BOARDING PROCEDURES

Boarding Tickets

In order to ensure that the Company complies with statutory requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act, every passenger (vehicle and foot) must be in possession of a valid ticket or boarding pass before boarding the vessel. This is essential to enable the Company to accurately complete the head count of persons carried on the vessels.

Boarding tickets are sold only at the Mġarr – Gozo Terminal on a return basis. Customers boarding the ferries at Ċirkewwa in Malta, do not have to be in possession of a valid paid ticket and the payment of the paid ticket may be obtained before the return journey from Gozo.

Customers may also purchase pre-paid tickets at any time from Mġarr – Gozo during office hours. This facility does not apply to Gozo Resident Tickets.

Marshalling Procedures

In order to comply with statutory requirements, the Company has devised procedures for the marshalling of passengers and vehicles at the respective terminals. These procedures are also essential to ensure a structured boarding of passengers and vehicles as well as for control and security purposes.

The Company apologises for any inconvenience this may cause to its Customers. Customers are urged to follow the instructions given by the Company’s terminal personnel in this regard. Customers’ co-operation will be very much appreciated in order to ensure an orderly boarding for the convenience of all concerned.

FREIGHT MANIFEST PROCEDURES

The carriage of heavy vehicles is an important activity of the Company’s operations and due care must be taken by all concerned both for the commercial as well as the safety aspect of the loading/unloading operation.

Planning of Loading and Stowage

The planning of loading and stowage should always ensure that the ship has a positive stability/trim within criteria as laid down within the ship’s approved stability book. The vessel shall never be overloaded. Weight, size and nature of cargo, for example hazardous consignments, will necessarily influence the sequence of loading, but booked or pre-advised vehicles must always take priority. Furthermore, subject to stowage plans, every effort should be made to load cars in order of arrival within marshalling areas.

Dangerous cargoes must only be accepted and stowed in accordance with requirements of the IMDG Code in conjunction with provisions as laid out within the Company’s specific standing order on the subject.

Unaccompanied vehicles and trailers cannot be accepted without written authorisation from the terminal or appropriate line manager.

Axle Loads and Weights

Weights of commercial vehicles vary from one type of vehicle to another and depending on the quantity and type of cargo carried. It is essential that the cargo weight is spread along the length and width of the vehicle box or trailer to ensure an even load. For this purpose, the Company has introduced a vehicle weigh bridge at Mgarr and Cirkewwa to assess the actual weights on each axle of the relative vehicle. Under no circumstances should axle weights exceed 13 tons per axle. This provision is in accordance with Regulation 5 of L.N. 13 of 1997 – Gozo Mail and Passenger Service (Fares) Regulations 1997 which states: “Loads on commercial vehicles are not to exceed the registered capacity of the vehicle and/or an axle weight in excess of 13 tons”.

Notwithstanding the above, the axle weights for two (2) axle vehicles shall not exceed 14 tons per axle, so far as the distance between wheels does not exceed 2000 mm and the front and rear axles are not separated by more than 1500 mm (measured from the centre of each axle).

Control and Security

Company personnel are instructed to ensure that boarding is carried out in an orderly manner. Customers’ co-operation in this regard will be very much appreciated.

Truck Drivers

All vehicles must be accompanied by a driver on boarding and during the voyage, except when prior arrangement has been made with the Company and accepted in writing.

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