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Ferry service for Iraq resumes
DUBAI - A passenger and vehicle ferry left Dubai for the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr yesterday after noon with 400 Iraqi nationals board.
The ferry service has always been the safest and most dependable means to and from Iraq to other points in the Gulf. But the link was disrupted in the wake of the US-led war on Iraq.
The first ferry which left for Iraq yesterday was the Jabel Ali-3, with a capacity for 1,100 passengers and crew and over 200 vehicles.
The Port Rashid Passenger Ferry Terminal was packed with Iraqi families eager to go home to their towns and villages most of which have now become household names around the world.
Asma Tahseen, an Iraqi expatriate who has been working in the UAE for about three years, was at the terminal yesterday to see off 14 members of her family who were leaving for Umm Qasr.
They came to Dubai when the war started but could not wait any longer to return.
"My father was concerned about safety of the family so he brought them to Dubai, but now they all want to go back home. Crossing the border from Jordan is dangerous and the Syrian border has been closed. So now that the ferry service has resumed, they decided to go back.
"My family is from Basra and my father runs a petrol station there and he is worried about his business now that the Americans have taken over and the regime has changed. My family is taking a satellite telephone along so they can keep in touch with me. I will not be going with them on this trip," Asma said.
Haidar is a young Iraqi expatriate whose family lives in Basra's oil industry residential complex. They called him by satellite phone recently, which they had borrowed from a journalist, and let him know they were all safe.
"I came to Dubai on business and I got stuck here. I was due to leave on March 20 but the war started. My family tells me the situation in Iraq is stable, but basic services, like water and power, are still lacking. I was booked on another ferry but then I got an earlier booking on Jabel Ali 3, I can't wait to get home to meet my family, we all want to go home to see our families. When the war started I had heard that the oil industry residential complex was hit," Haidar said.
Saeed Subhi has been working in Qatar and the UAE since 1990 and he was among the hundreds gathered at the Port Rashid terminal with personal possessions, waiting to go back home.
"My family is from Basra but they managed to get to Safwan and they called me from there to let me know they were alright. They told me the situation in Basra is better than in Baghdad, but that they continue to suffer from lack of water and electric power.
"The last time I was in Iraq was four months ago, I am really anxious to go home and check on our family. It will take a long time for things to return to normal but now the old regime is gone things will improve for Iraq and Iraqis," Saeed said.
Ahmad Mohammed, who is from Baghdad, could not talk to his family on the phone, but he got word through friends and family that they are all alright.
"We all hope the internal situation gets better but I am eager to get back to my country. They tell me there is still a water and power shortage but apart from that the situation is stable," he said.
On board Jabel Ali 3, Captain Sameem Muzaffar was full of optimism and hope for a prosperous period ahead for his company, Naif Marine Services.
Company officials already confirmed plans to undertake four trips per week to Umm Qasr and cargo shipments from next week.
Asked about any potential dangers from a sea voyage at this time, Captain Muzaffar said: "I am satisfied with security arrangements. I am responsible for many lives and I would not venture to go if there is the slightest risk. Our regular service used to be one trip per week, but I think we will increase our frequency since I will come back on Saturday and our next trip will be on Sunday or Monday."
Michael Nye, General Manager of Naif Marine Services, said the company has five vessels but they are currently using only two ships on the route.
He said more ships will be placed on the Dubai/Umm Qasr route if they see a need to do so.
"Each passenger can take 150kg of personal items but on this trip we will not have cargo shipments. We have maintained the fare at pre-war level so as to serve the needs of the Iraqi people," Mr Nye said.
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