Fancy yourself travelling to work by boat?
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Could water transport be a plausible future option for commuters in Singapore?
That question is being explored by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), which on Tuesday put up an open tender for two water taxi operators to provide boat bridging services across two different routes along the Singapore River.
One route, it says in an 18-page tender document detailing its requirements for potential operators, will ply between the Jiak Kim Bridge, near Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel and the Marina Barrage. It will pass through landmarks like Liang Court, Raffles Place, Clifford Pier, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer, said the authority.
The other will start at Rivergate, near Riverview Hotel, and end at the Barrage, passing through Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Merlion Park, the Esplanade, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. Each successful operator, said the URA, will take control of one route each, stopping its boats at a total of 13 landing points per route, including their start and end-points.
Electric-charged and environmentally-friendly boats, it says, will arrive at either 10 or 15-minute intervals — depending on whether you choose the regular or express service, the latter of which goes to passenger-designated stops, during peak hours of the day. The proposed water transport service will also be expected to have minimum daily operating hours of 7am to 10pm, to be extended where URA deems necessary.
Fares will be fair, says the URA, pitting a ride on a regular ferry service to cost at most three dollars, and one on an express service to cost at most four. It also proposed the implementation of smaller taxi-like services, which can be booked in advance.
And why now? The URA says it is high time to employ our three-kilometre Singapore River, which extends to a new freshwater reservoir called the Marina Reservoir. This, it says, offers opportunities for transportation services, sightseeing and entertainment cruises, leisure boating, recreational water activities and even water sporting events.
“Also, the increasing number of residents and growing number of hotels (along the) Singapore River and Marina Bay means that there is a larger captive market, while the finite capacity of the road transport system offers new opportunities for water transportation to serve as an alternative commuting mode,” it added.
The URA has opened its tender to all local and foreign companies, and all interested parties are required to submit their applications by the end of January next year. It says it will award licences to its successful bidders by February, and they kick in at the beginning of 2013, giving the two operators a little less than a year to build up stations, shelters, lighting, charging points, ticketing booths and possible retail spaces along the route as well. Licences will last for three years and can be extended for a further two terms of three years each.
Currently, Singapore has two companies that operate water transport services, but mainly run sightseeing trips for tourists. Singapore River Cruise as well as Duck and Hippo, which operates Singapore’s Duck Tours, have expressed their interest in submitting bids to The Straits Times, which first reported news of the tender...................................................................
Anyone want to throw keys and be water taxi driver???
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learn to drive a boat to become one.
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Water Taxi Driver?
who want to be a sardine, take a unpredictable MRT to work? (unless, he can live along Singapore River)
Driving a Taxi might not be the best job, but there are worst, and many around. And their pay is................... haiz.
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I don't want. Boat very slow one leh
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Originally posted by wsy1234:
learn to drive a boat to become one.
got river express limo boh??
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Heng I got boating license liao..
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Originally posted by TaxiNoob:
Heng I got boating license liao..
My friend from 35SCE , army combat engineer ...Army sent him to PSA for course , end course knn got boating license .
But think he forgotten all liao .... he now works in Sony Singapore , as technician .
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government forever want to makan people .... $3 for a ride ?
knn diesel no need money ?
knn tender somemore , who the fark want to take the $3 per trip contract ?
And every 15 mins must depart . . . . got or without people .
just wtf ....
they cannot make it one .
you pay peanuts , get monekys .
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Originally posted by Poolman:
My friend from 35SCE , army combat engineer ...Army sent him to PSA for course , end course knn got boating license .
But think he forgotten all liao .... he now works in Sony Singapore , as technician .
hmmm.... if river ktv license maybe i go tender...........
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Whatever the transport, expect being packed like sardines and no seats available when u travel.
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And lousy service.
And high prices.
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For water taxi, most fair way is to charge by kilo. 20 cents per kilo weight. 80 kg adult pay $16 net. 10 kg child pay $2. Seafood pay by weight. Water taxi also must go by weight. Otherwise kenna a big crowd of taiko Tua Pui from dunno where, boat sure capsize.
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Originally posted by komade:
got river express limo boh??
You got ?
Speed boat limo taxi.. -
Originally posted by Poolman:
My friend from 35SCE , army combat engineer ...Army sent him to PSA for course , end course knn got boating license .
But think he forgotten all liao .... he now works in Sony Singapore , as technician .
Me also from 35SCE (1988-1990)...
But no go Boat man course...
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it will come in useful especially during rainy days at orchard road..
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Combat Engineers Insignia
35SCE got buaya (unit symbol) below it...
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Originally posted by QX179R:
it will come in useful especially during rainy days at orchard road..
Unless Singapore is sinking.... too many FTs...
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wait govt put up WaterWay Pricing Gantries
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Originally posted by Mr Milo:
wait govt put up WaterWay Pricing Gantries
Yes... they will put this at Boat Quay and Clarke Quay junction.
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Electronic River Pricing...
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Should have this....
along Singapore River....
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or this...
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boat? it's a broad category
how about U-Boats?
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Must buy insurance before you step onto the boat?