RTA establishes a new abra station at Ships Wharf

The project aims at building a new abra station at Ships Wharf of Dubai Creek, near Al Maktoum Bridge, establishing a link with Sabkha station in both directions.

Mohammed Obaid Al-Mulla, CEO of RTA Marine Agency stated that the Agency aims at establishing a new abra station in accordance with future plans aiming at expanding the scope of commuting passengers by abras.

"Marine Agency is seeking to provide the best services in secure & safe conditions in accordance with the highest international standards, while adhering to quality performance. The project aim is to contain human congested spots, and ease traffic jam experienced by the city of Dubai at certain times, particularly in the marine gate; which is receiving much attention from commuters between the two sides of Dubai Creek" he said.

According to Al Mulla, the water line suggested for the new station, which is a product of a scientific study based on feedbacks collected from polls of commuters and users of this location, shuttles between Ships Wharf Station and Al-Sabkha Station in both directions. The line extends 1650 meters and the trip takes about 8 minutes by abra operating at a speed of 7 knots per hour. Three abras will be deployed to serve passengers on this line.

Al Mulla added that the time schedule for the daily trips at the new station is split into two periods; morning period starting from 08.30 am up to 02.30 pm, and an evening period from 04.30 pm up to 09.30 pm. Trips are run at one hour intervals or once an abra is fully loaded with passengers (whichever comes first). A third suggestion is to operate abras on demand. The number of passengers accommodated in abras operating in the new line is 20 passengers, and the three abras are expected to make about 90 round trips every day.

Al Mulla pointed out that there are four factors which stimulated life in this new project at the top of which is the attention paid by the Agency to providing security & safety in all marine transport services in accordance with the highest safety standards & provisions of international conventions applicable in this regard.

"RTA will fund providing all means capable of boosting security & safety levels in all modes & services of marine transport. This is dictated by the attention of the RTA to the security, safety and health of passengers and marine commuters, particularly at the new stations, where mobility, entry & exit have to be processed in a timely manner" he added.

The new study revealed that the trip time will be about 8 minutes. If the passenger opts to use other modes of transport, it will cost him more than 20 minutes, let alone other matters such as congestion, light signals, pedestrian crossing ...etc all of which will add to the advantage of commuting through Ships Wharf Station. The need expressed by the public and their own desire to have this station cleared the way for making a serious study that will be completed shortly, based on the analysis of questionnaires and public opinion polls.

Al Mulla further added that the fourth factor leading to establishing of this station is to enhance the standing of marine transport services in Dubai Creek, as a key & an influential mode in containing congested human spots along the two sides of Dubai Creek which is witnessing incessant movement & mobility. This study reflects the attention paid by the RTA to marine transport modes, and marks further expansion of the existing abra network at Dubai Creek, and increase in the number of station so as to provide smooth traffic flow in the very hectic banks of the Creek.

Al Mulla stressed that the Marine Agency is continuously engaged in preparing scientific studies out of its conviction of the role played by abra at Dubai Creek. Abras had been and are still playing an active role in commuting passengers between the two banks of Dubai Creek. 26 million passengers were commuted by rowing & motorized abras in 2006. To keep pace with the booming marine transport, and in conformity with the general policy of the RTA customer service to attain highest levels of satisfaction for customers & various social categories, Marie Agency embarked on compiling researches & studies based on public opinion polls. The aim is to identify the economic projects that respond to the needs and expectations of the public. According to Al Mulla, the final assessment of each successful project rests on probing & measuring satisfaction of customers and users of marine transport modes on the significance of the service provided. "Customer opinion will be the crucial measure of success of every service provided" Al Mulla said in a concluding remark.