Sea transport between Malta and Gozo: Q2/2025
- During the second quarter of 2025, the total number of trips, vehicles and passengers increased by 2.8, 3.9 and 7.7 per cent, when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024.
- During January-June 2025, vehicle traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays. At the Mġarr terminal, vehicle traffic was highest on Sundays and Mondays.
- During January-June 2025, passenger traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Saturdays and Fridays. At the Mġarr terminal, passenger traffic was busiest on Sundays and Saturdays.
- May registered the highest number of trips between Mġarr and Valletta, 965 or 35.5 per cent of total trips for the quarter, and the highest number of passengers, 117,819 or 35.1 per cent for the quarter.
Sea transport between Malta and Gozo: Q2/2025
Sea transport between Malta and Gozo: Q2/2025
Sea transport between Malta and Gozo
Between April and June 2025, a total of 11,642 trips were carried out, carrying a total of 1,927,590 passengers (Table 1). June was the busiest month recording a total of 3,964 trips or 34.1 per cent of total trips for the quarter (Tables 3 and 7).
Sea transport between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa
A total of 1,591,820 passengers travelled between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa during the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 3.5 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024. The highest number of passengers, 549,469 or 34.5 per cent of the total for the quarter, was recorded in April. When compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the number of vehicles increased by 3.9 per cent, totalling 548,423 (Tables 2 and 3).
The number of trips during the second quarter amounted to 8,925, a decrease of 0.4 per cent over the same period in 2024 (Table 2). June registered the highest number of trips, 3,017 or 33.8 per cent of total trips for the quarter (Table 3).
During January-June 2025, vehicle traffic originating from the Mġarr terminal was highest on Sundays and Mondays, while passenger traffic was busiest on Sundays and Saturdays. On the other hand, vehicle traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, while passenger traffic was busiest on Saturdays and Fridays (Charts 4 and 5).
Chart 1. Passengers and vehicles crossing between Malta and Gozo
Sea transport between Mġarr and Valletta
During the second quarter of 2025, a total of 2,717 trips were carried out carrying a total of 335,770 passengers (Table 6). When compared to same quarter in 2024, the number of trips increased by 15.3 per cent and the number passengers increased by 32.7 per cent. May registered the highest number of trips – 965 or 35.5 per cent of total trips for the quarter and the highest number of passengers – 117,819 or 35.1 per cent for the quarter (Table 7).
Map 1. Distribution of trips between Malta and Gozo during Q2/2025
Chart 2. Distribution of passengers by type of transport between Malta and Gozo during Q2/2025
Chart 3. Passengers and vehicles to and from Mġarr and Ċirkewwa
Reference months - April to June
Chart 4. Vehicles to and from Mġarr and Ċirkewwa by day of the week
Chart 5. Passengers to and from Mġarr and Ċirkewwa by day of the week
Tables
Tables
Methodological Notes
1. The source of the data included in this release is administrative information provided by the Gozo Channel Co. Ltd and Transport Malta.
2. The fast ferry service operating between Mġarr and Valletta commenced on 1 June 2021.
3. The table below illustrates the vehicle and passenger capacity of each Gozo Channel vessel:
| Vessel | Vehicles | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| MV Gaudos | 72 | 900 |
| MV Malita | 138 | 900 |
| MV Ta' Pinu | 138 | 900 |
| MV Nikolaos | 160 | 650 (Summer) / 350 (Winter) |
Periods when vessels were out of service for docking purposes:
MV Gaudos: 08/11/2023-30/11/2023.
MV Malita: 09/01/2024-30/01/2024.
MV Ta’ Pinu: 09/01/2023-02/02/2023, 27/02/2023-02/03/2023 and 07/01/2025-06/02/2025.
MV Nikolaos was put temporarily out of service between 18/04/2023-26/04/2023, 15/02/2024-25/03/2024 and 05/05/2025 – 19/05/2025.
4. The table below illustrates the passenger capacity of each fast ferry service vessel:
| Vessel | Passengers |
|---|---|
| Your Wisdom (Gozo Fast Ferry) | 296 |
| Your Faith (Gozo Fast Ferry) | 296 |
| Gozo Express (Virtu Ferries)* | 308 |
| San Franġisk (Virtu Ferries) | 316 |
5. The two service providers (Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries) have merged and are providing service under one company, namely Gozo High Speed.
6. Data for passengers travelling between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa comprises foot and vehicle passengers and vehicle drivers. The fast ferry service does not allow for the transport of vehicles thus, only foot passengers are included.
7. Different approaches to data collection are being applied at the Mġarr and Ċirkewwa harbours with regards to the Gozo Channel service. Data source for the Mġarr side includes Automated Ticketing System (ATS), while data for the Ċirkewwa side is dependent on the manual clicking system.
8. The data is not normally subject to revision.
9. More information relating to this news release is available in the Sources and Methods.
10. A detailed news release calendar is available online.
11. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately. For guidance on access and re-use of data please visit our dedicated webpage.
12. For further assistance send your request through our online request form.
