Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 27, 2008 11:43:15 GMT -5
New ferry service in Dubai next year
By Joy Sengupta
Khaleej Times
www.khaleejtimes.com/
27 February 2008
DUBAI — Dubai will introduce ferry service by the end of 2009, a senior RTA official has said.
Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Khalid Al Zahed, Director of Maritime Projects Department, said ferries would be operated to the other emirates too, but at a later stage.
The Marine Agency of the RTA has already launched the waterbus service and has endorsed the design of the water taxis, slated to be operational by the end of the current year.
The Dubai ferry comes as the latest in public transport modes being developed by the Marine Agency.
Bigger than all other marine transport modes, the service would reduce traffic congestions on roads and give a boost to the tourism sector, he said.
Senior RTA officials said the initial plan was to bring in seven ferries with a capacity of 150 people.
These ferries would be plying along the Dubai Creek. New stations would be constructed at Gold Souq, Union Square, Al Ghubaiba and City Centre for this service.
The Dubai ferry service would be developed in two phases. In the first phase, the ferry, with a seating capacity of 150 people, would be travelling along these four stations.
In the second phase, these ferries would be travelling to the upcoming islands like Maritime City and the Palms, Jebel Ali and the new extension of the Dubai Creek.
The officials also said they were thinking of developing a bigger ferry with a capacity of 250 people for travelling to the far-off places.
Al Zahed said their primary plan behind the launch of these services was to provide an integrated transport system in Dubai. "We are aiming at solving all kinds of traffic problems in the emirate. Once, the transport system in Dubai is fully developed, we would be aiming at extending the services to Sharjah and the other emirates as well. There would definitely be a ferry service to Sharjah and the other emirates, but at a later stage," he added.
By Joy Sengupta
Khaleej Times
www.khaleejtimes.com/
27 February 2008
DUBAI — Dubai will introduce ferry service by the end of 2009, a senior RTA official has said.
Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Khalid Al Zahed, Director of Maritime Projects Department, said ferries would be operated to the other emirates too, but at a later stage.
The Marine Agency of the RTA has already launched the waterbus service and has endorsed the design of the water taxis, slated to be operational by the end of the current year.
The Dubai ferry comes as the latest in public transport modes being developed by the Marine Agency.
Bigger than all other marine transport modes, the service would reduce traffic congestions on roads and give a boost to the tourism sector, he said.
Senior RTA officials said the initial plan was to bring in seven ferries with a capacity of 150 people.
These ferries would be plying along the Dubai Creek. New stations would be constructed at Gold Souq, Union Square, Al Ghubaiba and City Centre for this service.
The Dubai ferry service would be developed in two phases. In the first phase, the ferry, with a seating capacity of 150 people, would be travelling along these four stations.
In the second phase, these ferries would be travelling to the upcoming islands like Maritime City and the Palms, Jebel Ali and the new extension of the Dubai Creek.
The officials also said they were thinking of developing a bigger ferry with a capacity of 250 people for travelling to the far-off places.
Al Zahed said their primary plan behind the launch of these services was to provide an integrated transport system in Dubai. "We are aiming at solving all kinds of traffic problems in the emirate. Once, the transport system in Dubai is fully developed, we would be aiming at extending the services to Sharjah and the other emirates as well. There would definitely be a ferry service to Sharjah and the other emirates, but at a later stage," he added.