New Water Taxis For Dubai Creek
Ten new water buses are to operate across the Dubai Creek by the middle of this month, officials announced today.
Penguin Marine Boat Services, a Singapore-based ferry service firm, will operate the ferry service on behalf of the Roads and Traffic Authority.
The catamarans are designed to accommodate up to 35 people and will ply every 15 minutes along four commuter lines, besides a fifth dedicated tourist line.
In future the service will also extend to manmade islands such as The World and Palm Jumeirah off Dubai’s coast.
Though no specific date has been set for the inaugural ferry launch, RTA officials said the twin-hulled vessels will be out in the creek sometime by mid-July.
The 10-metre aluminum ferries were built locally by the C. Spree Company at a cost of Dh800, 000 each.
The proposed one-way fare is expected to be Dh4, but the fees have yet to be finalised by the Dubai Executive Council, said Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, head of the RTA’s Marine Agency.
The water ferries will operate from five stations, including Baniyas and Sabka in Deira, and the Al Gubaiba, Old Souq and Al Seef stations in Bur Dubai.
Al Dosari informed reporters before a signing ceremony that competition to operate the ferry system was stiff with firms from Turkey to Australia bidding for the contract.
Penguin, according to him, got the nod because of its strong reputation and 35 years of experience in the marine industry. The firm, according to Al Dosari, will “ensure work goes on smoothly, while ensuring the vision of the agency.”
The ferry system is eventually expected to carry an estimated five million passengers annually.
Heng Hong King, President, Penguin Marine Boat Services said he felt “honoured that Penguin was selected by the RTA to manage a fleet of 10 new waterbuses in Dubai Creek. I look forward to an enduring and fruitful partnership.”
Al Dosari confirmed that there will be three modes of payment, including a new universal electronic smartcard, paying at retail outlets and paying cash on site. The card, is valid for all forms of RTA transport in the city, including the proposed metro system, buses and abras.
He said that the ferries will run seven days of the week from 6 am to midnight.
Khalid Al Zahed, Director of Marine Projects, said that each vessel will be fully air-conditioned and include LCD televisions. The vessels, according to him, can also accommodate persons with disabilities.
He noted that the twin-hull designed catamarans were selected in a bid to reduce the amount of waves in the creek which already witnesses a high amount of boat traffic.
The twin hulls will also make the ride more comfortable for passengers because they are a more stable platform.
The eight-tonne vessels will be powered by twin turbo diesels to provide the small ships with enough power to propel a full-capacity load of passengers, he said.
The launch of the service will mark the first phase of the RTA’s Marine Strategic Plan 2020. Source
Penguin Marine Boat Services, a Singapore-based ferry service firm, will operate the ferry service on behalf of the Roads and Traffic Authority.
The catamarans are designed to accommodate up to 35 people and will ply every 15 minutes along four commuter lines, besides a fifth dedicated tourist line.
In future the service will also extend to manmade islands such as The World and Palm Jumeirah off Dubai’s coast.
Though no specific date has been set for the inaugural ferry launch, RTA officials said the twin-hulled vessels will be out in the creek sometime by mid-July.
The 10-metre aluminum ferries were built locally by the C. Spree Company at a cost of Dh800, 000 each.
The proposed one-way fare is expected to be Dh4, but the fees have yet to be finalised by the Dubai Executive Council, said Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, head of the RTA’s Marine Agency.
The water ferries will operate from five stations, including Baniyas and Sabka in Deira, and the Al Gubaiba, Old Souq and Al Seef stations in Bur Dubai.
Al Dosari informed reporters before a signing ceremony that competition to operate the ferry system was stiff with firms from Turkey to Australia bidding for the contract.
Penguin, according to him, got the nod because of its strong reputation and 35 years of experience in the marine industry. The firm, according to Al Dosari, will “ensure work goes on smoothly, while ensuring the vision of the agency.”
The ferry system is eventually expected to carry an estimated five million passengers annually.
Heng Hong King, President, Penguin Marine Boat Services said he felt “honoured that Penguin was selected by the RTA to manage a fleet of 10 new waterbuses in Dubai Creek. I look forward to an enduring and fruitful partnership.”
Al Dosari confirmed that there will be three modes of payment, including a new universal electronic smartcard, paying at retail outlets and paying cash on site. The card, is valid for all forms of RTA transport in the city, including the proposed metro system, buses and abras.
He said that the ferries will run seven days of the week from 6 am to midnight.
Khalid Al Zahed, Director of Marine Projects, said that each vessel will be fully air-conditioned and include LCD televisions. The vessels, according to him, can also accommodate persons with disabilities.
He noted that the twin-hull designed catamarans were selected in a bid to reduce the amount of waves in the creek which already witnesses a high amount of boat traffic.
The twin hulls will also make the ride more comfortable for passengers because they are a more stable platform.
The eight-tonne vessels will be powered by twin turbo diesels to provide the small ships with enough power to propel a full-capacity load of passengers, he said.
The launch of the service will mark the first phase of the RTA’s Marine Strategic Plan 2020. Source
No comments:
Post a Comment