Abu Dhabi Ports to build new cruise jetty
BAM International has been appointed for the construction works
Abu Dhabi Ports plans to design and construct a new cruise jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The $27.2m project is expected to be completed in Q4, 2020, which is said to be in time for the 2021 cruise season.
The project is billed as the Gulf’s first and only dedicated cruise beach stopover and is the gateway to some of the most spectacular wildlife and historical treasures in the region, the statement said.
At present, cruise ships set anchor about a kilometre offshore from the island and visitors are ferried to and from the Cruise Beach via tender craft. As per the statement from Abu Dhabi Ports, the jetty will allow two vessels to dock and provide up to 5,000 passengers with direct access to embark and disembark at an accelerated rate on the southeast beach of Sir Bani Yas Island.
“Today’s announcement heralds an exciting new phase in the spectacular success of Abu Dhabi’s cruise business at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach. Our commitment to its ongoing development will help us significantly increase the total number of visitors to the island and reduce the time it takes to move them to and from a vessel,” said cruise terminal director Noura Rashed Al Dhaheri.
Abu Dhabi Ports said the cruise jetty comprises an open-access trestle (350m length x 6m width) extending to a piled berth platform (105m length x 15m width), together with eight mooring dolphins, firefighting equipment, solar lighting, as well as a hand railing, with an option to construct ten beach-control structures.
BAM International chairman Eric van Zuthem added, “The awarding of this contract to the group is a testament to our unparalleled performance in delivering the highest quality marine construction. The new cruise jetty at Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach is our first project with Abu Dhabi Ports, and we look forward to commencing a long and successful relationship between our organisations.”
