Al Wakra Boats House to boost fishing activities

The Ministry of Municipality Fisheries Department in cooperation with the Projects and Development Department inaugurated Al Wakra Boats House in Al Wakrah Area as part of its ongoing efforts to develop the marine infrastructure there.The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ismail al-Sheikh, assistant director of the Fisheries Department, alongside a number of officials and employees from the Ministry of Municipality.Engineer Suleiman Saeed Abdullah, director of the Projects and Development Department at the Ministry of Municipality, said: "Following the directives of HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, Al Wakrah Boats House project was implemented according to the highest sophisticated global standards to ensure the project's long-term sustainability. The surrounding pier was developed using high-quality basalt rocks that withstand water, waves, marine plants, and environmental changes."He added that the boats house spans 37m in length and 13m in width, making it capable of accommodating many boats. High-quality concrete materials were used in its construction, making it capable of handling boats with loads ranging between 40 to 50 tonnes. He also noted that the project was completed in a record time of just a month and a half under the supervision of Emaar Company in partnership with Ecovert Company.Engineer Abdullah further pointed out that the ministry, represented by the Projects and Development Department, aims to award the operation and management of four fishing harbours to the private sector in the near future, which is part Ministry’s 2024-2030 strategy to engage the private sector within the national development projects. Accordingly, the fishing harbours in Al Wakra, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, and Al Ruwais will be managed by the private sector for a period of three years.Al-Sheikh stressed the Fisheries Department is committed to providing the best services to fishermen and boat owners, including the development of fishing ports and their services. These include providing alarm and fire suppression systems, CCTV monitoring, boat launch ramps, fuel stations, and administrative offices to serve fishermen and sea goers, in addition to the other essential services for fishing boats and vessels."We are working on developing several fishing harbours in the country in collaboration with the Projects and Development Department, enhancing the country's efforts to improve fishing ports," he said.Al Wakra Boats House is expected to boost local fishing activities and enhance the related efforts of fishermen and boat owners in the country.