- During the fourth quarter of 2023, the total number of trips, vehicles and passengers increased by 6.5, 3.2 and 15.4 per cent respectively when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022.
- During January-December 2023, 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-December 2023, passenger traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays. At the Mġarr terminal, passenger traffic was busiest on Sundays and Saturdays.
- October registered the highest number of trips between Mġarr and Valletta – 666 or 39.8 per cent of total trips for the quarter and the highest number of passengers – 82,387 or 47.9 per cent for the quarter.
Sea transport between Malta and Gozo
Between October and December 2023, a total of 10,185 trips were carried out, carrying a total of 1,612,813 passengers (Table 1). October was the busiest month recording a total of 3,784 trips or 37.2 per cent of total trips for the quarter (Tables 3 and 7).
Sea transport between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa
A total of 1,440,644 passengers travelled between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa during the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 9.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022. The highest number of passengers was recorded in October – 544,654 or 37.8 per cent of the total for the quarter. When compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the number of vehicles increased by 3.2 per cent, totalling 500,723 (Tables 2 and 3).
The number of trips during the fourth quarter amounted to 8,513, a decrease of 4.2 per cent over the same period in 2022 (Table 2). October registered the highest number of trips – 3,118 or 36.6 per cent of total trips for the quarter (Table 3).
During January-December 2023, passenger traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, and vehicle traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was also busiest on Fridays and Saturdays. On the other hand, from the Mġarr terminal, passenger traffic was busiest on Sundays and Saturdays, while vehicle traffic was highest on Sundays and Mondays (Charts 4 and 5).
Chart 1. Passengers and vehicles crossing between Malta and Gozo
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Sea transport between Mġarr and Valletta
During the fourth quarter of 2023, a total of 1,672 trips were carried out carrying a total of 172,169 passengers (Table 6). When compared to same quarter in 2022, the number of trips increased by 145.9 per cent and the number passengers increased by 106.5 per cent. October registered the highest number of trips – 666 or 39.8 per cent of total trips for the quarter and the highest number of passengers – 82,387 or 47.9 per cent for the quarter (Table 7).
Map 1. Distribution of trips between Malta and Gozo during Q4/2023
Chart 2. Distribution of passengers by route between Malta and Gozo during Q4/2023
Chart 3. Passengers and vehicles to and from Mġarr and Ċirkewwa
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Annual Perspective
Including both the Gozo Channel ferry service and the fast ferry service, during 2023, the number of trips went up by 1,187 or 2.9 per cent, when compared to 2022. Vehicle movements between the islands increased by 78,236 or 4.0 per cent, over the previous year, while the number of passengers went up by 874,393 or 15.4 per cent (Table 1). During 2023, July recorded the highest number of trips totalling 4,073, while August recorded the highest number of passengers and vehicles, with 693,492 and 200,118, respectively (Tables 3 and 7).
Chart 4a. Vehicles to and from Mġarr by day of the week
January-December
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Chart 4b. Vehicles to and from Ċirkewwa by day of the week
January-December
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Chart 5a. Passengers to and from Mġarr by day of the week
January-December
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Chart 5b. Passengers to and from Ċirkewwa by day of the week
January-December
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Additional Tables and Charts
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: 04/01/2021-11/02/2021 and 08/11/2023-30/11/2023.
MV Malita: 06/01/2022-10/02/2022.
MV Ta’ Pinu: 09/01/2023-02/02/2023 and 27/02/2023-02/03/2023.
MV Nikolaos started operating on 13/06/2019.
MV Nikolaos was put temporarily out of service between 25/04/2022-29/05/2022 and 18/04/2023-26/04/2023.
4. The table below illustrates the passenger capacity of each fast ferry service vessel:
| Vessel | Passengers |
|---|---|
| Your Wisdom (Gozo Fast Ferry Ltd) | 296 |
| Your Faith (Gozo Fast Ferry Ltd) | 296 |
| Gozo Express (Virtu Ferries Ltd)* | 308 |
| San Franġisk (Virtu Ferries Ltd) | 316 |
*The fast ferry service vessel, Gozo Express (Virtu Ferries Ltd) replaced San Pawl (Virtu Ferries Ltd) on 17/05/2022.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The data is not normally subject to revision.
8. More information relating to this news release is available in the Sources and Methods.
9. Statistics in this news release should be interpreted in the context of the COVID-19 situation.
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.
