Hidden Marsaskala Ferry report released: timeline reveals predetermined decision while critical feasibility questions remain unanswered

Following a Freedom of Information request filed by Mark Camilleri Gambin on behalf of Momentum, Transport Malta has finally released a previously undisclosed Grant Thornton report titled “Report for the Provision of a Scheduled Passenger Fast Ferry Service from Marsascala to Valletta.” The release of this document has confirmed the fears of the Marsaskala Residents Network: the project appears to be a predetermined political move rather than a feasibility-based initiative.

The Grant Thornton report is dated September 2025. This timeline suggests the government had already committed to the service and planned its launch before the feasibility study was concluded. This chronology validates the concerns raised by Marsaskala residents in early August, who announced their protests against a ministerial decision that had seemingly bypassed the necessary consultative and investigative stages.

While the report attempts to justify the project through demand analysis and projected fuel savings, a review of the document against the original FOI request reveals glaring omissions regarding environmental safety, infrastructure, and logistical reality.

Mark Camilleri Gambin, Momentum General Secretary stated: “The release of this report has raised more questions than it answers. The timeline discrepancies and the lack of critical data regarding environmental impact, parking logistics, and structural safety suggest a project driven by political will rather than sound planning.”

Despite the specific questions submitted in the FOI request, the released report fails to address fundamental concerns regarding the viability and safety of the project:

1. Environmental risk: The report recommends a Small Water-plane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) vessel design. However, it completely fails to address whether this design will require deep dredging of the Marsaskala harbour. The FOI specifically requested studies on environmental impacts, including the seabed and marine species. The report provides no data on the ecological damage dredging could cause to the port’s delicate ecosystem.

2. Operational reliability: While the report states the vessel must handle “adverse weather and sea conditions”, it offers no calculation of the specific number of days the service would be non-operational due to the exposed nature of Marsaskala bay. This omission leaves the reliability of the service in question for daily commuters.

3. Displacement of locals: The FOI requested studies on the social impact. The report ignores the displacement of amateur fishermen and swimmers, providing no data on how many residents will lose access to the bay’s recreational waters due to the ferry fairway.

4. Failure to assess alternatives: The FOI explicitly asked for a comparative study between a direct ferry and a shuttle bus service connecting Marsaskala to the existing Bormla ferry. The report fails to provide this comparison regarding time, efficiency, and public expenditure, ignoring a potentially cheaper and less invasive solution.

5. Traffic calculations and parking chaos: The report claims the ferry will result in 19,875 avoided car trips. However, it bases its demand on commuters driving from neighbouring towns like Żabbar, Marsaxlokk, and Għaxaq to Marsaskala to catch the ferry. The report fails to answer a critical logistical question: where will these cars park? By inviting traffic from surrounding towns, the project risks turning Marsaskala into a congested car park, negating the claimed benefits. A dedicated shuttle bus service is not evaluated.

6. Missing architectural and structural data The FOI requested detailed architectural plans for the terminal and the promenade, as well as records regarding the structural integrity of the damaged promenade. These are entirely absent from the report. There is no evidence provided that the current infrastructure can support the proposed terminal or heavy foot traffic.

7. Missing Marmara survey The FOI specifically requested the results of the survey conducted by Prof. Vincent Marmara. The Grant Thornton report relies on 2021 National Household Travel Survey data and JobsPlus data, with no mention of the specific results from the Marmara survey. The whereabouts and findings of this taxpayer-funded survey remain a mystery.

Momentum remains steadfast in its demands for transparency, especially around large projects that have tremendous impact on our localities.

Please find the Grant Thornton report on the download link below.

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