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22 August 2024

Demand for Dubai's marine transport to rise

RTA has invested Dh30m in 10 water taxis and approved 20 stations to be inaugurated by mid-2009 (KHAMEIS AL HEFAITY)

Published
By Ashaba K Abdul Basti

With more offshore infrastructural developments in Dubai reaching their final stages of completion, marine transport in the emirate is set to become a popular mode of transport.

The demand for both private and public marine transport is set to reach a high point in the next two years, when several waterfront projects catering for communities of more than 300,000 people are completed.

In anticipation of this demand, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai is investing Dh30m in the purchase of 10 water taxis as an initial step towards formalising the water taxi transport in Dubai.

RTA has approved the establishment of 20 stations for the Water Taxis to be inaugurated by its Marine Agency in the mid of 2009 to help beef up marine mass transit modes.

"Twenty locations have been approved for establishing Water Taxi stations during the initial phase of the project, which will contribute to alleviating traffic congestion in Dubai and cater to the increasing demand in marine transport," said Khaled Mohammed Al Zahed, Acting CEO of RTA Marine Agency.

"The project will be specifically important in the foreseeable future, following the completion of giant maritime projects such as The Palm Deira, The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali, and The World."

Work has begun on the design of model Water Taxi stations and officials from the agency have visited several locations in Dubai to identify suitable sites for the stations.

"Following a study, stations have been classified into four groups – stations ready for construction or modification, stations that require sometime for construction, stations feasible by 2011, and stations considered unfeasible," according to Al Zahed.

Companies involved in the shipbuilding business anticipate demand for boats to triple as the coastline of Dubai is extended from the current 72.5 km to 1500km in the next two years.

Captain Ismail Sairi, Director of Penguin Marine Offshore Services and General Manager of Penguin Marine Boat Service, which runs RTA's waterbuses says offshore infrastructural developments present plenty of opportunities for the marine service industry as demand for small boats to cater for communities living on water will increase.

"We foresee plenty of opportunities in Dubai. The demand for new and second hand boats will increase and buyers will want to look at the local market for supply. It will also boost the boat repair business in this country," said Sairi.

RTA has already identified the following stations for construction or modification: Bur Dubai Station, Dubai Old Souk Station, Old Deira Souk Station, Al Sabkha Station, Bani Yas Station, Al Seef Station, Floating Bridge Station, Golf Club Station, Park Hyatt Hotel Station, and Dubai Festival City Station. They also include four stations in Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali Golf Resort Station, Al Habtour Hotel Station, Grand and Royal Meridian Hotel Station, Jumeirah Hilton Station and Jumeirah Sheraton Station.

The project also covers Al Khor lines, the Coastal Line running along Jumeirah coast to serve tourists in the emirate, and the line linking Downtown Dubai with the Palms projects (Jumeirah, Deira and Jebel Ali) as well as The World.

"The project meets the expectations and requirements of a new community segment and covers new areas, which have not been served by marine transit system. The plan will be implemented over several stages in a specific time chart," said Al Zahid. The service will be available on demand through phone booking, and passengers can wait at an agreed station and even disembark at any station of their choice.

The water taxis will also be hired for tourist purposes along Dubai Creek.

Al Zahed said a water taxi measures 10.8 metres in length, 4.1m in width, 1.8m in depth and has a draught of 0.6m. It has a dual low waves base with a speed up to 35 knots and can run in waves rising up to 0.5m.

"It is fitted with the best marine security and safety tools in accordance with specifications and terms provided for in Safety of Life at Sea (Solas) international treaty. It can accommodate 11 passengers in addition to the driver, and 20 per cent of seats will be foldable to allow for a suitable room for the movement of wheel chairs of special need people, enabling further safety and stability on board," he said.

The water taxis will have twin environment-friendly diesel engines of 370 hp fitted with a water jet propulsion, and the interior will be air-conditioned with reclining seats similar to those in business class for planes and will have life jackets.

LCD monitors will be fitted at the back of each seat to display guidance and awareness messages as well as promotional materials. Water taxis will also be fitted with the best navigational systems, fixed wireless phone, global positioning system (GPS) and automatic identification system.