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Coastguard help sought to develop marine transport

DUBAI — The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is seeking cooperation with the Fourth platoon of the Armed Forces’ Coastguard for the development of Marine Transport Systems, particularly in the areas of operation, boat maintenance and marine utilities.

Engineer Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari, CEO of the Marine Transport Agency in the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Lieutenant Mohammed Rashid Al Hamli, Commander of Fourth platoon in the Coastguard of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces, met recently to discuss strategic plans for the development of marine transport systems.

They discussed the legal speed limit on Dubai Creek, safety and security procedures on all utilities and services in Creek, boats and passengers, in addition to ferries and water bus length and figures.

They also discussed the cooperation between two parties that will contribute in raising the level of services in the agency from operation, license, safety and security.

Engineer Al Dossari presented details of the strategic plan of the marine transport system development in Dubai that cost more than Dh1 billion and includes development of a marine transport system for passengers in Dubai Creek to be used as additional quick and integrated transport means with other transport system.

He said that the project includes execution and operation of Dubai Creek route (first phase) that cost more than Dh200 million.

It consists of four stations with the length of 5,4 kilometres, starting from Gold Market station to Deira City Centre station (before floating bridge) towards Al Ghubiba and Baniyas stations. It is expected to be completed in mid 2008.

He clarified that the strategic plan will be implemented in several stages and according to specific timetable.

It includes operation of Creek routes according to certain stages, and coastline along the Jumeirah shores, as well as the route which combines the City Centre with Nakheel projects (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira and The World).

It is expected the route will be operational immediately upon the completion of the construction and residence of artificial islands, as well as external routes between Dubai and other Emirates.

Al Dossari said stations have been selected taking into consideration the integration with other transport means for more efficiency.

“For example, a study is being undertaken to link the Al Ras station on the Metro line to the marine station, through an underground tunnel for pedestrians which can be covered in two minutes.”

“The same will be applied to Al Gubaiba station, which can be covered in five minutes from the bus station by foot, half a minute from the abra station, four minutes from the international bus station and four minutes from the Metro station.”

“As for Baniyas, it would take nearly half a minute by foot from the abra station, about two minutes from the Metro station and about 10 minutes from the bus station in Al Sabkha and Dubai Transport Inter-city Station.”

“The City Centre station will be located less than five minutes from the Metro station by foot.”

He said the agency has approved the Catamaran Low Wash boat with the length of 22-25 metres and capacity of 100 to 120 passengers and ranging speed between maximum 22 knots to be operated on Dubai Creek.

“Now we are setting the detailed technical specifications to import around seven boats to be operated in the creek in the first stage,” he said, adding that the manufacturing of this boat take around 16 to 18 months.

Commenting on the air-conditioned water bus to be operated on Dubai Creek next July, he said, “RTA has approved the design of boats for air-conditioned water bus to be operated on Dubai Creek, as part of the RTA project to develop new types of marine transport in the Emirate to be used as a additional quick transportation mean integrated with other transport system.”