- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: New Saudi ferry services give islanders economic boost
- Date: 23rd April 2014
- Summary: JAZAN AND AT SEA, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS LOADING GOODS ONTO SMALL BOAT (FELUCCA) TRAVELLING TO FARASAN ISLAND DRIVER OF BOAT SWITCHING ENGINE ON DRIVER DRIVING BOAT ENGINE OF FELUCCA IN WATER BOAT SAILING IN WATER PASSENGERS ON BOARD FELUCCA BOAT SAILING FAST IN WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AHMED ASIRI, PASSENGER FROM JAZAN TO FARASAN ISLAND, SAYING: "I am going to Jazan to visit my mother and also to buy certain supplies from there, clothes, shoes and other things, because as you know prices in Farasan are expensive.'' FARASAN ISLAND, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) MAN HELPING HIS WIFE OUT OF THE BOAT AT FARASAN ISLAND TWO MEN ON MOTORCYCLE LEAVING AFTER ARRIVING BY FELUCCA FROM JAZAN INTERIOR - PRINCE OF JAZAN MOHAMMAD BIN NASSER INAUGURATES THE THREE NEW FERRIES DONATED BY SAUDI KING TO THE FARSAN PEOPLE (SOUND OF THE FERRIES' HORNS HEARD INSIDE THE CEREMONY HALL) FERRIES OUTSIDE THE CEREMONY HALL SOUNDING HORNS VARIOUS OF 'DANA ALMELAHIA', ONE OF THE THREE NEW FERRIES SAILING IN THE WATER TESTING ITS READINESS FOR TRIPS PRINCE OF JAZAN LISTENING TO SPEAKER AT THE CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FARIS AL-BLEWI, CEO OF THE MARITIME COMPANY FOR NAVIGATION, SAYING: ''God willing we will launch three ships to transport goods between Jazan and Farasan, to make the people in the region happy, and to stop the suffering caused by high prices and scarcity of products on Farasan. All costs will be paid for by the state, and so will be free of charge.'' VARIOUS OF PRINCE AND AUDIENCE LISTENING TO SPEAKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JABARA AL-SURAISERI, SAUDI MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, SAYING: "The provision of this service comes to complement the modern ferries provided by the state several years ago to transport passengers from Jazan and Farasan, which will support tourism and promote closer economic and social ties between the Farasan and the rest of the cities and counties region." VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS ENTERING FARASAN PORT PASSENGER TERMINAL PASSENGERS INSIDE THE FARASAN PORT TRAVELLERS HALL, WAITING FOR THE FERRY TO TRANSPORT THEM TO JAZAN JAZAN, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS AND CARS ARRIVING TO JAZAN CITY FROM FARASAN ISLAND ON CAR FERRY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM ASERI, FROM JEDDAH, PASSENGER ON THE FELUCCA-SMALL BOAT, SAYING: "I come to Farasan by the felucca and sometimes I can't reach the island because of the bad weather, waiting to be allowed to sail, and one time the felucca ran out of petrol when we were at sea.'' VARIOUS OF THE THREE NEW FERRIES SAILING IN THE WATER TESTING THEIR READINESS TO CARRY PASSENGERS AND CARS NEW FERRY 'DANA ALMELAHIA' ARRIVING AT WHARF
- Embargoed: 8th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA6239MCMRVFX6M9S66TU1N8XDA
- Story Text: The 30,000 inhabitants of Farasan island have been thrown an economic lifeline with the gift from Saudi's King Abdullah of three new ferries.
The Farasan islands lie in the Red Sea 23 nautical miles (50 kilometres) away from the mainland city of Jazan on the far south western tip of Saudi Arabia.
But the islands have been reliant on small boats, or feluccas, and three other ferries, to transport goods, vehicles and people to and from the mainland. The high price of marine transport has pushed up costs on the main Farasan island and many locals prefer to shop on the mainland.
"I am going to Jazan to visit my mother and also to buy certain supplies from there, clothes, shoes and other things, because as you know prices in Farasan are expensive,'' Ahmed Asiri, a felucca passenger told Reuters TV.
Families locally are often split between the island and Jazan city and transport most goods by sea - fabrics, clothing, food, vehicles, oil and gas, cement, building materials and construction equipment.
But thanks to the funding of three new ferries that can carry trucks and heavy machinery as well as domestic goods and passengers, locals and visitors will now be able to travel free of charge across the Red Sea.
The new ferry services were officially announced at a ceremony by the prince of Jazan. Officials hope the new free service will encourage development and tourism on the islands, which are currently unspoilt, but boast pristine beaches and coral reefs.
''God willing we will launch three ships to transport goods between Jazan and Farasan, to make the people in the region happy, and to stop the suffering caused by high prices and scarcity of products on Farasan. All costs will be paid for by the state, and so will be free of charge,'' Faris Al-Blewi, CEO of the Maritime Company for Navigation, said.
The new ferry boats, Dana, Reem and Leen, follow Jazan ,Farasan and Faris 1 in providing services and will be run by the Maritime Company for Navigation.
The Saudi Minister of Transport, Jabara Al-Suraiseri, praised the provision of the additional ferries.
"The provision of this service comes to complement the modern ferries provided by the state several years ago to transport passengers from Jazan and Farasan, which will support tourism and promote closer economic and social ties between the Farasan and the rest of the cities and counties region."
Hundreds of passengers make the crossing between Farasan port and Jazan every day, on a journey that should take less than an hour on the new ferries. Paying for a private felucca costs about 50 riyals a passenger and can take up to four hours in poor weather, with boats sometimes losing their way or running out of fuel.
"I come to Farasan by the felucca and sometimes I can't reach the island because of the bad weather, waiting to be allowed to sail, and one time the felucca ran out of petrol when we were at sea,'' said one regular passenger, Ibrahim Aseri, from Jeddah.
Over two million passenger trips have been made between Jazan and Farasan since 2009, and nearly 39 0000 cars transported.
Officials expect rapid development of the tourist economy in Farasan, with construction of hotels and resorts and new employment opportunities for hundreds of island residents.
The islands already attract a limited amount of marine tourists attracted by the scuba diving and deserted beaches, but visitors are now expected more regularly and at weekends.
Once a year visitors from all over the kingdom and some Gulf countries visit for the 'The Harid' festival', which celebrates the migration of Long nose Parrot fish which arrive each spring to spawn. Thousands wade into the water to catch the fish with their hands. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None