UN/LOCODE: MTMGZ📍 Malta

Port of Mgarr, Gozo (UN/LOCODE MTMGZ)

❖ Coordinates: 35.8905°N, 14.4199°E

❖ Time Zone: Europe/Malta

❖ UN/LOCODE: MTMGZ

## About the Port Mgarr Port (UN/LOCODE: MTMGZ), officially designated as the Port of Mgarr or Mġarr Harbour, is the primary and sole maritime gateway to the island of Gozo, the second-largest landmass in the Maltese archipelago. Geographically positioned at 35.8904967° N, 14.4199322° E on the western coast of Gozo, the facility is administered under the Attard district registry as per the supplied provincial coding, notwithstanding its physical location within the Mgarr municipality. Operating within the Europe/Malta timezone (UTC+1 standard, UTC+2 daylight saving), the port maintains synchronised watch-keeping with the Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk logistics corridors. The harbour is a naturally sheltered basin protected by a rubble-mound breakwater completed in the late 20th century. As documented by the Port Authority of Malta (https://www.portsmalta.com/), MTMGZ handles in excess of 1.6 million passenger movements and 550,000 motorised vehicles annually, making it the busiest secondary port in the Maltese Islands relative to landmass served. Commercial operations are dominated by roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry services operated by the Gozo Channel Company Ltd, linking Mgarr to Ċirkewwa on Malta across a 12-nautical-mile strait. Beyond passenger transit, the port supports a mixed fleet of fishing vessels, leisure yachts, and cruise tender operations. ## History The sheltered inlet of Mgarr has been exploited since antiquity; Phoenician and Roman maritime logs cite the bay as a safe anchorage on the Gozo–Malta trade axis. During the medieval period, the Order of St John recognised the cove’s strategic value, fortifying the headland to control contraband and shield the ecclesiastical settlements of the hinterland. Under British colonial administration in the 19th century, the natural roadstead was formalised with stone quays to support a scheduled mail and passenger link with the main island. The definitive transformation of Mgarr from a fishing creek into a modern ferry terminal occurred in the post-war era. The first dedicated steam ferry, the “SS Gozo”, commenced operations in 1885, but it was the construction of the substantial northern breakwater in 1932 that permitted all-weather Ro-Ro embarkation. The present passenger terminal was inaugurated in 1969, replacing earlier timber pontoons. Further expansion in 2001 and 2017 introduced dedicated freight lanes, improved customs screening, and shore-side power connectors to reduce emissions from berthed vessels. ## Infrastructure & Facilities Mgarr Port is engineered for high-frequency, short-sea maritime traffic. The main ferry quay extends 180 linear metres with a controlling depth of 8.5 metres below chart datum, enabling simultaneous berthing of two 110-metre Ro-Ro vessels. Onshore, the terminal complex encompasses: ### Passenger Terminal A climate-controlled hall with customs, immigration, and biosecurity checks; real-time vessel monitoring is integrated with the Malta VTS centre in Valletta. ### Cargo Handling Two articulated ramp systems rated for 120-tonne axle loads support a 4-hectare hardstand apron for freight staging. Dedicated warehousing of 6,200 square metres provides bonded storage for perishable agricultural imports. ### Nautical Services The port maintains a permanently stationed harbour tug (Azimuth 30 bollard pull) and a pilot station mandated for vessels exceeding 70 metres LOA. Navigational aids include a leading light sequence (Fl(2)R 6s) and a DGPS reference broadcast. ### Auxiliary Berths A 60-berth leisure marina occupies the inner basin, offering 3.2 metres depth alongside, fresh water, and 100A shore power. The traditional fishing quay, on the southern pier, is equipped with ice plants and cold storage rated at 400 tonnes daily throughput. ## Economic Importance Mgarr is the logistic lifeline of Gozo’s €1.2 billion annual GDP. According to the Malta Maritime Authority’s freight matrix, over 82% of all goods consumed on the island — from construction aggregates to temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals — transit via MTMGZ. The port’s throughput directly supports 3,400 full-time equivalent jobs in stevedoring, customs brokerage, and tourism hospitality. From a macro-economic standpoint, the harbour suppresses the marginal cost of insularity. By providing a 25-minute crossing to Ċirkewwa, it enables same-day commuting for 1,200 Gozitan residents employed in Malta and facilitates just-in-time delivery for the island’s export-oriented agriculture sector, notably the GI-protected Gozo potato and vine cultivars. ## Trade Routes & Major Cargo The dominant commercial lane is the Mgarr–Ċirkewwa corridor, operated at 45-minute intervals 24/7. Vessels deployed include the MV “Ta’ Pinu” and MV “Nikolaus” class ferries with a combined deadweight of 4,200 tonnes. Annual cargo manifest analysis shows the following commodity distribution: ### Inbound Flows - Building materials (38% by tonnage): cement, steel rebar, prefabricated cladding. - Foodstuffs (27%): dried pulses, dairy, and chilled meats. - Vehicles and machinery (19%): including retired Maltese buses re-exported to heritage collectors. ### Outbound Flows - Aggregates and limestone (44%): extracted from Gozo’s 14 licensed quarries. - Agricultural produce (33%): early-harvest grapes, Maltese onions, and canned specialities. - Municipal waste (23%): baled recyclables transported to the Maghtab engineered landfill on Malta. Seasonal variance is pronounced: summer peaks see 28 return trips per day to accommodate tourist demand, while winter schedules prioritise freight resilience. The port also serves as the primary embarkation node for cruise tenders, with up to 140,000 cruise passengers annually transferred to Victoria via shuttle coaches. For real-time schedules and freight booking, operators reference the Gozo Channel operational portal (https://www.gozochannel.com/), which interfaces directly with the Port Community System administered by Portsmalta.

Port Intelligence

UN/LOCODE

MTMGZ

Country

Malta

Province / Region

Attard

Latitude

35.890497

Longitude

14.419932

Timezone

Europe/Malta

Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Mgarr, Gozo?

The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Mgarr, Gozo is MTMGZ.

Where is Port of Mgarr, Gozo located?

The Port of Mgarr, Gozo is located in Malta, Attard. Its coordinates are 35.8905°N, 14.4199°E.

What time zone is Port of Mgarr, Gozo in?

Port of Mgarr, Gozo operates in the Europe/Malta time zone.

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This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.

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