Muscat - Dibba in Musandam has been finally connected to a passenger ferry network run by the government-backed National Ferries Company (NFC).
The service was launched on Thursday between Shinas and Dibba and Dibba and Khasab, while a delegation from NFC and other government agencies took the ferry to Dibba on Saturday for the official launching ceremony.
NFC has also received its seventh ferry, Masirah-4, which will soon be deployed on the new route; the other fast ferry Al Hallaniyat is being currently operated on this route.
With the expected Dibba-Lima-Khasab highway more than a couple of years away, the Dibba ferry link to Shinas in North Batinah and Khasab in Musandam is expected to positively impact the economy and tourism, especially in Musandam which is separated from the rest of the sultanate by UAE.
Ghazi al Zadjali, head of marketing and communications at NFC told Muscat Daily that this is the first stage of the ferry service on the Dibba route. "We have started with a passengers-only service and expect to launch the vehicle ferrying service before the end of the year," he said.
NFC last year had signed an agreement with a Sweden-based company, TTS to build ramps for vehicles and goods at Dibba port. With a capacity to accommodate vehicles and trucks weighing up to 20 tonnes, the advanced ramp system would enable operations at the port under various natural conditions and in low and high tides.
"We are waiting for some civil work to be completed at the port, and as soon as it is done the ramps will be deployed," said Zadjali.
On the acquisition of new ferry Masirah-4, which is of the same class as NFC's Sawqrah and Al Hallaniyat, Zadjali said that the company is waiting for a few technical issues to be sorted out before the new ferry is pressed into action.
Built by Italian shipbuilder Rodriquez Cantieri Navalli, these three ferries have the capacity to carry 106 passengers, a ten-member crew and 22 vehicles. The ferry can cruise at a service speed of 36knots and a maximum of 41knots.
The return economy class fare on both routes - Shinas-Dibba-Shinas and Khasab-Dibba-Khasab is RO12 for adults. Children will be charged RO6. Business class tickets are priced at RO20 for adults and RO10 for children.
The ferry will run twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays from Shinas and Tuesdays and Saturdays from Khasab.
© Muscat Daily 2014
