DUBAI: Nearly 12,229 vessels, including traditional wooden boats, modern vessels and cruise ships, sailed in and out of the Dubai Creek during 2015, the Dubai Customs reported on Monday.
Dubai Customs are keen on holding regular meetings with stakeholders to improve trade movement in Dubai Creek by reinforcing closer ties with strategic partners at the harbour, such as Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Coast Guards, among others, and getting constructive feedback from vessel owners and maritime shippers, said Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Senior Manager of Dubai Creek Customs Centre, and Acting Director of Coastal Customs Centres Management.
Situated in the centre of Dubai and flowing between Bur Dubai and Deira, the creek is where trade with the outside world began for the emirate more than a century ago.
Historical, economic significance
The creek has always boasted both historical and economic significance, and as a commercial hub and a tourist attraction -- it has remained the very "heart" of the city.
Dubai Customs pays great attention to the harbour and works towards enhancing the waterway's contribution to streamlining the trade flow in the nearby traditional markets.
Creek traders are offered 24/7 flexible Customs services to ensure their operations run as smooth as they can be.
To accommodate the traffic of vessels and ensure their smooth movement in and out of the creek, Dubai Customs has employed smart technologies to smoothen operations at the harbour.
Modern equipment
A software is used to regulate the entry of vessels to the port, by determining vacant berths and giving each vessel a number and code for its allocated berthing space.
Moreover, drones are used at the harbour for surveillance of suspicious activity and to support inspection of trade vessels, as the remote-controlled drones with built-in cameras send live video providing 360-degree view during targeted Customs inspections.
Also the Customs Unmanned Submarine, equipped with cameras and lights specially designed for underwater use have proved very useful for tactical underwater inspections of vessel hulls.
