Abdulmuhsen Al-Sabti Okaz / Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Old, some dilapidated, fishing boats anchored along the south Jeddah shoreline have become a save haven for illegal expatriates. They have also become warehouses, on occasions for contrabands, in clear violation of regulations. Many residents said that the old seaport location in the center of Jeddah (Al-Balad area) was once the most important location in Jeddah. As the old seaport was abandoned for the newly built seaport, so were many of the fishing boats that remain anchored in the area. These abandoned boats have been transformed into bedrooms, kitchens, and warehouses, in the absence of any monitoring by concerned authorities. Okaz / Saudi Gazette visited the area and found the abandoned boats filthy and foul smelling. Mohammad Al-Masoudi, a Saudi, said that these boats are located only a few kilometers away from Jeddah Municipality, and are used to store fruits, vegetables, and other commodities that are sold near the fish market. These boats are also a source of insects, mosquitoes, and rodents that are harmful to humans. Old fishermen said that a large abandoned ship belonged to a Greek delegation that visited Jeddah some 25 years ago and it remains docked and unsupervised. Saeed Bakheet, a Saudi, said that near the uninhibited Greek ship, there are other boats that were the only source of income to many of the Jeddah traders three decades ago. However, with progress, these boats have been abandoned and have currently become the points of illegal trade. Okaz / Saudi Gazette witnessed sacks full of decomposed and rotten fish, which have resulted in attracting swarms of mosquitoes and insects, in these abandoned boats. Many Jeddah citizens are questioning the municipality's negligent attitude toward the area, which could be quickly transformed into a tourist site. Faris Sulaiman, a Saudi, said that some of the larger boats could be transformed into sea-food restaurants, while the location around the shores can be developed into green areas. Othman Al-Saeed, a Saudi, lamented that the uniqueness and originality of past years had vanished, and the area has completely changed from years gone by.
