JEDDAH: Several boat owners here have called on the government to help them reduce fees for renting space at docks in the harbor.

They want a committee consisting of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Border Guard and the Ministry of Transport to intervene and speak to the dock owners, according to a report in a local publication.

They said that the dock owners have been raising fees by up to 34 percent a year. The government should ensure that there are special docks set aside for Saudis, the report said.

“We boat owners along the Jeddah coast, and mainly in Obhur, face big problems, including high rentals, which goes up to SR1,700 per meter annually,” said Wael Hasaballah, a boat owner.

He said the average boat is between eight and nine meters. “This means that the annual rental fees for my boat is SR16,000, with increases every year. Ten years ago it was under SR6,000,” he said.

Another boat owner, Wajdi Al-Houtami, also complained about the high fees. “And there are no services offered apart from a few guards in the evening and fresh water to clean our boats, and most of the time there is no water supply,” he was quoted as saying.

The boat owners also complain that they have difficulty getting permits from the Transport Ministry. “Getting this permit from the ministry requires the installation of a device that can track the movement and location of a boat if there is an emergency. This is good but the device is not available in Saudi Arabia and costs over SR1,000 to import.”

Ihab Hassan, another boat owner, said several people are operating illegally in Jeddah, which has resulted in the higher fees. “Many of us Saudi citizens earn a living by taking tourists and visitors out to sea. They are stealing our livelihood. There are even some Saudi citizens violating the regulations by buying boats and hiring expatriates to operate them.”

Ahmad Turkistani, a dealer in the business, said boat prices vary according to their size and engine. “A boat costs on average between SR110,000 and SR125,000. The engine is the important item, which can weigh up to 1,200 kg.”

The engine for a boat that takes out picnickers should be 115 horsepower. However, for boats that have to transport divers and their equipment, an engine of about 140 horsepower is needed, he said.

Ahmad Mohammad Seat, the manager of Kenz Abhar Dock, said he raises his prices because the authorities increase their rental fees. He has to pass on this cost to boat owners to prevent him losing money.