Like many Gozitans, I rely on the Gozo Fast Ferry. It’s usually my go-to way of travelling between Gozo and Malta because it’s convenient, reliable and far more comfortable than the alternatives.Getting to Isle of MTV was exactly that. The crossing from Gozo to Malta was smooth, hassle-free and exactly what the service is supposed to be.Getting home, however, was a complete nightmare.Like thousands of others, I attended Isle of MTV primarily to see Katy Perry. Her set ended at around 10:30pm and, having no intention of staying for the following act, my group headed straight to the terminal to catch one of the extra ferry trips that had been scheduled for the event.We arrived at the terminal at 10:45, with the next trip being at 12:45am. Unfortunately, that ferry trip was already fully booked, leaving us with tickets for the 1:15am trip.Here’s what I can’t understand.For an event that attracts tens of thousands of people from across Malta and Gozo every year, why was there a two-and-a-half-hour gap between the last scheduled ferry at 10:15pm and the first additional service at 12:45am? Especially in the height of summer, when Valletta is already packed with tourists, locals and visitors, the demand for transport was hardly unexpected.By the time boarding opened, absolute chaos had broken out.The terminal was packed with passengers holding tickets for both the 12:45am and 1:15am departures, all trying to board the same vessel.There was pushing. There was shouting.Children were crying. Adults were visibly frustrated. The staff appeared completely overwhelmed, were unhelpful, and at times came across as rude.To make matters worse, not everyone with a 12:45am booking showed up, meaning a number of seats became available at the last minute. Rather than boarding these passengers in an organised manner, the remaining seats effectively became a free-for-all.People shoved each other to get onboard. I even witnessed adults pushing children in an attempt to secure a seat.That was perhaps the most disappointing part of the night.This isn’t just a criticism of the ferry operator. It’s also a criticism of the complete lack of humanity shown by some people. The lack of organisation created a frustrating situation, but for some people it brought out the very worst in them.In our desperation, we even considered making our way to Ċirkewwa, thinking it might actually be quicker than waiting in Valletta. But that wasn’t an option either. We booked a cab, only for driver after driver to cancel because of the congestion around the event. I don’t blame them. Who would want to spend hours stuck in traffic?Ironically, this is exactly the kind of congestion we keep being told could be reduced by making better use of our ferry services. Yet on one of the busiest nights of the year, with demand entirely predictable, the ferry that could have been transporting passengers back to Gozo was left sitting idle.We eventually arrived home at around 2am.We left the concert at 10:30pm.That’s three and a half hours to complete what should normally be around an hour-long journey.Absolutely ridiculous.The frustrating part is that the solution seems incredibly simple.When special events such as Isle of MTV are expected to attract thousands of people, adding just two extra trips isn’t enough. These events don’t happen every weekend. They are planned months in advance, ticket numbers are known and demand is entirely predictable.Instead of letting one ferry sit idle before two late-night departures, why not operate a shuttle service? Or at the very least, schedule crossings at least every hour after major events.I can’t help but wonder whether economics played a part. With Isle of MTV attracting predominantly Gozitan concertgoers heading home late at night, passengers who benefit from reduced fares, perhaps running additional shuttle services simply wasn’t considered commercially worthwhile.I travel abroad for concerts frequently, and I have never experienced this level of disorganisation getting home. Public transport after large-scale events is designed around demand, not around a timetable that ignores it.The Gozo Fast Ferry has transformed travel between the islands, and when it works, it’s an excellent service.But after one of the biggest events of the year, it simply wasn’t good enough.What makes this even more frustrating is that we already have a good solution. The Gozo Fast Ferry has proven that it can facilitate travel between the islands. Yet, too often, we seem to have a habit of getting the easy part right but failing to use it to its full potential.On the bright side, at least the electricity was still on when I got home.Riana Xerri is a nurse and freelance Social Media Executive at Lovin Malta.Lovin Malta is open to interesting, compelling guest posts from third parties. These opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Submit your piece at hello@lovinmalta.com•