DUBAI // The charred remains of a floating restaurant that caught fire at its berth in Dubai Marina more than three weeks ago have still not been removed.
The twisted and melted husk of the Waterworld can be clearly seen from the surrounding apartment blocks and hotels.
No one was hurt in the blaze, which broke out at about 7.20pm on August 13, near the Rahim Mosque at the southern end of the Marina.
But people living and working in the area say they are concerned that the debris is a potential safety hazard and want it removed.
“The wreckage has been there in the same spot for weeks,” said Jim Williams, from Glasgow in the UK.
“It’s become a bit of an eyesore now and I think they need to remove it pretty soon.”
Many people in the area were also concerned about the potential risk to other boats.
“There should at least be some kind of cordon to block people from going near it,” Mr Williams said. “At the moment it’s just piled up in a heap.”
On the night of the fire, flames from the boat lit up the sky and curious onlookers made their way to the scene to see what was happening. Fire crews from the marina, as well as those from Al Quoz, were called out.
At the time a Civil Defence spokesman said guests had left the boat as soon as the fire started and no one was injured. An investigation into the cause of the blaze was then launched by Dubai Police.
“I’m surprised that the debris has not been taken away because there are bits of sharp metal jutting out around where the wreckage is,” said Hamid Farooq, from Islamabad in Pakistan.
“The debris is a hazard because dozens of boats use the marina and dock here. I’ve seen families and groups of people and it only takes one slip or fall and people could get hurt by the metal.
“I’m not sure why it’s still there, unless maybe the police are still doing their investigation.”
Some curious tourists stopped near by to take photographs of the scene.
“You don’t expect to see something like this surrounded by all these big boats,” said Edith van Berg, who is on holiday with her family from the Netherlands.
Despite the severity of the fire she said it would not put her off from going for a meal on a floating restaurant.
“This seems like a rare thing so I’m not worried about safety,” she said. “I’m confident that companies follow the correct safety procedures so I wouldn’t have any issue with taking my family to one of these restaurants. We’re here on holiday and want to experience as much of Dubai as possible.
“I’ve seen plenty of these types of boats going around the marina in the evenings and they seem packed, so it’s not a worry for me.”
Dubai Police did not respond to questions and Dubai Municipality or Waterworld Yacht Rentals, the company that ran the boat, refused to comment.
nhanif@thenational.ae
