RTA's Marine Transport Agency receives the owner of Dutch's Daman Ship Company

A number of important issues were discussed during the meeting, including the prospects for cooperation between the marine Agency and the factory which specialized in building fast passenger boats, they also exchanged views and experiences in the field of marine and the designing of ships and boats, and invited the factory to participate in the international tender that the Marine Agency will put up for ship and boat manufacturing. The meeting also discussed the possibility of opening a branch for the company in Dubai to manufacture the boats locally, which reduces the cost and speeds up manufacturing.

Eng Essa Al Dossari, CEO of the Marine Transport Agency said that a delegation from the Agency has recently visited the Daman plant, which is considered as one of the biggest factories to build ships in Europe, and has a branch in Singapore. During the visit the delegation viewed to the possibilities of the company in designing and manufacturing the aluminum boats, pointing out that the company possesses many of the major factories in the Netherlands, China, Singapore, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Cuba, and has experience since 1927, with a unique capability in the design and manufacture of various types of boats as about 120 boats are being manufactured annually in the company's factories mostly for export.

Al Dossari said that the Marine Transport Agency are currently implementing the first phase of the Marine transport project which include operating Creek route- first part- which consists of four stations length of about 5 km, starting from the gold market Station to City Center Station (before pontoon bridge), passing through Al Ghubaiba and Baniyas Stations and this project expected to be completed and start of the implementation of this route in the mid of 2008.

Al-Dossari said that the delegation of the Foundation shipping during his European visit Daman plant, which is considered one of the biggest factories to build ships at the level of Europe, and has a branch in Singapore, and sweeten the delegation during his visit to the possibilities of the company specialized in the design and manufacture of aluminum boats, pointing out that the company possesses many of the major factories in the Netherlands, China, Singapore, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Cuba, and has experience since 1927, the company has a unique capability in the design and manufacture of various types of boats, and the number of boats that were being manufactured annually in the company's factories around 120, mostly for export.

He revealed that the RTA has recently adopted the designs of the air-conditioned boats of the water bus, A two-way circular route has been allocated to cover four stations: Al Sabkha, Old Deira Souq, Old Dubai Souq and Bur Dubai. The entire trip including stoppage, boarding and alight time takes around 30 minutes.

The survey outcomes on Abras have shown that the number of commuters expected to be transported over the first year is 2,059,980. The number of the "Waterbuses" required was 10 boats, which can transport over 5 million commuters a year.
The operation period is 7 days a week and 18 hours a day, from 6 AM to 12 Midnight with 10 minutes difference between one trip and another.

The highest security and safety criteria in terms of the modern air-conditioned boats according to the best international practices will be applied, as well as a comprehensive environmental study was conducted.