RTA's Marine Transport Agency unveils its strategic plan

"Marine Transport Agency is developing & implementing all Marine Transport systems; a matter which involves a lot of tasks but could be summarized in three key points: firstly conducting detailed studies and applied practices in the designing, implementing, administering, operating and maintaining these systems. This entails specifying the routes, services, station venues, maintenance workshops & technical systems, type of boats, managing & operating the system and supervising maintenance works. Secondly, it includes licensing marine transport routes and various types of boats and drivers. The third point is proposing legislations governing the business of the Agency, submitting them to the RTA's Board of Directors and implementing the approved decisions including commuters' tariff and fees prescribed for utilizing all facilities of the Agency." Eissa Al Dosari, CEO of Marine Transport Agency.

Engineer Al Dosari pointed out that the Marine Transport Strategic Plan extends up to 2020 and caters well for the overall outlook and the forecast increases in numbers for Dubai population and the undergoing efforts to curb congested spots in the emirate aiming at achieving smooth traffic flow at all road and water routes.

Al Dosari added that some of the projects envisaged in the Strategic Plan are the Water Bus; which comes within the first transitional phase. It is made of aluminum and has a dual low chassis known as Catamaran Low Wash, measuring 12 meters in length and 4.2 meter in width. It has a speed of 10-12 knots per hour and weighs around 7 tons. It has a capacity of 30-35 passengers and has a movable panoramic ceiling. It is fitted with two diesel engines of 185 horse power and centrally air-conditioned. The projects aim at operating around ten water buses. The number of commuters served in the first year of this project is expected to reach 2.059.980 persons. The project entails four main stations; Old Deira Souk Station, Dubai Souk Station, Sabkha Station and Dubai Old Souk Station. Operation of such boats will start in next July.

He further stated the existing abras operated by engines are 149 abras, employ around 300 operators and has a capacity of 26 million passengers per annum. The technical specifications are 35 feet in length and 12 feet in width and 5 feet in depth and a 3hp engine, with a gross weight of 6-11 tons and a capacity of 26 passengers.

"Dubai Ferry Project is the second project included in the Marine Transport Strategic Plan and falls within the first phase. It is made of aluminum and has a dual low chassis known as Catamaran Low Wash, measuring 30 meters in length and 7 meter in width. It has a speed up to 24 knots per hour and weighs around 20 tons. It has a capacity of 120 passengers. It has a movable panoramic ceiling with a high quality central air conditioning. It has two diesel engines of 450hp. The numbers of boats under this project is seven. The number of passengers expected to be served in the first year is 2.800.000 persons. This project covers four stations which are Gold Souk station, Bani Yas station, City Center 1 station and Ghubaiba station. These boats will be operational as of August next year.

Rowing abras are five with five operators and has a capacity of 9500 passengers per annum. The technical specifications of these abras are 18 feet in length and 5.5 feet in width and 2.5 feet in depth and a capacity of 4 passengers.