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  NEW NAMES FOR GOZO CHANNEL’S NEW FERRIES |
03/10/2000 |
3rd October 2000
NEW NAMES FOR GOZO CHANNEL’S NEW FERRIES
Gozo Channel is pleased to note the interest generated in the local media on the names given to the new ferries, M/v GAUDOS and M/v MALITA.
The Company’s first preference was to name these two ferries GAULOS and MELITA respectively. However, unfortunately, these names were already taken up in the Maltese Shipping Registry and therefore the Registrar General of Shipping could not accept these proposed names.
Following some research made in Malta and consultations with knowledgeable persons in this field, the Company established that the present names GHAWDEX and MALTA have derived from other names over the centuries.
Ghawdex was originally referred to as GWL, which eventually became GAULOS (by the Greeks) later GUADOS (by the Romans) and later still GODSO / GAUDIS.
GODSO became GOZZO/GOZO whereas GAUDIS later became GHAWDIX, today referred to as GHAWDEX.
The name MELITA was given by the Romans and later the Arabs referred to it as MALITAH. The “H” was eventually dropped and the Island became MALITA later MALTA, as our country is now universally known.
It is appreciated that historians may give different interpretations to a particular event or events, but it seems from various articles in the press, that the words chosen have existed in the past and therefore are technically correct.
For the record, the Company states that the name GAUDOS was first announced in an interview given by the Chairman of Gozo Channel to Ms Angela Fabri and which appeared in “The Sunday Times” of 14th May 2000 under the title of “Gozo Channel committed to its social obligations.” The opening paragraphs in this interview refer to the GAUDOS and MALITA.
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