[TusharK]

Uber and the Maharashtra Maritime Board have launched a speedboat service in Mumbai called UberBOAT. The service will commence from February 1, 2019.



UberBOAT will cover existing ferry routes around Mumbai and will offer speedboats on the Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty routes.

Bookings for UberBOAT can be done via the Uber app. The fare for UberBOAT (6-8 seater speedboat) is Rs. 5,700 and for UberBOAT XL (10+ seater speedboat) is Rs. 9,500 for all active routes. Each boat will be equipped with life jackets, emergency contact details, printed collaterals and safety instruction manuals.

The new service is expected to benefit boat operators, who will gain access to Uber's rider base and increase their earning potential.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enmU79081Ys

Link to Team-BHP News

[Aditya]

Very good initiative. Expensive, but those who want exclusivity won't mind paying the amount. Lots of people have farmhouses in Alibaug and the road is dreadful - has been for years. This service will greatly help.

The advertisement is rather irresponsible. I would have rather seen those people wearing life jackets than sunglasses. Thankfully (and hopefully), as the news report says, the boats will be equipped with life jackets.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Uber and the Maharashtra Maritime Board have launched a speedboat service in Mumbai called UberBOAT. The service will commence from February 1, 2019.

. Right now, Uberboat appears to be more about leisure. Am pretty sure the net will be cast wider. Bombay has a lot of potential in waterways, but all previous attempts have failed (including hovercraft services). If anyone can pull it off, it's Uber. Consider how Uber & Ola made car / taxi pooling so easy & popular.

I hope that safety is a topmost priority. I'm very apprehensive of risky services in India due to the poor legal system. It's also why I haven't yet traveled on an Indian cruise-liner.

[libranof1987]

Sounds like a pretty good idea; during a recent trip to Konkan, friends from Mumbai actually took the ferry (with their two-wheeler) till Mandwa Jetty and then rode down. The roads in Konkan are so miserable, they preferred that to driving down.

Prices are steep but not so much that you won't consider this option. Only hitch: if you are there for an overnight trip, you are at the mercy of the private buses and six-seaters once in Alibag to move around.

The good thing with Uber: the service should hopefully be streamlined and there will be such a thing as customer service.

[GTO]

Service kicks off - source.

I feel the fare is fair . Comes to 950 bucks / head.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Uber and the Maharashtra Maritime Board have launched a speedboat service in Mumbai called UberBOAT. The service will commence from February 1, 2019.

The new service is expected to benefit boat operators, who will gain access to Uber's rider base and increase their earning potential.

Is the service a hiring of a full boat or the purchase of a seat on a boat operated by Uber? Did not understand how this helps existing operators. Isn't this a service that competes against them. encouraging to see sea-mindedness in India. We under utlize our coast and river channels for transport.

[sidpunjabi]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Is the service a hiring of a full boat or the purchase of a seat on a boat operated by Uber? Did not understand how this helps existing operators. Isn't this a service that competes against them.

Going by the press release, it will be on a full boat basis. Unless, Uber launches an Uber Pool-Boat service.

Basically, booking a boat just became easier now and can be done via the Uber app, in lieu of going to their office at Gateway. The boats will continue to be owned and operated by the respective operators, similar to Uber's business model with cabbies.