In a bid to safeguard the marine environment, Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club, a subsidiary of real estate major Emaar Properties, has decided to ban all two-stroke outboard engine powered boats on its waterways. A pioneering initiative in marina projects in the region, the ban will be enforced with immediate effect.
“The two-stroke outboard motors, found on a number of boats and personal watercraft, emit huge quantities of polluting hydrocarbons,” said Joe Goddard, General Manager, Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club. “It is estimated that one hour of operation by a 70-HP two-stroke motor emits the same hydrocarbon pollutants as driving 8,000 km in a modern automobile. World over, therefore, there is increased concern on the use of these engines on waterways.”
With the ban on the two-stroke outboard engines, Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club hopes to build on the marina’s environmental safety. “The move was imperative in the long-run,” said Goddard. “We took the initiative early, so that the waterways can be maintained clean and quiet, and thus add to the pleasure of the boating experience.”
Dubai Marina Motor Yacht Club now berths 170 boats. “Another 300 berths will be added in less than 12 months,” said Goddard.
Currently, about one-third of the boats are fitted with two-stroke outboard engines. “These boat owners can upgrade them to eco-friendly four-stroke engines, which are more fuel efficient and have low emission rates. Four-stroke engines are also more reliable and have low maintenance overheads.”
Petrochemicals released from two-stroke engines are also known to float on water surface layers and settle within shallow ecosystems thus critically affecting the young and vulnerable marine population.
