RTA approves the water bus design of boats to operate in Dubai Creek

As part of the RTA's project to develop new types of maritime transport in the Emirate to be used as an additional quick transportation means integrated with other transport systems.

The water bus is superbly designed that combines the traditional form of Abra which draws from the UAE heritage and between modernity and the latest advances in modern technology in this area, it is characterized by the structure of bilateral base low waves "Catamaran Low Wash", and movement panoramic ceiling, and the central air conditioning with comfortable seat capacities ranging from 30 to 35 passengers.

H.E Mattar Al Tayer said that this project comes within the framework of the comprehensive study and the strategic plan, prepared by the Maritime Agency for the development of marine system in Dubai, at a cost of more than a billion dirhams during the coming fifteen years, to meet the wishes and needs of the new group of the society, and cover the new areas that had not been covered by a marine system.

He pointed out that the plan will be implemented in several stages and according to a specific timetable, included operation of Creek routes according to certain stages, and coastline along the Jumaira shores which serves the category of tourists in the emirate, as well as the route which combines the City Center with Nakheel projects (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira and The World) where now a coordination is underway with Nakheel to take the requirements of this project and the reservation of stations' places on the islands, and it is expected of operating this route immediately upon the completion of the construction and residence of artificial islands.

He added the length of the water bus approximately 12 meters and width of four meters while the weight is 7 tons, ranging speed between 10 to 12 knots, and is characterized with two engines working with diesel of 185 horsepower each, and the structure of bilateral base low waves, and movement panoramic ceiling made of Aluminum, and central air-conditioning covers the passenger cabin accommodates about 35 passengers, in addition to applying the highest standards of safety and security in accordance with international best practices.

Al Tayer said the Marine Agency starts in the implementation of the first phase of this plan, which includes the development of general marine shipping transport system for passengers inside the Dubai Creek and will be used as an additional means of transportation integrated with other transport systems, including water bus, which is expected to operate next July, stressing that the operation of such service would make a qualitative leap in methods of marine transport match with the transport service in developed countries.

He explained that the bus route been identified to be in a circular motion "Loop" in both directions and covers the four stations; Al Sabkha, Deira old market, Dubai old market, and Bur Dubai, pointing out that the full cycle of the whole trip including the timetable of the stop and riding and dis-riding between four stations take nearly 30 minutes for each trip.

He added that this service will be operated seven days per week, with 18 hours a day, starting from 6:00am to 12:00 evening, with stream time of 10 minutes between trip and following trip, Noting that ten buses will be operated and expected to transport in accordance with the results of the field survey conducted by the Marine Agency nearly 2,060,000 passengers annually, rising in subsequent years to five million passengers annually.

Al Tayer said that the public opinion poll conducted by the Marine Agency in November last year to determine the level of customer satisfaction on the performance of Abra and the level of quality of service in the in-land marine transport, showed that more than 99% of the sample survey of the 711 people stressed that the urgent need to develop new routes for Abra at Dubai Creek, whilst 14% of the sample indicated that they were looking forward to the use of new water routes with modern transport means and patterns.

H.E Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA said that the Marine transport project is being implemented by the Authority and characterized its interrelations and complementarily with the various modes of transport in Dubai, which include the metro, buses and taxis, where the selection of the locations of the stations done very careful, to take into account integration with other transport systems to be more effective and attractive to the public to use in their daily transportation.

A study is being undertaken to link the Al Ras station on the metro line to the marine station, through an underground tunnel for pedestrians which can be covered in two minutes. The same will be applied to Al Gubaiba station, which can be covered in five minutes from the bus station by foot, half a minute from the Abra station, four minutes from the international bus station four minutes on the Metro station. As for Baniyas, it would take on foot nearly half a minute from Abra station, about two minutes from the Metro station and about ten minutes from the bus station in Al Sabkha and Dubai Transport Inter- city Station. The City Center station will be located less than five minutes from the metro station on foot.