Marina residents call for better emergency access
A pleasure boat caught fire at the Dubai Marina recently.
The Civil Defence was quick to react and reached the scene, but the fire engines could not get access to the craft on fire in the water.
The fire engines just kept going over every bridge trying to reach it.
In the end, a fire rescue boat dealt with it on the water, towing it out to sea.
There the wind fanned the flames even more.
The fire, earlier this year, burned for about four hours and the boat looked like a write-off, says an eyewitness.
Residents in the Dubai Marina said they have witnessed several accidents on the water with one of them claiming to have seen at least one on fire on the water. No loss of life or injury has been reported.
The incident with the fire on the boat has prompted calls for design changes in the marina to allow emergency access to water-craft in trouble.
The usual set up of marinas around the world generally includes access to the quayside for emergency services to attend. The Dubai Marina in its present form has no facilities for this, just solid brick walls, and railings.
"The designers should have realised from the start to build in some form of break in the wall, at regular distances, with access steps from the quayside to the water, so giving our emergency services a chance to attend in a fast and responsive time," says Alan Godfrey, a resident and an ex-merchant seaman.
Speaking to Emirates 24|7 though, Phil Blake, Senior Marine Operations Manager, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, says, “Dubai Marina Yacht Club is committed to the highest standards of safety, and takes fire and accident prevention measures very seriously. We regularly train our security and safety personnel on fire and emergency response procedures for various simulated scenarios in all the three operational marinas. Dubai Marina Yacht Club also works with the concerned authorities to ensure that adequate safety measures are followed throughout the Dubai Marina community – including in the operation of jet-skis within applicable speed limits.”
Godfrey, who has encountered loss of life at sea, through fire, and other circumstances, has been involved in safety at sea and has also lived along the Thames, says, “It wouldn’t take much to retrofit some floating steps, at various points around the marina. Even the simple addition of lifebelts on the railings, should someone fall in, would be a start," he said.
Godfrey recalls the Marchioness disaster on the River Thames in London, in August of 1989 where 51 people lost their lives, mostly young people who had gone aboard to celebrate a friend’s birthday party.
"Our own Dubai Marina is a wonderful place. It’s full of young people, in similar boats, yachts, jet skis and kayaks, all enjoying the uniqueness of this huge man-made marina.
"With more and more residents now making the marina their home, and the busier it gets, safety is a crucial aspect, Godfrey added.