Uber Crosses Bosphorus With Boat Service

Smartphone technology company Uber is set to go intercontinental by carrying passengers back and forth across Istanbul's central Bosporus strait via water-taxis.

The service, called UberBOAT, will appear on the smartphone app when a user stands near the coastline of the city's famous waterway.

Uber, which has recently faced harsh criticism in several countries, said it will launch UberBOAT in cooperation with the luxury maritime transportation company Navette–Tezman Holding, in a written statement on June 25. The application will allow users to call on private speed boats for journeys on the Bosphorus, it added.

UberBOAT will be incorporated in the Uber application and can be utilized the same way as other Uber services, charged according to the distance.

Uber's water-taxi service will start at 50 Turkish Liras ($19) and boats will have a passenger capacity of from seven to 10 individuals. Users are able to split the fare among themselves with the tap of a button, in the same way as other Uber services, the company stated.

Uber users will see the UberBOAT option on the vehicle menu when they are by the seaside. If there is an available boat nearby, users can set their pick-up location and the captain will call to confirm the ride, after which a speed boat will arrive.

"We launched UberBOAT in the city that bridges two continents in celebration of our one year anniversary and provide a reliable and comfortable transportation option. We aim to help users reach their destinations with a comfortable and fun journey. Our aim is to expand Uber with progressive services" said Uber's International Expansion Manager Lokman Kuris.

Istanbul 'world's most congested city'

Uber's move comes as mega-city Istanbul continues to struggle with chronic traffic congestion.

Istanbul beats Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro in having the world's worst congestion, according to data from navigation-device maker TomTom, which found that the intercontinental city has the world's worst traffic both overall and at peak evening hours.

Commuters spend a whopping 125 hours stuck in traffic every year, a number based on two 30-minute commutes per working day, according to TomTom. A journey that would normally take 30 minutes in free-flowing traffic takes more than an hour during evening peak times in the city.

Uber has recently been the subject of harsh criticism in several countries across the world due to the reportedly negative effects of its business model on local businesses.

Protests against ride-booking app turned violent on June 25 in France as cabbies torched cars, blocked roads and attacked a vehicle carrying American rocker Courtney Love. Among the some 2,800 taxi-drivers who took part in the strike, police arrested at least 11 across the country in connection with confrontations that erupted as the drivers blocked access to airports, train stations and major roads.

Taxi drivers in France are reportedly furious over an Uber service called UberPOP, which puts customers in touch with private drivers at prices lower than those of traditional taxis.

Similar protests were also seen in Mexico and India this year. - Istanbul