ISTANBUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's most populous city Istanbul launched on Tuesday small passenger ferry services on the Bosphorus Strait to ease road traffic jams along the shores.
Dubbed "Sea Dolmus," these ferries would serve commuters between Istanbul's Asian and European sides. Each ferry has a capacity of 33 passengers and runs at a speed of 15 knots per hour, capable of making frequent trips.
At the launch ceremony at the iconic Halic Shipyard, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said the ferries would be an environmentally friendly, low-emission, fast, and comfortable mode of transport.
Initially, these "sea minibuses" will serve neighborhoods with lower passenger density across the two continents, replacing larger ferries to enhance efficiency and downsize operation costs, according to the mayor.
He added that seven such ferries would be arranged first, with more to be deployed in the future.
With 16 million residents and nearly 5.4 million registered vehicles, Istanbul has long grappled with traffic congestion.
Straddling the Bosphorus Strait between two continents, the city also relies on ferries to connect coastal neighborhoods. The public ferries make more than 890 trips daily, carrying 40 million passengers annually. ■
