Hooray for less queues! It's just been reported that the Gozo ferry service will be retaining the recently-chartered MV Nikolaus for the foreseeable future. Minister for Gozo Justyne Caruana has announced that “the fourth ferry is here to stay” until a new tender call for a replacement is decided.

The ferry and its crew were originally chartered for six months to help out the existing Gozo Channel ferries during the busy summer months. Arriving in June, the fourth ferry was very busy right away, carrying various passengers to and from the islands.

Over Santa Marija week alone, the ferries handled 221,088 passengers and 61,328 vehicles, operating a total of 904 trips in a shuttle service. Damn. Drivers of electric vehicles were also given free ferry tickets as part of an environmental initiative.

Have you been on the MV Nikolaus?