Description
Dubai RTA 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 ferry 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 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.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: The new marine transit line boosts 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, added Al Tayer. 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. We also intend to expand the bus route to serve other parts of Sharjah city, he added.
