Giant dhow launched

A giant dhow (Al Boom), 80 feet long and 40 feet wide, was launched yesterday.

This is the largest dhow in the UAE and took two years to build, Mohammed Abdullah Bahaji, the owner of the boat said.

He said he had build an even bigger boat earlier, but this one was built with local materials.

Bahaji said the only difference between the dhow in the earlier days and this one, is that it has a four tonne engine. "Our ancestors used sails," he said.

He noted that in the earlier days the Boom was used for carrying goods. This huge dhow is capable of carrying 800 tonnes of goods - to Africa, Pakistan, Somalia and other countries, he said.

The owner said it took two years of continuous work and the launching of the ship took three days. A team of labourers used huge pieces of wood on which they installed huge rollers and pulled the ship into the sea.

He noted that the dhow is considered part of the UAE tradition as "our ancestors used it in their travels and trade".

He said some UAE nationals are trying to revive their traditions, but with a modern touch. Elsewhere, in Dubai, the Barajeel, the wind tower, which helped cool homes, is also making a comeback with architects including the traditional "air-conditioner" in some of the villas.

Bahaji added that the weight of the Al Boom is about 100 tonnes and it is made mainly of wood, from the UAE .

He said he had built another huge boat which he named RAK Titanic. Fortunately, this boat did not meet the same fate of its tragic namesake.