Abu Dhabi crackdown on abandoned boats leads to fines and impounds

Forty-four recreational and fishing boats and their trailers have been fined, 12 vessels impounded and 28 removed by their owners since the onset of the initiative in November.

ABU DHABI // A campaign against abandoned boats has resulted in dozens of owners being fined and their vessels impounded in Mussaffah.

Abu Dhabi Municipality said on Wednesday it has issued 44 tickets to owners of neglected boats and trailers and seized 12 vessels as part of effort to rid the city of eyesores.

The campaign began in November after officials saw dozens of recreational and fishing boats abandoned in Mussaffah industrial area.

Since the start of the campaign, 28 of the sanctioned vessels have been removed by their owners the municipality said.

The aim of the campaign is to maintain the city’s cleanliness, improve its appearance, enhance safety and security and reduce pollution.

Recent amendments to the law, which fines owners Dh3,000 per neglected vehicle, has cut the grace period between the time of being fined and the vehicle being towed to 3 days from the previous 2 weeks given. Repeat offenders face a doubling of the fine as well as being responsible for impounding costs which vary depending on type of vehicle type and where it is impounded. The law applies to all vehicles, trailers and boats, which may be impounded and taken to Bani Yas. Offenders can get a discount of 50 per cent on the fine, per municipal terms. In July, the municipality announced that it had impounded more than 700 abandoned vehicles, and issued 3,406 warnings to owners. In February it said that during 2015, more than 4,000 vehicles were abandoned in car parks and open areas in Mussaffah.