Bahrain and Qatar are to launch the first ferry service between the two Gulf neighbors, now that the world court has settled their territorial dispute, a newspaper reported April 14.

"The proposed ferry service between Bahrain and Qatar will trigger economic activity," Bahrain Chamber of Commerce executive committee member Youssef Ibrahim Al Awadhi told the Bahrain Tribune.

He said the two countries had agreed in principle to open the maritime link during recent official talks.

"This service can be started anytime," Al Awadhi said, noting that it would take time to build a planned causeway bridge to the Hawar islands, which is just off the Qatari coast but was awarded to Bahrain by the court last month.

"In the meantime this ferry service can help both visitors and businessmen to move freely," he said.

Manama is pushing development of the Hawar, now the 60-year-old dispute over areas potentially rich in gas and oil has been settled with Doha.AFP