Before the vessels of today’s Gozo Channel fleet connected our islands, there was ‘Il-Bancinu’ – a humble yet legendary ferry that braved the seas between Marfa and Mġarr in Gozo from 1947 to 1957.

Ask any Gozitan elder, and they might recall the name. With a hull painted black and full of character, ‘Il-Bancinu’ remains a symbol of an era when crossing the channel was a much riskier affair.

Originally acquired in 1947 by Joseph Gasan, ‘Il-Bancinu’ was modernised and put into service as a passenger ferry. For a solid ten years, it became a lifeline between Malta and Gozo, transporting locals, visitors, and even the post across the channel. In the days before fast ferries and roll-on, roll-off convenience, this vessel was a lifeline for the Gozitan population, although it was much smaller back then.

But like many sea stories, the ship’s history is not without tragedy.

In 1948, just a year into its operation, ‘Il-Bancinu’ met with disaster during a violent storm off the coast of Hondoq ir-Rummien in Gozo. The ferry capsized, tragically claiming the lives of several passengers and crew. The incident left a lasting scar on the local community and serves as a sombre chapter in Malta’s maritime history.

Despite the tragedy, ‘Il-Bancinu’ returned to service and continued to operate until fate intervened once again.

In 1957, the ferry broke loose from its moorings during another storm and had to be salvaged by the Royal Navy. That marked the end of its service in Maltese waters. Eventually, Il-Bancinu was sold and sent off to Greece, leaving behind only memories and a few grainy photographs in local family albums.

Though often overlooked in modern retellings of Gozo’s transport evolution, ‘Il-Bancinu’ was once the backbone of island crossings – a small ship with a big story!

Were you familiar with this ship's tragic legacy?