Tender CT2143/2026 covers the leasing of a ship to replace NIKOLAOS, currently chartered as Gozo Channel's fourth vessel. The tender was announced towards the end of June with an initial deadline of 25 August. According to a Gozo Ministry spokesperson quoted by Times of Malta, a clarification note issued through the eProcurement platform on 6 August pushed the deadline back to 09.30 on 2 September 2026, in line with public procurement procedures and the principles of transparency and equal treatment.

The bidders

Caronte & Tourist SpA, jointly owned and controlled by the Franza and Matacena families, runs a substantial RoPax network centred on Sicily, including services to Pantelleria and Lampedusa as well as to the Italian mainland.

Ragusa Xpress Ltd began operations in May 2025 with a Malta–Sicily service to Ragusa. The company is owned by Paul Gauci, whose other interests include the Pavi and Pama supermarkets and the Maltese franchise of Spanish retailer Zara.

Background

Three of the four ferries on the Cirkewwa–Mgarr route are government-owned. The fourth, NIKOLAOS, has been on charter since 2019, originally as a short-term measure pending a newbuilding. The vessel regularly draws passenger complaints and has been criticised for poor fuel efficiency and a daily charter bill exceeding EUR 10,000 borne by taxpayers.

In January this year, Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, Transport Minister Chris Bonett and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri presented a strategic plan for the Gozo Channel service, centred on two new ferries due to enter service in 2029. Chartering a replacement fourth ship until those newbuildings are delivered forms part of that plan.

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