ABU DHABI // The Jalboot ferry service will bring in a fleet of boats and add three more stops around the capital next year.
The emirate’s only private passenger ferry service, which started running last week, will add stations at the Corniche, Al Bandar and the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.
It already has four stops, at Etihad Towers, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Yas Marina and Abu Dhabi Mall.
“One part of the plan is to expand the high-speed network of boats and the map,” said Thomas Rebollini, head of finance at Jalboot.
The boats will travel at speeds between 15 and 30 knots, Mr Rebollini said, with a slower service also to be introduced.
“On the high-speed routes we would add maximum two or maybe three more stops,” he said. “One would be at the Louvre on Saadiyat Island as we are in discussion with the TDIC.
“Along the Corniche, we want to build a jetty in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Municipality. The third would be on Al Bandar in Al Raha.”
Mr Rebollini said Al Bandar would be added early next year, and the Corniche in the last three months of 2016. The Saadiyat date would coincide with the Louvre opening.
The high-speed vessels have to be enclosed for safety reasons but the slower service, running at 5 to 15 knots an hour, would have another deck that would be open, Mr Rebollini said.
“A prototype has been designed, as well as the longer version of 60 to 80 passengers.”
Jalboot Marine Network operates the service on behalf of its parent, Emirates Consortium.
Jalboot is named after the traditional pearl-diving boats, and the first ferry is Al Dana, after the most prized type of pearl.
Since its launch a week ago the company said it has had up to 10 passengers a trip.
A one-stop trip between any two stops costs Dh45 for adults and Dh35 for children aged 4 to 12. A return ticket is Dh40 for adults and Dh30 for children.
Advance bookings for those tickets saves Dh5.
A round-trip ticket on a selected boat is Dh150 for adults and Dh95 for children, with advance bookings Dh140 for adults and Dh90 for children.
Younger children ride free.
The trips take 55 minutes from Abu Dhabi Mall to Yas Marina, then 35 to the Fairmont, 35 to Etihad Towers, and 50 minutes to Abu Dhabi Mall.
anwar@thenational.ae
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