Dubai // A new ferry service will carry millions of passengers a year across Dubai Creek, helping alleviate chaotic traffic in the city, transport officials announced yesterday. Ten ferries, each of which is capable of carrying up to 100 passengers, are to begin operating in June 2010, initially between four stations on the banks of the creek. The service is to later be extended to Sharjah and Nakheel's World and Palm developments. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the service would be invaluable to its effort to reduce traffic by encouraging commuters to use alternative means of transport. "Ferry Dubai will integrate with and complement other RTA transport projects aimed at solving the problem of traffic jams in Dubai," said Mattar al Tayer, executive director of the RTA. "It will transport three million passengers in the first year, spanning the creek and the coastal line of Jumeirah Beach to serve tourists in the emirate, and link the downtown area with Nakheel's projects." The ferries, each 32 metres long and 7.2 metres wide, were designed by the Dutch company Damen and are to be built mostly in China. Each will have 84 economy seats, 14 business-class seats and two seats for disabled and special-needs passengers. The air-conditioned boats, which cost Dh17.8 million (US$4.8m) each, weigh 20 tons and travel at about 20 knots, powered by twin diesel engines. The first consignment of six ferries is expected to arrive in Oct 2009 and the rest in March 2010. All 10 then will be tested for safety and performance before they begin ferrying passengers between stations at Union Square, City Centre, Al Ghubaiba and the gold souq, Mr Tayer said. "Once the ferries are in place and have undergone trials for safety, the operation of the ferries will be outsourced," he said. Fares have not been decided. "This is not to make money. This is to help solve the traffic problems and congestion in Dubai. There are so many factors involved in deciding the fares, and so many different government bodies involved in making that decision. We have to keep it affordable so that people will use it." Marine transport is an important part of the RTA's plans to eliminate road congestion. By integrating water-based transport with the Dubai Metro - scheduled to open next September - and other means of transport such as taxis and buses, the agency hopes to encourage commuters to abandon their cars. The RTA's marine agency last month said it would introduce a new generation of abras with high standards of safety and efficiency to replace the current fleet of old vessels on Dubai Creek. The new boats will be lighter, faster, more flexible and more environmentally friendly than the motorised abras they will replace, but will look the same to maintain the heritage of the traditional wooden vessel. The plan received a mixed reaction from abra users and operators, many of whom said it threatened the integrity and culture of a traditional form of transport. arichardson@thenational.ae
