Deserted boats removed from Al Khor harbour

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) launched yesterday a campaign to remove wooden boats that had been abandoned for a long period at the Al Khor
harbour.
Safar Mubarak al-Shafi, director of the General Cleanliness Department at the MME, said the campaign aims at maintaining hygiene at the place as well as making it presentable, in addition to enhancing the safety of boats and ships that are currently operating.
Notices were earlier pasted on such vessels warning their owners to remove them as soon as possible. The campaign was necessitated by the fact that the abandoned boats occupied a large area and their presence led to a distortion of the public landscape, hindered the movement of ships at the port and posed a threat to navigation and the marine environment in the event of sinking, the statement noted.
Failure on the part of the owners to comply with the directive prompted the relevant department at the ministry to launch the campaign to remove the vessels. The boats would be kept in a designated area for a certain period. If not claimed by their owners within this period, the MME would dispose of them in accordance with applicable regulations.
Al-Shafi said the campaign would cover all harbours and ports in the country, including Al Wakrah, Doha and Al Shamal. The second phase is scheduled for next week at Al Wakrah.