RTA activates the role of Mass Marine Transport

The CEO of RTA Marine Agency Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla said that the Agency is working on upgrading marine transport services through several ambitious projects. Among the vital projects undertaken in 2008, the Ferry Dubai project that has recently been initialized; is one of the biggest and most important projects undertaken by Marine Agency and the third one envisaged in the Strategic Plan of Marine Agency. The project comprises four stations namely Gold Souk Station, Ghubaiba Station, City Center Station and Union Square Station.

There is also the Water Taxi project, which will contribute in its initial phase to easing traffic congestion witnessed by Dubai. RTA approved 27 stations for the project, including upgrading 19 stations across Dubai Creek & Dubai Marina, the addition of 8 totally new stations along with the infrastructure and marine protection in coastal areas.

"The achievements realized were an outcome of feasible and constructive proposals to restructure marine mass transit lines at the operational level. This covered four key aspects; namely the volume of demand, length of the route & trip time, navigational features, and operational features; which includes the cost of purchase, operation and maintenance of various boat types. Motorized abras operate in a traverse manner within water canals and creeks with no timetable, and a capacity to load 20 passengers maximum. Rowing abras operate in a free manner in water canals and creeks within protected tourist and recreational zones as per requirement and demand, with a capacity to load 5 passengers plus the driver. As to the Water Bus it operates in a longitudinal or circular medium-range manner inside water canals and creeks with 20 minutes headway and a maximum capacity of 36 passengers.

The Water Taxi operates freely within and outside the water canals and creeks, depending on demand, with a capacity to accommodate 11 passengers. Ferry Dubai operates within the coastal and external marine lines as well as within the water canals and creeks provided there is considerable distance between lines and routes.

"Marine Agency started Marine Security and Safety Services Project in May 2008 at a total cost of AED 6 million covering the coasts of Dubai. It is one of the key projects introduced to upgrade marine safety and is viewed as a crucial project worldwide offering marine security & safety services in the drive to realize the vision of the RTA to provide safe and smooth transport for all. The project, which provides several and diverse projects in the field of marine safety services, renders several services such as towing and tugging, refueling, rectification of emergent repairs, battery checkup and all aspects related to marine safety. Marine Agency is one of the key bodies that deliver a project which offers all sea-goers with maritime support services along with educational and qualification programs."

The Agency teamed up with the Swiss MW-LINE Co. to conduct pilot trials on Abra number 119 in preparation of fitting it with a solar energy-powered operating system, ushering an era of using renewable and eco-friendly energies. Marine Agency also introduced the Automatic Fare Collection System to the Water Bus at a cost of 11 million dirham, and designated gates for people with special needs.