disruptions were largely climate-driven. While acknowledging that further analysis is needed, he downplayed the role of scheduled maintenance, arguing that such docking periods are planned well in advance and typically occur around the same time each year.

Mr Muscat echoes this assessment, pointing to specific weather events – most notably Storm Harry – as key contributors to the disruption.

The storm, which brought gale-force winds of up to 104 km/h in January, forced the suspension of both Gozo Channel and fast ferry services for extended periods. Additional days of adverse weather across the quarter led to route diversions via Comino, increasing journey times and limiting the total number of trips.

In total, 947 fewer trips were recorded compared to the same period last year, split almost evenly between the Mġarr–Ċirkewwa route and the Mġarr–Valletta fast ferry service.

A broader vision for connectivity

Mr Muscat highlights the role of the fast ferry service as a positive development, but said it requires an extended schedule and improved passenger facilities, including a modern terminal at Mġarr Harbour.

He also points to the importance of better land connectivity, proposing the development of alternative road links to ease congestion around Mġarr and Għajnsielem, particularly during peak periods.

While welcoming plans to introduce additional ferries by 2029, Mr Muscat stressed that fleet expansion must be matched by significant upgrades to port infrastructure.

Mġarr Harbour, he notes, is already operating beyond its optimal capacity, raising the need for feasibility studies into its expansion or the development of alternative port facilities along Gozo’s coastline. On the Malta side, he points to the need for improved berthing and marshalling capacity at Ċirkewwa, as well as the identification of a dedicated landing area for cargo operations.

However, the GTA CEO warns that such projects will require time to materialise: “Their full implementation will span 10 to 20 years, which makes it imperative to begin taking decisions now.”

Both business representatives also called for investment in alternative links, with Mr Borg raising once again the possibility of a permanent link between the islands and Mr Muscat pointing to air links through a rural air field.

“For future proofing, we can’t omit any potential solutions which could make us more resilient.”