Administrative Resolution
No. (543) of 2007
Issuing the Implementing
Bylaw of
Regulation No. (2) of 2007
Regulating the Operation of Water Buses on Dubai Creek[1]
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The Chairman of the Board
of Directors and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority,
After perusal of:
The powers vested in him pursuant to Law No. (17) of 2005 Establishing the Roads and Transport Authority;
Regulation No. (2) of 2007 Regulating the Operation of Water Buses on Dubai Creek; and
Executive
Council Resolution No. (8) of 2006 Establishing the Agencies Affiliated to the
Roads and Transport Authority and Approving their Corporate and Organisational
Structures,
Does hereby issue this Resolution.
The words and expressions set out in this Bylaw will have the meaning indicated in Article (2) of the above-mentioned Regulation No. (2) of 2007, and the following words will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
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Public Transport Routes: |
The Water Bus routes between approved Stations. |
|
Tourist Route: |
A tourist route for transporting passengers between Stations across Dubai Creek. |
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Smart Cards: |
Season or prepaid cards. |
A
Water Bus
operator must comply with the registration and
licensing requirements prescribed by the Registration and Licensing Department
of the Agency, namely:
1. The
Water Bus purchase
invoice attested by the competent entities must be presented.
2. The
Water Bus certificate of manufacture approved by the competent entities must be
presented.
3. The
Water Bus ballast water management certificate approved by the competent
entities must be presented.
4. The
customs clearance certificate of the Water Bus must be presented if the Water Bus is
imported from outside the UAE.
5.
The Water Bus must pass the prescribed technical
inspection to verify that
it meets the technical specifications adopted by the Registration and Licensing Department of
the Agency.
In addition to meeting any other technical specifications or any other equipment requirements prescribed by the Registration and Licensing Department of the Agency, a Water Bus must meet the following specifications and equipment requirements:
1. The
Water Bus must be designed to operate properly in the United Arab Emirates, and must conform to the
international passenger transportation specifications.
2. The Water Bus crew must comprise at least two (2)
members.
3. The engine room must be equipped
with an automatic CO2 fire-fighting
suppression system.
4. Smoke detectors must be provided and
must be linked to lights and a speaker
installed on the control panel.
5. Four (4) fire extinguishers with the
following specifications must be on board:
a. two (2) foam extinguishers with a
capacity of nine (9) litres;
b. one (1) CO2 extinguisher with a
capacity of five (5) kilograms; and
c. one (1) powder extinguisher with a
capacity of two and a half (2.5) kilograms.
6. A first aid kit, in a size
commensurate with the total number of passengers, must be available on board.
7. A 3,000,000 lumens handheld torch must
be available on
board;
8. Two (2) two-and-a-half kilogram
lifebuoys that meet
SOLAS requirements, and
their accessories, must be available on board. The
internal diameter of each lifebuoy must not be less
than 400 millimetres and the external diameter must not be less than 800
millimetres;
9. Lifejackets, in a number equal to
120% of the number of the Water Bus’s passengers, must be available on board.
10. The following distress signal equipment must be
available on board:
a. one (1) hand flare; and
b. one (1) orange life smoke canister.
11. At least one (1) bilge pump (to pump
waste water) must be available on board.
12. A suitable alarm device, which
can send an alert when necessary, must be
available on board.
13. A Global Positioning System (GPS) device must
be available on
board.
14. A VHF radio communication device
that can send a GMDSS distress signal must be available on board.
15. A compass
must be available on
board.
16. The Water Bus must be fitted with
navigation lights.
17. An Automatic Identification System (AIS)
must be available on
board.
18. An intercom system must be available
on board.
19. Signs prohibiting smoking, alcoholic
drinks, and pets on
board, together with a safety plan
indicating the location of on-board security and safety equipment, must be displayed in the Water Bus.
20. Waste storage facilities must be
available on board, and the interior and exterior of
the Water Bus must be cleaned on a regular basis.
1. The crew members must complete
STCW training courses.
2. The
captain must hold a navigation licence, for Vessels of less than 50 feet in length, which is certified
by the Registration and Licensing Department of the Agency.
3.
The crew members must have valid residence visas
sponsored by the operator.
Water Bus routes designated for the transportation of passengers across Dubai Creek are as follows:
1. Public Transport Routes:
a. Route (B1) from Al Sabkha Station to Bur Dubai
Station, and vice versa;
b. Route
(B2) from Bani Yas Station to Dubai Old Souk Station, and vice versa;
c. Route
(B3) from Al Sabkha Station to Al Seef Station, and vice versa; and
d. Route
(B4) from Bani Yas Station to Al Seef Station, and vice versa.
2. Tourist
Route: This route is designated for the transportation of tourists from one
Station to another across Dubai Creek.
3. The
chief executive officer of the Agency may, where required, modify, add, or
cancel any of the Public Transport Routes or the Tourist Route to improve the
flow of transportation of passengers across Dubai Creek.
Women and
children will have priority in sitting on the front seats
of the Water Bus. In addition, appropriate seating will be provided for
passengers with special needs.
Water Bus
operating times in Dubai Creek are as follows:
1. Public Transport Routes: from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.;
2. Tourist Route: from 8:00 a.m. to
12:00 midnight; and
3. The chief executive officer of the
Agency may amend the timings as
required based on offer and demand and on
the traffic flow of passenger transport in Dubai Creek.
The fees for using a Water Bus will be collected through any of the following methods:
1. direct payment through the machines provided by
the RTA for this purpose;
2. prepaid
Water Bus cards; and
3.
payment using any other modern methods and technologies.
1. The chief executive officer of the Marine Agency will be
authorised to grant up to twenty-five percent (25%)
discount on Water Bus prepaid cards.
2. The
Roads and Transport Authority will bear the cost of printing Smart Cards.
3.
The Marine Agency will be authorised to invest in
advertisements on prepaid cards and on the tickets issued by the Water Bus
ticket machines in consideration of fixed fees.
When navigating, a Water Bus captain must comply with the rules of navigation and must abide by the following:
1. the routes designated for navigation between Stations;
2. the
trip schedule approved by the Agency;
3. the
speed limits prescribed for navigation across Dubai Creek;
4. using
the utmost caution,
care, and skill
upon navigation and manoeuvring;
5. not
approaching any other watercraft navigating in Dubai Creek;
6. avoiding
wrongful overtaking of other watercraft during navigation; and
7.
reducing
the speed upon departure from and arrival in Stations.
A
Water Bus captain is prohibited from navigating while under the influence of
alcohol, any intoxicating substance, narcotics, or the like; and from staying overnight in the Water Bus or
allowing others to do so.
The
interior and exterior of the Water Bus must be cleaned and maintained regularly. In any event,
the cleaning, maintenance, or repair works must be
carried out only in the locations determined by the RTA.
The chief
executive officer of the Agency will issue the
instructions required for the implementation of the provisions of this Bylaw.
This
Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force
on the day on which it is issued.
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer
Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Executive Director
Roads and Transport Authority
Issued in Dubai on 5 November 2007
Corresponding
to 25 Shawwal 1428 A.H.
©2020 The Supreme
Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort
has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this
legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference
must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text
will prevail.