Family’s income left in ashes

AJMAN // A fishing dhow destroyed in a fire this week was a devastating loss for an Emirati father of eight, for whom the boat was a significant source of income.

The fire, which broke out on two fishing dhows in Ajman Creek on Monday morning, led Ali Juma Al Ali, 57, to lose Dh527,000 in a few seconds – and between Dh10,000 and Dh20,000 in monthly income. The boat, which he had owned for seven years, had helped to support his family of two sons and six daughters.

The wooden launch was been reduced to ash and not salvageable, said Mr Al Ali.

“The Indian captain, one of my crew, called me and told me about the fire.

“When I heard the news I didn’t believe it, and then I thought it was a simple blaze and the launch could be repaired.

“But after seeing the boat, I was shocked because it was completely destroyed and could not be fixed.”

The dhow cost Dh450,000, he said, while the two air-conditioning units on board set him back Dh2,000 and the engine cost Dh5,500.

“But the biggest loss is the computer where all the information and figures about fishing nets’ sites that are left for several days at sea are stored, because now I don’t know the location of these nets. They cost me about Dh70,000,” said Mr Al Ali.

The dhow was used for catching various types of fish and has sailed from Ajman to Abu Dhabi as well as around the islands of the UAE, such as Abu Musa, Sir Bani Yas and Das Island. The blaze broke out in the port of Ajman fish market on one dhow, the owner of which is also Emirati. Three members of his Asian crew sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken to the nearby Sheikh Khalifa Hospital for treatment.

The wind carried the blaze on to Mr Al Ali’s boat,.

“While my crew was preparing themselves to go for fishing, the fire broke out on the first launch and then moved on to mine. And what people say is that there was malfunction in the engine,” Mr Al Ali said.

According to the Ajman Civil Defence report, the fire began after a collision between the two boats in the middle of Ajman Creek.

Mr Al Ali said that he will now send his crew members back to their home countries because they were not needed for the investigation.

He said that he could not seek help until the Ajman Police CID released the results of the investigation. He has been left without insurance – a situation he said was common for owners of fishing boats.

Mr Al Ali said he planned to take the investigation report from CID, then send it to the fishermen’s association and Ajman authorities to request help.

roueiti@thenational.ae