The service comes with an affordable fare of Dh15 in Silver Class and Dh25 in Gold Class.- Supplied photo
Dubai - The new line has a capacity to serve 1.3m riders per year and is subject to increase if needed.
Published: Sun 28 Jul 2019, 12:00 AM
Updated: Mon 29 Jul 2019, 7:31 PM
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority on Saturday announced the launch of a ferry service for passengers travelling between Al Ghubaiba Marine Station in Dubai and Aquarium Marine Station in Sharjah.
The launch marks the first marine transit service operated between Dubai and any other emirate. The service launch is part of RTA's plan to improve marine transportation services and ease people mobility between the two emirates.
The new line has a capacity to serve 1.3m riders per year and is subject to increase if needed. The service comes with an affordable fare of Dh15 in Silver Class and Dh25 in Gold Class.
The journey is free for people of determination and children below five. Free WiFi connection will be provided for riders.
The transit time between Al Ghubaiba and Aquarium stations will be about 35 minutes, and the service frequency is every 30 minutes during morning peak hours (from 5 am to 9 am) and evening peak hours (from 4:00pm to 8:30 pm) from Saturday to Sunday. The service interval will be 1 and a half hours during off-peak times. The first journey will depart from Dubai at 5:15am and the last journey will leave at 8:00pm. From Sharjah, the first journey will be at 5:00am and the last one will depart at 7:30pm.
Mobility options
The new marine transit line boosts the cooperation between Dubai and Sharjah by offering more mobility options between the two emirates. It will ease the pressure on roads through offering a safe and quick marine transport solution. The ferry will be operating 42 journeys (21 in each direction) daily. Commuters are offered free parking as well as internal bus service at Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station.
RTA has 9 ferries operating at 8 stations, namely: Al Ghubaiba, Al Marina Mall, Al Jadaf, Water Canal, Sheikh Zayed Road, Water Front, Marasi and Dubai Design District. The Ferry boasts of high safety standards, experienced crew, rescue and firefighting equipment and anti-maritime pollution. It is fitted with five life-rafts, has a capacity to accommodate 125 riders, 110 life jackets, and 6 safety life-buoy. The cockpit is fitted with navigation tools such as marine radar, sea depth measuring instrument, electronic maps, and tracking devices as required by international institutes.
Dubai Ferry has obtained international certifications for onboard safety the last of which was ISM certificate awarded by Bureau Veritas; an accredited French entity in the classification of ships for IACS. It is considered the highest international standard assuring the quality of safe operation of ships and preventing maritime pollution in accordance with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); the UN-approved system for the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
300 parking spaces
To encourage the use of marine transit service, Aquarium Marine Station is being supported by Park-and-Ride facility for up to 300 vehicles for marine transit users. A shuttle bus service will be call at (Heart of Sharjah), passing by Corniche and Al Majaz, to connect with the marine station near Sharjah Aquarium.
Sharjah's RTA has provided all structures and logistics for operating the service including a marina for the Ferry fitted with all required utilities. It has also constructed the required buildings including waiting lounges for males and females, toilettes, ticketing counter and a ticket-vending machine.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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